NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Current Version: Release 5.2.0 (August 27, 2025)
Original Publication: September 23, 2020
Authority: Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA)
Overview
NIST SP 800-53 serves as the authoritative catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations. It provides a comprehensive framework to protect organizational operations, assets, individuals, and the Nation from diverse threats including hostile cyber attacks, human errors, natural disasters, and privacy risks.
Key Features
Unified Catalog
- 1,150+ controls consolidated into single comprehensive catalog
- 20 control families addressing security and privacy
- Integrated approach combining security and privacy controls
- Outcome-based allowing flexible implementation
Control Families (20 Total)
- AC - Access Control
- AT - Awareness and Training
- AU - Audit and Accountability
- CA - Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring
- CM - Configuration Management
- CP - Contingency Planning
- IA - Identification and Authentication
- IR - Incident Response
- MA - Maintenance
- MP - Media Protection
- PE - Physical and Environmental Protection
- PL - Planning
- PM - Program Management
- PS - Personnel Security
- PT - PII Processing and Transparency (NEW in Rev. 5)
- RA - Risk Assessment
- SA - System and Services Acquisition
- SC - System and Communications Protection
- SI - System and Information Integrity
- SR - Supply Chain Risk Management (NEW in Rev. 5)
Major Updates in Revision 5
- Two new control families: Privacy (PT) and Supply Chain Risk Management (SR)
- Enhanced focus on supply chain security
- Integration of security and privacy controls
- Updated for modern threats and technologies
- Released in response to Executive Order 14306 (August 2025)
Control Baselines
Three Impact Levels (FIPS 199)
Low-Impact Baseline
- Limited adverse effects if compromised
- Minimum baseline controls
- Appropriate for low-risk systems
Moderate-Impact Baseline- Serious adverse effects if compromised
- Most common (80% of federal systems)
- Standard for majority of federal information systems
High-Impact Baseline- Severe or catastrophic adverse effects
- Most stringent controls
- Law enforcement, emergency services, national security systems
Privacy Baseline
- Applied to all systems regardless of impact level
- Addresses privacy-specific requirements
- Integrated with security baselines
Mandatory Compliance
Required For:
- All federal agencies (FISMA mandate)
- Federal contractors with system access
- FedRAMP cloud service providers (based on 800-53 baselines)
Voluntary but Strongly Recommended:
- Federal contractors handling CUI (typically use NIST SP 800-171 subset)
- Healthcare organizations (HIPAA compliance)
- Critical infrastructure sectors
- Organizations subject to Massachusetts 201 CMR 17.00
Relationship to Other Frameworks
NIST SP 800-171
- SP 800-171 is a subset of SP 800-53
- 110 controls derived from moderate baseline
- Tailored for CUI protection in nonfederal systems
- DoD contractors typically use 800-171 instead of full 800-53
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- CSF provides high-level strategic framework
- SP 800-53 provides detailed implementation controls
- Official mapping: "CSFv2.0-to-SP-800-53-Rev-5-2-0"
- CSF for strategy, SP 800-53 for implementation
FedRAMP
- FedRAMP baselines based on NIST SP 800-53
- Three impact levels: Low, Moderate, High
- Additional cloud-specific controls
- 80% of FedRAMP systems at Moderate level
Risk Management Framework (RMF)
7-step process for implementing SP 800-53:
- Prepare - Organization and system preparation
- Categorize - System categorization (FIPS 199)
- Select - Control selection from SP 800-53
- Implement - Control implementation
- Assess - Assessment using SP 800-53A
- Authorize - Authorization decision
- Monitor - Continuous monitoring
Enforcement
Federal Agencies
- OMB - Issues implementation directives
- CISA - Operational cybersecurity support
- Inspectors General - Compliance audits
- GAO - Program reviews
Consequences of Non-Compliance
- Authorization to Operate (ATO) denial/revocation
- System operation restrictions
- Audit findings requiring corrective actions
- Congressional oversight
- Budget implications
Federal Contractors
- Contract termination or non-renewal
- Loss of system access
- Financial penalties per contract terms
- Inability to bid on future contracts
- Potential debarment
Private Sector
- Enforcement through underlying regulations (HIPAA, state laws)
- FTC enforcement for deceptive practices
- State attorneys general actions
- Civil litigation for breaches
Massachusetts 201 CMR 17.00 Compliance
NIST SP 800-53 (Moderate baseline) is recognized as an acceptable framework for Massachusetts compliance:
- Demonstrates comprehensive written information security program (WISP)
- Satisfies technical, administrative, and physical safeguard requirements
- Maps to 201 CMR 17.00 requirements
- Massachusetts state agencies use NIST 800-53 for EOTSS policy alignment
- Can address both federal and state requirements simultaneously
Company Size Applicability
No size thresholds or exemptions
- Framework scalable for organizations of any size
- Outcome-based controls allow customization
- Tailoring guidance provided in SP 800-53B
- Small organizations may:
- Use NIST SP 800-171 (simplified subset)
- Focus on applicable baseline controls
- Leverage managed security services
- Implement controls incrementally
Implementation Resources
Supporting Publications:
- SP 800-53A Rev. 5 - Assessment procedures
- SP 800-53B - Control baselines
- FIPS 199 - Security categorization standards
- FIPS 200 - Minimum security requirements
Tools and Formats:- OSCAL (Open Security Controls Assessment Language)
- Control baselines in JSON, XML, YAML
- Security Control Overlay Repository (SCOR)
Effective Date and Status
- Initial Publication: September 23, 2020
- Updated: December 10, 2020
- Latest Release: August 27, 2025 (Release 5.2.0)
- Status: Active and current
- Previous versions: Revision 4 and earlier withdrawn
Federal agencies transition based on OMB directives and system reauthorization schedules.
Key Implementation Points
- Risk-Based Approach: Compliance is byproduct of robust security program, not checkbox exercise
- Customizable: Baselines are starting points, not absolute minimums
- Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing assessment of control effectiveness
- Integration: Security and privacy addressed together
- Flexibility: Outcome-based controls adapt to organizational context
Official Resources