NIST ASSESSMENTS

Voluntary but widely adopted

Primary Focus: Cybersecurity Risk Management
Business Drivers: Strategic risk alignment, executive reporting, program maturity and cross-entity consistency

NIST CSF offers a flexible, business-aligned approach to cybersecurity risk, built around six core functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. It helps organizations integrate security into enterprise risk, improve executive oversight, and drive consistent cybersecurity maturity across business units and regulatory environments.

Required for CUI handling under DFARS/CMMC

Primary Focus: Protecting Sensitive Data including CUI, Intellectual Property and Partner/Customer Information
Business Drivers: Contract eligibility, data protection, CMMC prep and consistency across suppliers/entities

SP 800-171 outlines 14 control families and 110 requirements to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), intellectual property (IP), and other sensitive business data. It helps organizations meet contractual and regulatory obligations, reduce data leakage risk, and apply consistent protections across teams, subcontractors, and partners. While foundational to CMMC compliance, it does not fulfill certification on its own, making readiness assessments critical to staying competitive.

Required for federal systems under FISMA; adaptable across industries

Primary Focus: Enterprise Security and Privacy Controls
Business Drivers: Strong system-level governance, audit readiness and cross-framework control mapping

SP 800-53 offers a comprehensive, highly customizable catalog of security and privacy controls built around system impact levels (Low, Moderate, High). Originally developed for federal agencies, it is now widely adopted by private-sector organizations seeking to unify their security programs, reduce redundancy across compliance efforts, and improve audit preparedness. Its flexibility makes it ideal for enterprises operating across multiple standards such as ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, as well as those managing security across diverse business units and locations.

Required for federal systems under FISMA; adaptable across industries

Primary Focus: Full Lifecycle Risk Management
Business Drivers: System-level governance, secure-by-design integration and executive oversight

The NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) uses a structured, seven-step process—Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, and Monitor—to manage system-level risk from initial design through ongoing operations. Closely aligned with SP 800-53 controls, RMF helps organizations embed security into every stage of system development, improve governance and accountability, and support risk-informed decisions across programs and stakeholders.

Voluntary guidance for secure cloud adoption

Primary Focus: Cloud Specific Security and Risk Management
Business Drivers: Cloud provider evaluation, secure cloud adoption and shared responsibility validation

NIST cloud guidance, including SP 800-144, 145, and 146, provides best practices for identifying cloud-specific risks, selecting deployment models, and validating provider responsibilities. While not a formal framework, these resources help organizations secure cloud environments, assess third-party risks, and maintain consistent security expectations across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. They also support alignment between cloud strategies, enterprise risk management, and operational priorities.

Voluntary for regulatory alignment and consumer trust

Primary Focus: Privacy Risk Management
Business Drivers: Regulatory alignment, data governance, brand trust and privacy accountability

The NIST Privacy Framework is a high-level, risk-based tool that helps organizations strengthen privacy governance and manage data responsibly. Modeled after the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, it includes five core functions—Identify, Govern, Control, Communicate, and Protect—to align privacy practices with business risk, legal requirements, and stakeholder expectations. It supports privacy-by-design strategies, regulatory compliance, and consistent data handling across global operations and brand portfolios.

Voluntary guidance for responsible AI risk management

Primary Focus: Trustworthy and accountable use of artificial intelligence

Business Drivers: Risk mitigation, transparency, fairness, and stakeholder trust

The NIST AI Risk Management Framework helps organizations identify, assess, and manage risks associated with artificial intelligence. Structured around four key functions — Govern, Map, Measure, and Manage — it provides a flexible, scalable approach to responsible AI development and use. It supports transparent decision-making, reduces unintended harm, and aligns AI adoption with organizational values, compliance goals, and public trust.