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NIST 800-171 Framework

How Openlane Streamlines NIST 800-171 Compliance

Open-source platform for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems

CUI Safeguarding

Implement all 110 security requirements to protect Controlled Unclassified Information in your systems. Track CUI data flows, storage locations, and access controls across your organization.

  • ✓110 security requirements
  • ✓CUI inventory & classification
  • ✓Data flow mapping

Access Control Requirements

Enforce least privilege, role-based access, multi-factor authentication, and session controls. Monitor privileged accounts and maintain comprehensive access logs for CUI systems.

  • ✓MFA enforcement (3.5.3)
  • ✓Least privilege implementation
  • ✓Privileged account monitoring

Audit & Accountability

Automated collection and retention of audit logs for all CUI access and modifications. Generate audit reports, monitor for suspicious activity, and protect audit information.

  • ✓Centralized log collection
  • ✓Audit record retention
  • ✓Log review & monitoring

Configuration & Integrity

Establish and maintain secure configurations, baseline controls, and integrity verification. Track configuration changes and monitor system integrity for CUI processing systems.

  • ✓Configuration baselines
  • ✓Change control tracking
  • ✓System integrity monitoring

Incident Response & Recovery

Implement incident handling capabilities, establish response procedures, and track security incidents involving CUI. Document lessons learned and maintain recovery capabilities.

  • ✓Incident tracking & response
  • ✓DoD cyber incident reporting
  • ✓Recovery planning

CMMC Readiness

Prepare for CMMC Level 2 certification with 800-171 compliance. Track practice implementation, maintain assessment evidence, and generate SPRS scores for DoD contracts.

  • ✓CMMC Level 2 mapping
  • ✓SPRS score calculation
  • ✓Assessment evidence collection

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Frequently Asked Questions

NIST 800-171 Basics

What is NIST 800-171?

NIST Special Publication 800-171 provides security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems and organizations. It contains 110 security requirements derived from NIST 800-53 that contractors and organizations must implement when handling CUI for federal agencies.

What is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?

CUI is unclassified information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls pursuant to federal law, regulation, or government policy. Examples include export-controlled information (ITAR/EAR), personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), and federal contract information (FCI). CUI is marked with specific designation indicators.

Who needs to comply with NIST 800-171?

Any organization that processes, stores, or transmits CUI on behalf of the federal government must comply with NIST 800-171. This primarily includes defense contractors, subcontractors in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and organizations with federal contracts that involve handling CUI. Compliance is typically a contractual requirement.

What are the 14 security requirement families?

NIST 800-171 organizes 110 requirements into 14 families: Access Control (AC), Awareness and Training (AT), Audit and Accountability (AU), Configuration Management (CM), Identification and Authentication (IA), Incident Response (IR), Maintenance (MA), Media Protection (MP), Personnel Security (PS), Physical Protection (PE), Risk Assessment (RA), Security Assessment (CA), System and Communications Protection (SC), and System and Information Integrity (SI).

CMMC & Assessment

What is the relationship between NIST 800-171 and CMMC?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the DoD's verification mechanism for NIST 800-171 compliance. CMMC Level 2 directly maps to the 110 NIST 800-171 requirements and requires third-party assessment. All DoD contractors handling CUI must achieve CMMC certification, making 800-171 compliance mandatory rather than self-certified.

What is the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS)?

SPRS is the DoD system where contractors submit self-assessments of their NIST 800-171 compliance. Contractors score themselves on each of the 110 requirements, with points deducted for non-implementation. The Basic Assessment score (maximum 110 points) must be submitted with contract proposals and updated at least annually or whenever compliance status changes.

What is a System Security Plan (SSP) for 800-171?

An SSP documents how your organization implements each of the 110 security requirements to protect CUI. It describes your security controls, system boundaries, CUI locations, implementation details, and any planned compensating controls. The SSP is required for CMMC assessments and must be maintained and updated regularly.

What happens if you can't implement all requirements?

If a requirement cannot be fully implemented, organizations must document a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) explaining the gap, proposed remediation, timeline, and compensating controls. POA&Ms must include estimated completion dates and be tracked until closure. Significant gaps may impact contract awards and CMMC certification.

Openlane for NIST 800-171

How does Openlane help with NIST 800-171 compliance?

Openlane provides pre-configured templates for all 110 security requirements, automated evidence collection and assessment tools, SSP generation and maintenance, SPRS score calculation, POA&M tracking, CUI inventory and data flow mapping, and CMMC Level 2 readiness assessment. The platform maintains continuous compliance monitoring and assessment-ready documentation.

Can Openlane help prepare for CMMC certification?

Yes, Openlane maps all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements to CMMC Level 2 practices, organizes evidence for C3PAO assessments, generates required documentation including SSPs and POA&Ms, tracks practice implementation status, and provides gap analysis showing readiness for certification. The platform ensures you're audit-ready when your CMMC assessment begins.

Does Openlane support SPRS score calculation?

Yes, Openlane automatically calculates your SPRS Basic Assessment score based on implementation status of the 110 requirements. The platform tracks which requirements are fully implemented, partially implemented, or not implemented, calculates the appropriate scoring (-1, -3, or -5 points per gap), and generates the assessment data needed for SPRS submission.
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