Most cyber security frameworks can be traced back to the acronym NIST, which is short for the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
This government agency develops technology, standards, and guidelines to help organizations improve their security and resilience against threats.
One of those guidelines is NIST 800-171, a standard that is particularly relevant for businesses that work with the federal government or handle sensitive government data.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, adherence to NIST 800-171 is critical for many businesses, since the likes of Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon (among others) regularly do business with the government.
And because of those partnerships, any company acting as a vendor for them — whether it’s along the supply chain or by providing software solutions — must maintain NIST compliance.
But NIST 800-171 guidelines shouldn’t just be on the radar of government or government-adjacent companies. Every business benefits from staying compliant.
What happens if you fail to stay compliant?
Non-compliance with NIST guidelines can have serious consequences, including:
Financial penalties
Government contractors that fail to meet NIST 800-171 requirements risk losing contracts or facing fines. Even non-government businesses could face penalties from industry regulators for inadequate security measures.
Security breaches
Without proper security controls, your business becomes an easy target for hackers. Data breaches can lead to financial losses, legal liabilities, and reputational damage.
Lost opportunities
Many businesses and government agencies require NIST compliance before working with a vendor. Failing to meet these standards could mean losing contracts and partnerships.
Reputation damage
A data breach can severely damage customer trust. If customers don’t feel their data is safe with you, they may take their business elsewhere.
Business disruptions
Cyberattacks, ransomware, and data breaches can halt operations, leading to costly downtime and recovery expenses.
How a Managed IT Services Provider Can Help with NIST Compliance
Achieving and maintaining NIST compliance can be challenging, especially for smaller businesses with limited IT resources. Let’s consider all the steps a business would need to take when tackling compliance on its own:
1. Risk assessments & gap analysis
Your business will need to assess our current security posture, identify vulnerabilities, and determine where you fall short of NIST standards.
2. Implementing security controls
You need to put the right security controls in place, including:
- Access Control that ensures only authorized personnel can access sensitive data.
- Encryption to protect your data at rest and in transit.
- Network security like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure configurations.
- Endpoint protection to secure all your company devices from cyber threats.
3. Security awareness training
Since employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity, you will need to provide training to help staff recognize phishing attempts, social engineering attacks, and best security practices.
4. Continuous monitoring and incident response
NIST compliance isn’t a one-time task—it requires ongoing monitoring. It means you need to have 24/7 security monitoring to detect and respond to threats in real time.
5. Compliance documentation and reporting
If you need to prove NIST compliance for a contract, you will also need to assemble documentation and reporting to ensure you meet requirements.
6. Disaster recovery and business continuity
You will need to implement backup and disaster recovery plans that align with NIST recommendations, ensuring your business can recover quickly from cyber incidents.
7. Regular security audits and updates
Cyber threats evolve constantly, so staying compliant means regularly updating your security measures.
All of these measures are obviously a lot for a small and mid-sized company to spend time on — especially when that time could be better used on the actual growth of the business.
That’s why for many businesses — whether they are acting as a vendor that requires NIST compliance or want the safety and security NIST provides — are better served by partnering with a managed IT services provider.
By doing so, you can ensure your business meets NIST standards without the burden of managing cybersecurity on your own. You can save your company from costly breaches, lost opportunities, and regulatory headaches down the road.
