NIST 800-171 Compliance Consultants

As an accredited Registered Provider Organization (RPO) by the CYBER AB (formerly the CMMC Accreditation Body), SSE can s.erve as your expert in pursuance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) projects with confidence. SSE has expertise in managing classified data and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) through evolving cybersecurity regulations for more than 16 years and has maintained our, and our clients’ NIST 800-171 compliance since it became law in 2017

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NIST 800-171 has been required since 2017

NIST IS NOW! Current Requirements for DoD Contractors and Subcontractors

Signed by President Obama in 2014, Executive Order 13556 mandated that all U.S. federal agencies must safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) more stringently as well as helped to establish a unified policy for all agencies and government contractors to follow for data sharing and transparency.

This new focus on cybersecurity at the federal level led to the passage of the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) in 2014, then NIST 800-53 and finally, the Department of Defense (DoD) enacted NIST 800-171 into law through DFARS 252.204-7012 by the end of 2017.

Today, NIST 800-171 is the standard set of security controls for all defense contractors and contractors handling CUI. Defense contractors must meet the requirements set forth by NIST 800-171 to demonstrate their provision of adequate security measures for sensitive data or risk being ineligible to work on defense contracts. NIST 800-171 dictates how contractors and subcontractors of federal agencies manage CUI in an effort to keep CUI safe within the federal contractor ecosystem.

Interim Final Rule/Scored Self-Assessments

Strengthening NIST 800-171, and specifically the enforcement of its requirements, the DoD released an Interim Final Rule that took effect on November 30, 2020. This Interim Final Rule specifies all government contractors and subcontractors post a current assessment of their compliance with the 110 controls of NIST 800-171 into the DoD Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) as a prerequisite to submitting bids for new contracts or renewing existing contracts with the DoD.

The related NIST 800-171 provisions call for the submission of mandatory self-scoring (on a weighted 110-point scale), tracking in SPRS on the progress towards achieving a perfect score, and the possible submission of a System Security Plan (SSP) with Plans of Action with Milestones (POAMs) for any unmet requirements.

In 2023, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) began reviewing the information submitted by contractors on their compliance with NIST 800-171. The goal is to get a better understanding of whether the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is meeting their contractual and legal requirements for handling CUI.

Audits and Penalties for Non-Compliance

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), the False Claims Act is “the government’s primary civil tool to redress false claims for federal funds and property involving government programs and operations.”

Firms that fail to abide by cybersecurity standards in their contracts, such as NIST 800-171, may face hefty penalties. Those penalty fines, combined with the potential loss of new or existing government contracts, could create substantial risks to business’ revenue streams. There also can be criminal risk for knowing and willfully making a false claim or statement, which can be criminally prosecuted and knowing or reckless misstatements risk liability under the False Claims Act.

We’re your NIST 800-171 Compliance Solution

SSE has been accredited by The CYBER AB (formerly the CMMC Accreditation Body) as a Registered Provider Organization (RPO), and we have maintained networks to the NIST 800-171 and NIST 800-53 standards since they came into existence. Our experience in managing classified data and controlled unclassified information (CUI) through evolving cybersecurity regulations is built on first-hand experience and customer service.

When you work with our team, we create a customized plan for your compliance. Not only can we assist through the initial assessment and remediation work with our gap assessment services, but we continue our role as trusted advisors, maintaining service and ongoing support to ensure compliance with industry standards.

Many of our clients have been working with us for years, with our average client partnership being eight+ years. Our proven performance has been recognized not only by our clients, but through industry partners as well. SSE has been listed on the 501 Global List by MSPmentor every year since 2017 and St. Louis Small Business Monthly has awarded us as the Best IT Firm six times and Best in Customer Service three times.

And we’re accredited.

15 Certifications in our core technologies (Unitrends, Meraki, Kaseya, etc.)
14 Certifications in general IT competencies (A+, Net+, Dell, ITIL, etc.)
10 Certifications in IT/cybersecurity
- 3 Information Security Systems Managers (ISSM)
- 2 National Institute of Standard Technology (NIST)
- 1 Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- 4 Facility Security Officers (FSO)
1 Project Management Professional (PMP)
2 Registered Practitioners (RP) with the Cyber-AB
SSE has been recognized as a Registered Provider Organization (RPO) by the Cyber-AB (formerly the CMMC – Accreditation Body)

If you are a business needing to ensure compliance with NIST 800-171, ask yourself the following questions:

Are you familiar with all of the requirements of NIST 800-171 and CMMC?

