Jul 01 2025

The NIST Gap Assessment Tool will cost-effectively assess your organization against the NIST SP 800-171 standard

Category: Information Security,NIST CSF,Security Tools — disc7 @ 1:49 pm

The NIST Gap Assessment Tool is a structured resource—typically a checklist, questionnaire, or software tool—used to evaluate an organization’s current cybersecurity or risk management posture against a specific NIST framework. The goal is to identify gaps between existing practices and the standards outlined by NIST, so organizations can plan and prioritize improvements.

The NIST SP 800-171 standard is primarily used by non-federal organizations—especially contractors and subcontractors—that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on behalf of the U.S. federal government.

Specifically, it’s used by:

  1. Defense Contractors – working with the Department of Defense (DoD).
  2. Contractors/Subcontractors – serving other civilian federal agencies (e.g., DOE, DHS, GSA).
  3. Universities & Research Institutions – receiving federal research grants and handling CUI.
  4. IT Service Providers – managing federal data in cloud, software, or managed service environments.
  5. Manufacturers & Suppliers – in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) who process CUI in any digital or physical format.

Why it matters:

Compliance with NIST 800-171 is required under DFARS 252.204-7012 for DoD contractors and is becoming a baseline for other federal supply chains. Organizations must implement the 110 security controls outlined in NIST 800-171 to protect the confidentiality of CUI.

✅ NIST 800-171 Compliance Checklist

1. Access Control (AC)

  • Limit system access to authorized users.
  • Separate duties of users to reduce risk.
  • Control remote and internal access to CUI.
  • Manage session timeout and lock settings.

2. Awareness & Training (AT)

  • Train users on security risks and responsibilities.
  • Provide CUI handling training.
  • Update training regularly.

3. Audit & Accountability (AU)

  • Generate audit logs for events.
  • Protect audit logs from modification.
  • Review and analyze logs regularly.

4. Configuration Management (CM)

  • Establish baseline configurations.
  • Control changes to systems.
  • Implement least functionality principle.

5. Identification & Authentication (IA)

  • Use unique IDs for users.
  • Enforce strong password policies.
  • Implement multifactor authentication.

6. Incident Response (IR)

  • Establish an incident response plan.
  • Detect, report, and track incidents.
  • Conduct incident response training and testing.

7. Maintenance (MA)

  • Perform system maintenance securely.
  • Control and monitor maintenance tools and activities.

8. Media Protection (MP)

  • Protect and label CUI on media.
  • Sanitize or destroy media before disposal.
  • Restrict media access and transfer.

9. Physical Protection (PE)

  • Limit physical access to systems and facilities.
  • Escort visitors and monitor physical areas.
  • Protect physical entry points.

10. Personnel Security (PS)

  • Screen individuals prior to system access.
  • Ensure CUI access is revoked upon termination.

11. Risk Assessment (RA)

  • Conduct regular risk assessments.
  • Identify and evaluate vulnerabilities.
  • Document risk mitigation strategies.

12. Security Assessment (CA)

  • Develop and maintain security plans.
  • Conduct periodic security assessments.
  • Monitor and remediate control effectiveness.

13. System & Communications Protection (SC)

  • Protect CUI during transmission.
  • Separate system components handling CUI.
  • Implement boundary protections (e.g., firewalls).

14. System & Information Integrity (SI)

  • Monitor systems for malicious code.
  • Apply security patches promptly.
  • Report and correct flaws quickly.

The NIST Gap Assessment Toolkit will cost-effectively assess your organization against the NIST SP 800-171 standard. It will help you to:

  • Understand the NIST SP 800-171 requirements for storing, processing, and transmitting CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information)
  • Quickly identify your NIST SP 800-171 compliance gaps
  • Plan and prioritise your NIST SP 800-171 project to ensure data handling meets U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) requirements

NIST 800-171: System Security Plan (SSP) Template & Workbook

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Tags: NIST Gap Assessment Tool, NIST SP 800-171

Jun 19 2025

Simplify NIST SP 800-171 Compliance with Our Gap Assessment Tool

Category: Security Tools — disc7 @ 1:54 pm

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) mandates that all contractors and subcontractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must maintain an accessible assessment of their compliance with NIST SP 800-171. This requirement supports a broader national effort to standardize cybersecurity practices, even for organizations managing unclassified or sensitive data. Ensuring compliance is crucial not only for maintaining eligibility for government contracts but also for strengthening the overall cybersecurity posture.

