NIST 800 171 Compliance is a tricky beast to get a handle on when your organization is already constantly busy with work. The NIST 800 171 document has countless items that need to be accounted for when doing a thorough check of your company’s policies and procedures to ensure proper compliance. It is inescapable that occasionally some items will be overlooked. Companies often don’t realize the specifics necessary to maintain compliance, but FullScope IT can help with remembering some of those commonly overlooked aspects of compliance with this important NIST document. Here is a breakdown of some of the more commonly missed compliance items, a NIST 800 171 compliance check list of those things that slip through the cracks a bit more often than everything else.
Developing a System Security Plan
While having security processes and procedures is terrific, properly documenting them into a System Security Plan, or SSP, is a step that is skipped far too often.
Documenting All Policies and Procedures
The complete and proper documentation of a company’s entire list of policies and procedures regarding IT and cybersecurity can feel drawn-out, thankless, and tedious. However, it is an important piece of work and making time for it is important in the planning process to attain compliance.
Using FIPS-Validated Encryption
Companies must ensure they are using devices that are FIPS-validated and not simply “FIPS compliant”. You can’t simply use devices that are merely compliant FIPS standards. They must be devices that have properly validated by an independent organization. Assuming FIPS compliant means FIPS validated is a mistake too many companies make when trying to achieve compliance with NIST 800 171.
Managing All Mobile Devices Used for Work
Managing all your employees’ mobile phones and tables that are used for work is time-consuming and costly, but realistically must be done if you want your company to be thorough and maintain NIST 900 171 compliance. The risk of an employee using an insecure device is too high otherwise.
Performing Incident Response Planning and Testing
Companies must have an Incident Response Plant (IRP) that they regularly test for security breaches and other difficult situations. Documenting this plan in detail and making sure you regularly test it to make sure there are no snags in deployment is important work to stay NIST 800 171 compliant.
If you want a deeper dive and further breakdown of each of these often overlooked items for compliance, please check out the NIST 800 171 compliance check list that we’ve provided on our site. Fullscope IT considers compliance from the very beginning of developing your IT service plan. Reach out to use today if you want to discuss more and schedule an appointment.
