What Are NIST Controls and How Many Are There?

Key Takeaway

NIST controls are cybersecurity safeguards published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Special Publication 800-53 has over 900 security controls across 18 control families, designed to improve organizational cybersecurity, risk posture, and information protection.

Table of Contents

• What Are NIST Controls?
• How Many NIST Controls Are There?
• The 18 NIST Control Families
• NIST Frameworks Comparison
• How to Implement NIST Controls
• Who Must Comply with NIST?
• Benefits of NIST Implementation
• Technology Support for NIST Implementation
• Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

NIST Controls: Cybersecurity safeguards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to protect information systems and data

NIST 800-53: The main publication with 900+ security controls in 18 families. Compliance is mandatory for federal agencies and recommended for all organizations.

Control Families: Groupings of related security controls that address specific areas, such as access control, incident response, and security risk assessment.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): A voluntary framework with five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover.

Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) Compliance: Requirement for federal agencies to implement NIST standards.

What Are NIST Controls?

NIST controls are cybersecurity safeguards and countermeasures created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They provide organizations—whether federal agencies or private enterprises—with a structured methodology for securing information systems against a constantly evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.

These controls cover essential domains such as access control, authentication, risk assessment, and incident response, helping align cybersecurity practices with business objectives and compliance requirements.

Implementation Success Data: Companies that adopt NIST frameworks reduce security incidents by 70% and complete audits 85% faster than organizations that use ad-hoc security measures.

How Do NIST Controls Enhance Cybersecurity Programs?

NIST controls systematic approaches to risk management, incident response, and contingency planning. Beyond meeting compliance standards, they serve as adaptable blueprints that strengthen digital defenses and help organizations of any size manage and reduce risks more effectively. Organizations not only reduce vulnerabilities, but also strengthen resilience by adopting NIST frameworks.

How Many NIST Controls Are There?

NIST Special Publication 800-53 includes more than 900 security controls, organized into 18 control families. The framework is currently in its fifth revision, published in 2020.

The large number of controls reflects the complexity of modern cybersecurity, covering risks related to cloud computing, mobile devices, IoT, and artificial intelligence. Each revision integrates lessons from evolving threats and industry feedback, so the framework remains relevant and adaptable.

Implementation Analysis: Not every organization needs to implement all 900 controls. Most adopt between 200 and 400 based on their risk profile. Federal agencies typically average 450–600 controls, while private companies often implement 180–350 depending on industry requirements.

What Are the 18 NIST Control Families?

NIST organizes its 900+ controls into 18 families.Each family groups related requirements to simplify implementation and provide structure across different aspects of security and privacy.

1. Access Control (AC): Manages user rights and authentication
   Focus: identity management, MFA
   
2. Awareness & Training (AT): Builds security awareness among staff
   Focus: education, role-based training
   
3. Audit & Accountability (AU): Tracks system activities
   Focus: logging, event monitoring
   
4. Assessment & Authorization (CA): Evaluates controls and system risk
   Focus: assessments, monitoring
   
5. Configuration Management (CM): Maintains consistent system settings
   Focus: baselines, change control
   
6. Contingency Planning (CP): Prepares for disruptions
   Focus: continuity, backups, recovery
   
7. Identification & Authentication (IA): Verifies user and device identities
   Focus: credential management
   
8. Incident Response (IR): Defines detection and response actions
   Focus: analysis, response plans
   
9. Maintenance (MA): Secures system upkeep
   Focus: patching, remote maintenance
   
10. Media Protection (MP): Protects physical and digital media
    Focus: sanitization, transport
    
11. Physical & Environmental Protection (PE): Safeguards facilities and equipment. Focus: facility controls, monitoring
    
12. Planning (PL): Establishes security strategies
    Focus: policy development, resources
    
13. Personnel Security (PS): Manages staff-related risks|
    Focus: background checks, termination
    
14. Risk Assessment (RA): Identifies and evaluates risks
    Focus: vulnerability assessments, threats
    
15. System & Services Acquisition (SA): Embeds security in procurement
    Focus: vendor oversight, supply chain
    
16. System & Communications Protection (SC): Secures networks and communications
    Focus: encryption, segmentation
    
17. System & Information Integrity (SI): Maintains integrity of data and systems
    Focus: malware defense, error handling
    
18. Privacy (PT): Protects personal and sensitive data
    Focus: PII handling, minimization

Together, these families provide a complete foundation for security and privacy, assuring that organizations can address both technical and human aspects of cybersecurity.

How Do Different NIST Frameworks Compare?

NIST publishes multiple cybersecurity frameworks, each serving different needs: 

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): Voluntary, flexible guidance built around five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
  Best for organizations seeking to improve cybersecurity posture while aligning with business goals.
  
• NIST 800-53: Mandatory security and privacy controls for federal information systems. Required for FISMA compliance, containing 900+ controls across 18 families.
  Best for federal agencies and government contractors.
  
• NIST 800-171: Subset of 800-53 controls designed to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
  Best for defense contractors and organizations working with sensitive but unclassified data.
  
• NIST 800-53B: Adds high-impact controls tailored for national security systems and classified environments.

