NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is a federal agency that develops technology standards and guidelines, including cybersecurity frameworks used in federal contracting. NIST publications like SP 800-171 define security requirements for protecting CUI on contractor systems.

NIST frameworks provide the technical foundation for compliance requirements in federal contracts. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework and Risk Management Framework are widely adopted across government and industry. Contractors must understand applicable NIST requirements and implement compliant security controls to qualify for contracts with information security requirements.