The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S. government agency responsible for developing technology, standards, and best practices to enhance cybersecurity, innovation, and economic competitiveness. NIST plays a critical role in guiding businesses and government organizations in securing sensitive information, managing cybersecurity risks, and strengthening their security posture. Some of its most widely adopted standards include:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) - A set of best practices for identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber threats.
- NIST Special Publication 800-171 - Security requirements for protecting controlled unclassified information (CUI) in non-federal systems, often required for defense contractors.
- NIST Special Publication 800-53 - A comprehensive catalog of security controls for federal agencies and contractors handling sensitive government data.
NIST standards are widely used across various industries, including defense, healthcare, finance, and cloud computing. Organizations working with government data, particularly those involved in defense contracts under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework, must follow NIST 800-171 guidelines to protect sensitive information.