Choosing the Right Framework

Selection depends on regulatory requirements and organizational goals. Federal agencies must adopt 800-53. Private organizations often use the CSF for its flexibility and layer in 800-53 or 800-171 controls when handling sensitive data or working in stricter environments.

How Do Organizations Implement NIST Controls?

What Are the Essential Implementation Steps?

1. Select Framework & Scope: Choose CSF, 800-53, or 800-171 based on requirements and define the scope.
   
2. Risk Assessment: Identify vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.
   
3. Control Selection & Tailoring: Pick relevant controls and adapt them to your environment and risk tolerance.
   
4. Plan Implementation: Assign responsibilities, timelines, resources, and success metrics.
   
5. Deploy Controls: Roll out policies, procedures, technologies, and training.
   
6. Test & Validate: Confirm controls work as intended through systematic testing.
   
7. Continuous Monitoring: Track performance and adjust as threats, systems, or regulations evolve.

Implementation Success Factor: Organizations that follow structured methods improve control effectiveness by 75% and reduce implementation time by 45% compared to unstructured approaches.

What Challenges Do Organizations Face During Implementation?

• Resource constraints
• Complex requirements
• Change management issues
• Integration with existing security programs

Solutions: Executive sponsorship, dedicated project management, cross-functional collaboration, and in some cases, external expertise.

Who Must Comply with NIST Controls?

Is NIST Compliance Mandatory or Voluntary?

• Federal Agencies: Must comply with NIST 800-53 under FISMA.
• Government Contractors: Compliance depends on contract terms. Defense contractors must meet NIST 800-171 for handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
• Private Sector: Generally voluntary, though adoption is increasingly expected for risk management and competitive positioning.
• Regulated Industries: Sectors like healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure often face regulatory or customer expectations for NIST adherence.

How Does NIST Compare to Other Cybersecurity Standards?

• SOC 2: Requires external audits for attestation, while NIST provides frameworks organizations can adopt and self-assess.
• CMMC: Builds on NIST 800-171 by adding maturity levels and mandatory third-party certification for defense contractors, with phased requirements over the coming years.

What Are the Benefits of Implementing NIST Controls?

How Do NIST Controls Improve Organizational Security?

NIST controls provide structured approaches to cybersecurity that strengthen overall resilience. Organizations adopting them see:

• Faster threat detection
• Stronger incident response
• Broader risk coverage
• More reliable audit outcomes

Benefit Analysis Results: Average improvements of 65% in threat detection speed, 70% reduction in incident response times, and 80% better compliance audit results compared to organizations without structured frameworks.

What Business Value Do NIST Frameworks Provide?

Beyond security, NIST frameworks deliver significant business advantages, such as:

• Competitive differentiation and market credibility
• Increased customer trust
• Greater operational efficiency
• Lower cybersecurity insurance costs

They also establish a shared cybersecurity language, improving communication among technical teams, executives, and external stakeholders, which supports better decision-making and investment alignment.

How Can Technology Support NIST Implementation?

What Role Does Compliance Software Play?

Modern compliance platforms help streamline NIST adoption by:

• Automating control management
• Collecting and organizing audit evidence
• Enabling continuous monitoring through dashboards

These tools reduce manual effort, improve documentation consistency, and provide real-time visibility into implementation progress and control effectiveness.

How Does Cloud Computing Affect NIST Implementation?

Cloud environments introduce unique challenges due to shared responsibility models and dynamic infrastructure. Successful adoption requires:

• Clear responsibility matrices between provider and customer
• Cloud-specific security controls
• Visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments

Organizations can simplify compliance processes while maintaining strong oversight across both traditional and cloud systems by leveraging the right technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many NIST controls are there?
A:  Over 900 in NIST 800-53, organized into 18 control families. Most organizations implement 200–400 controls, depending on their risk profile. Federal agencies average 450–600, while private companies typically adopt 180–350..

Q: What’s the difference between NIST 800-53 and NIST CSF?
A: NIST 800-53 is detailed and mandatory for federal agencies under FISMA. The CSF is voluntary, flexible, and built around five functions (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover), making it suitable for organizations of any size..

Q: Do all organizations need to implement every NIST control?
A: No, controls are tailored based on risk assessments, compliance obligations, and operational needs.

Q: How long does NIST implementation take?
A: Small CSF projects often take 6–12 months. Large-scale 800-53 implementations can require 18–36 months, depending on size and complexity.

Q: What does implementation cost?
A:  Mid-size organizations typically spend $35K–$115K. Larger enterprises may invest significantly more depending on scope and requirements.

Q: Can small businesses benefit?
A: Yes, the CSF is highly scalable and helps smaller organizations strengthen security, improve customer trust, and stay competitive with limited resources.

Simplify NIST Compliance with ZenGRC

NIST controls offer a proven, adaptable framework for strengthening cybersecurity, improving compliance outcomes, and building long-term resilience. Whether through the flexibility of the CSF or the rigor of 800-53, organizations can align security with business objectives while reducing risk.

ZenGRC simplifies NIST adoption with automated workflows, centralized dashboards, and continuous monitoring. It helps organizations stay compliant, prepare for audits, and strengthen security without overwhelming resources.Are you ready to strengthen your security posture with NIST controls? Schedule a demo.