What Is NIST?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S. federal agency that develops standards, guidelines, and best practices for information security, risk management, and technology implementation.

What NIST Does

NIST defines standards and best practices to help organizations manage cybersecurity risks and protect sensitive information. This generally includes:

Cybersecurity controls: Guidance on implementing technical, administrative, and physical safeguards for information systems.

Risk management: Frameworks to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to systems and data.

Compliance support: Ensures organizations meet federal requirements for handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and other sensitive data.

Assessment guidance: Provides methods to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls.

Enhanced protection: Offers advanced standards for high-value assets and emerging threats.

Where You Might See NIST?

• Cybersecurity and compliance programs within federal and defense contractors
• DFARS 252.204-7012 compliance workflows
• IT system audits and risk assessments
• Risk management frameworks for sensitive or classified data
• Developing policies for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)