NIST, or The National Institute of Standards and Technology, is a federal agency responsible for ensuring the protection of classified information entrusted to private contractors or third-party organizations as well as developing standards and guidelines to promote greater cybersecurity, across the nation. According to NIST their mission is to "promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life". One way that NIST promotes security is through the creation of frameworks such as NIST 800-171 to ensure the safety and handling of critical information.
NIST 800-171 was created by NIST to help defense contractors protect "controlled unclassified information (CUI)". CUI includes personal information, intellectual property, and other federally protected information that is entrusted to third party organizations. The goal of NIST 800-171 is to create a standardized system of protecting CUI across all federal agencies as a direct response to President Obama's 2010 executive order mandating more strict protection of CUI. Not only does NIST 800-171 help safeguard CUI, but successfully proving compliance to this will help protect against the most advanced cyber threats. NIST 800-171 adherence is a requirement for many organizations, particularly those that working within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that have to comply with CMMC.
The NIST 800-171 framework contains 110 controls divided into 14 "control families" listed below:
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a certification that any organization working within the DIB and handles CUI must adhere to in order to bid on or acquire contracts. CMMC is made up of three maturity levels: Foundational, Advanced, and Expert. These levels build on the previous one with additional requirements. NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 is the foundation of CMMC compliance with third-party audits becoming necessary. In order to be considered level 2 or level 2 compliant, a contractor must implement all 110 objectives outlined in revision 2 of NIST 800-171.
While NIST 800-171 Rev. 3 has been announced, contractors are still only required to implement revision 2 for CMMC compliance. On its surface, Rev. 3 seems to have less requirements, however this could change as technology advanced and new threats emerge.
CorpInfoTech is a managed service provider (MSP) that offers IT, cybersecurity, and CMMC compliance solutions to SMBs. We have undergone our third-party audit and are officially CMMC L2 compliant via a C3PAO. Through TAS for CMMC Compliance, contractors will inherit 200+ of the 320 objectives required by NIST 800-171 making achieving compliance efficient and more cost effective. By partnering with CorpInfoTech, your business can be confident in its ability to pass its audit.
If you are a third-party contractor working with the federal government then you will have to comply with NIST 800-171 standards!
CorpInfoTech can assist your organization in identifying compliance gaps and resolving compliance issues. Contact us today to see how you can begin implementing the required NIST 800-171 controls.
CorpInfoTech understands how complex cybersecurity and compliance can be. Learn more about how NIST 800-171 may impact your business and what you can do to ensure you're compliant.
Blog updated on May 1, 2025
CorpInfoTech, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) with over 25 years in the SMB space, is a trusted partner for business pursuing compliance and cybersecurity. We are a CMMC Level 2 (C3PAO) certified MSP and a Cyber AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO). Also, as the first CIS accredited organization, we help organizations implement the CIS controls as it pertains to CMMC and your overall cybersecurity posture. CorpInfoTech is your trusted partner for secure, compliant growth in every changing digital landscape.