NIST publishes Special Publication 800-171A Revision 3 with small business assessment guidance

Original title: Assessing Security Requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): NIST Special Publication 800-171A, Revision 3. Small Business Primer

NIST has published Revision 3 of Special Publication 800-171A, which provides guidance for assessing security requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and includes a dedicated small business primer. This revision updates the assessment methodology and offers practical guidance tailored for small businesses implementing CUI security controls. Organizations handling CUI must align their security assessments with the updated framework to ensure compliance with federal requirements.

What changed

• NIST SP 800-171A advanced to Revision 3, updating the assessment methodology for CUI security requirements
• Introduction of a small business primer providing tailored guidance for small organizations implementing CUI controls
• Updated assessment procedures and approaches for evaluating compliance with CUI security requirements

Who is affected

Organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in the United States, particularly small businesses working with federal data or as federal contractors; applies to any entity subject to CUI protection requirements under federal regulations.