The comprehensive security and privacy controls catalogue for federal information systems. NIST 800-53 Rev 5 is the gold standard for US federal agencies and contractors seeking Authority to Operate (ATO).
What is NIST 800-53?
NIST Special Publication 800-53 provides a comprehensive catalogue of security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organisations. Revision 5, published in 2020, expanded the framework to include privacy controls and supply chain risk management, making it applicable to all organisations, not just federal agencies.
The framework organises over 1,000 controls across 20 control families into three impact baselines (Low, Moderate, High), allowing organisations to select controls appropriate to their risk environment. It is mandatory for US federal agencies under FISMA and forms the basis for FedRAMP authorisation.
NIST 800-53 is also widely adopted by private sector organisations seeking a comprehensive, risk-based security framework, particularly those operating in or supplying to the US federal market.
Compliance requirements
NIST 800-53 Rev 5 organises its controls across 20 families. Below are key families most relevant to most organisations.
Controls for limiting system access to authorised users, processes, and devices, and managing access based on the principle of least privilege.
Controls for creating, protecting, and retaining system audit records to enable monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of security events.
Controls for establishing and maintaining baseline configurations, inventories, and change control processes for information systems.
Controls for establishing an operational incident-handling capability, including preparation, detection, analysis, containment, and recovery.
Controls for conducting risk assessments, vulnerability scanning, and privacy impact assessments to identify and prioritise security risks.
Controls for monitoring, controlling, and protecting communications at external and internal system boundaries.
Controls for managing risks associated with the supply chain, including supplier assessments, acquisition strategies, and component authenticity.
Audit process
Netru manages the complete NIST 800-53 compliance journey, from system categorisation through to Authority to Operate package preparation.
We categorise your information systems using FIPS 199 to determine the appropriate baseline (Low, Moderate, or High impact).
We select the appropriate NIST 800-53 control baseline and tailor it to your organisation's specific risk environment and mission requirements.
We assess your current controls against the selected baseline, identifying gaps and producing a prioritised remediation roadmap.
Your compliance manager guides implementation of required controls across all 20 control families, with evidence collection throughout.
We conduct a formal security assessment to verify controls are implemented correctly and operating as intended.
We prepare the complete authorisation package (SSP, SAR, POA&M) required for Authority to Operate (ATO) or continuous monitoring.
How Netru delivers it
Our team has deep experience navigating the NIST 800-53 control catalogue. We categorise your systems, select and tailor your baseline, implement controls, and prepare your complete ATO package, so you can operate in the federal market with confidence.
Talk to our teamBefore you talk to anyone