To support this, the NIST Gap Assessment Tool offers a structured, Excel-based template that guides organizations through the full assessment process. It includes all 14 control families and 110 security controls specified in NIST SP 800-171, allowing for streamlined tracking, documentation, and reporting. The tool is designed for usability, enabling teams to identify gaps and prioritize remediation efforts efficiently.

  • walks you step-by-step through each NIST SP 800-171 requirement, so you know exactly what to do next.
  • No cybersecurity expertise needed—complete your gap assessment in hours, not days, using clear prompts and built-in summaries
  • Whether you’re a small defense contractor or a subcontractor just starting with compliance, the tool helps you quickly identify gaps and generate reports that align with DoD audit expectations
  • Includes drop-down menus, pre-filled descriptions, and auto-calculated scoring to simplify documentation
  • By using the tool, you don’t just meet compliance—you also reduce the risk of losing contracts due to audit findings
  • The NIST Gap Assessment Tool will cost-effectively assess your organization against the NIST SP 800-171 standard

What does the tool do?

  • Features the following tabs: ‘Instructions’, ‘Summary’, and ‘Assessment and SSP’.
  • The ‘Instructions’ tab provides an easy explanation of how to use the tool and assess your compliance project, so you can complete the process without hassle.
  • The ‘Assessment and SSP’ tab shows all control numbers and requires you to complete your assessment of each control.
  • Once you have completed the full assessment, the ‘Summary’ tab provides high-level graphs for each category and overall completion. Analysis includes an overall compliance score and shows the amount of security controls that are completed, ongoing, or not applied in your organization.
  • The ‘Summary’ tab also provides clear direction for areas of development and how you should plan and prioritize your project effectively, so you can start the journey of providing a completed NIST SP 800-171 assessment to the DoD.

This NIST Gap Assessment Tool is not designed for conducting a detailed and granular compliance assessment. 

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Tags: Gap assessment tool, NIST SP 800-171

Sep 08 2023

NIST Gap Assessment Tool

Category: NIST CSF,NIST Privacy — disc7 @ 1:23 pm

The NIST Gap Assessment Tool will cost-effectively assess your organization against the NIST SP 800-171 standard. It will help you to:

  • Understand the NIST SP 800-171 requirements for storing, processing, and transmitting CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information)
  • Quickly identify your NIST SP 800-171 compliance gaps
  • Plan and prioritise your NIST SP 800-171 project to ensure data handling meets U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) requirements

Get started with your NIST SP 800-171 compliance project

The DoD requires U.S. contractors and their subcontractors to have an available assessment of their compliance with NIST SP 800-171. As part of a national movement to have a consistent approach to cybersecurity across the U.S., even organizations that store, process, or transmit unclassified and/or sensitive information must complete an assessment.

ITG NIST Gap Assessment Tool provides the assessment template you need to guide you through compliance with the DoD’s requirements for NIST SP 800-171. The tool lays out all 14 categories and 110 security controls from the Standard, in Excel format, so you can complete a full and easy-to-use assessment with concise data reporting.

What does the tool do?

  • Features the following tabs: ‘Instructions’, ‘Summary’, and ‘Assessment and SSP (System Security Plan)’.
  • The ‘Instructions’ tab provides an easy explanation of how to use the tool and assess your compliance project, so you can complete the process without hassle.
  • The ‘Assessment and SSP’ tab shows all control numbers and requires you to complete your assessment of each control.
  • Once you have completed the full assessment, the ‘Summary’ tab provides high-level graphs for each category and overall completion. Analysis includes an overall compliance score and shows the amount of security controls that are completed, ongoing, or not applied in your organization.
  • The ‘Summary’ tab also provides clear direction for areas of development and how you should plan and prioritize your project effectively, so you can start the journey of providing a completed NIST SP 800-171 assessment to the DoD.

This NIST Gap Assessment Tool is designed for conducting a comprehensive compliance assessment.  NIST SP 800-171 Assessment Tool.

The Complete DOD NIST 800-171 Compliance Manual: Comprehensive Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Marking & Handling Section

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Tags: NIST Gap Assessment Tool, NIST SP 800-171