Do you have a System Security Plan (SSP)?

Has your organization taken a DIY approach when it comes to submitting your NIST 800-171 scored self-assessment… and is it accurate?

Do you have the necessary SSP & POAMs to support your NIST 800-171 assessment score?

Could you provide specifics supporting the above to your prime contractor or the DoD if asked?

Do you know when you need to be compliant/what you need to do to get there?

Is your internal or external IT/cybersecurity support qualified or planning to become certified in these areas?

Are you, as a senior company official, ready to affirm your compliance to NIST 800-171?

If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, seeking outside expertise could be invaluable to protecting existing revenue and mitigating potential risks. SSE has the vetted IT and cybersecurity tools, policy documentations, and experts to create and manage a plan to assist your business in achieving compliance.

Save money.

The type of compliance assistance provided by SSE would require a dedicated team member to be hired or trained on a specific focus. By outsourcing to our team of cybersecurity experts, we can help assess and expedite your path to compliance.

Save time.

Preparing for and documenting NIST 800-171 compliance takes time and expertise that internal resources may not have or would struggle to dedicate efforts on a regular basis. Partnering with SSE allows your team to focus on day-day responsibilities and growing your business.

Expert assistance.

It may not be fair to expect even the most capable of existing IT teams to assess the current state and develop a plan to achieve and maintain long-term compliance. Such teams may be limited in their exposure to DoD requirements and evolving regulations. The regulatory and compliance framework has so many nuances that require in-depth knowledge and understanding, so on-the-job learning opportunities may be challenging.

Reduce risk.

Risk of falling behind on compliance or having unknown or invalidated failure points is reduced by outsourcing to trained experts. SSE can assist with assessing and validating the work already done, as well as creating customized Plans of Actions and Milestones (POAMs) for any unmet controls to achieve NIST 800-171 compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NIST 800-171?

NIST 800-171 is a codification of the requirements that any non-Federal computer system must follow in order to store, process, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or in order to provide security protection for such systems.¹

Is NIST 800-171 mandatory?

YES! Organizations that process or store CUI are required to be compliant with NIST 800-171 cybersecurity and network security standards. NIST 800-171 has been required since 2017.

Who needs to comply with NIST 800-171?

Contractors and subcontractors that work with government agencies and CUI must adhere to NIST 800-171 standards in order to complete government projects that involve handling CUI. This includes manufacturers that are part of a DoD, General Services Administration (GSA), NASA, or other federal or state agencies’ supply chain.²

What is the estimated cost of NIST 800-171 compliance?

The estimated cost to achieve NIST 800-171 compliance largely depends on several factors, such as the size and maturity of the company. For the most accurate estimate, it’s best to contact SSE for an assessment.

What long does it take to get NIST certified?

Depending on the size of your company and what protocols are already in place, NIST certification can take anywhere from 3 – 6 months for a mature IT environment to 6 – 9 months for a non-mature IT environment. If you utilize the NIST 800-171 and CMMC Gap Assessment from SSE, we will perform a detailed evidence collection, assessment, and analysis of your company’s existing environment and its readiness state for an audit or assessment submission. This analysis process takes roughly four weeks to complete and will provide a more clear picture of weak spots in your organization’s security practices and exactly where you stand on compliance. SSE can then assist with recommendations and solutions to assist with the remediation of gaps, or we can handle this for you.

NIST 800-171 Compliance Articles

SSE has been supporting DoD contracts for years and we’ve been maintaining networks to the NIST 800-171 and NIST 800-53 standards since they began. We are up-to-date on the latest information and ensure our client-partners are as well.

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What to Know Before Your NIST 800-171 Assessment Submission

Working with government agencies like the Department of Defense (DoD) requires meeting specific and evolving regulations related to NIST 800-171 cybersecurity standards. NIST 800-171 is a standard that protects CUI, or controlled unclassified…

Why Leading Defense Contractors Choose SSE

Our team of experienced professionals with DoD expertise and a deep understanding of NIST 800-171 compliance provides our clients with a thorough understanding of their DoD contractual requirements and a roadmap to meet them.

Let us demonstrate how our dedicated team can help prepare your business for NIST 800-171 compliance. Don’t wait! Schedule a complimentary NIST 800-171 and CMMC Readiness Assessment by completing the form below.

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