NIST SP 800-53 Compared to ISO 27001

NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 are two different standards that guide how organizations can best protect their systems and data from cyberattacks and other forms of information security threats. In order to ensure the highest levels of data security, organizations must understand the differences between the two standards and how they can be used together. These controls are part of the NIST Cyber Security Framework, which is a unified set of standards, guidelines, and best practices that provide organizations with a comprehensive approach to managing risk and improving security posture.

The NIST SP 800-53 is a set of security controls published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The controls are designed to help organizations protect their systems and data from unauthorized access. The controls are organized into families, such as Access Control, Audit and Accountability, System and Communications Protection, and Awareness and Training. Each family includes multiple control documents that provide detailed guidance on how to implement the security control.

The ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The standard provides guidance on how to implement an information security management system (ISMS) in an organization. The standard is organized into a series of sections and clauses, each of which provides guidance on how to implement various security controls and processes. The ISMS is designed to help organizations protect their systems and data from a variety of security threats.

Though the NIST SP 800-53 and the ISO/IEC 27001 are different standards, they can be used together to provide a comprehensive security framework. The NIST SP 800-53 provides detailed guidance on how to implement the security controls, while the ISO/IEC 27001 provides a structure for how the controls should be organized and implemented. By using the two standards together, organizations can create a comprehensive security program that protects their data and systems from a variety of security threats.

Access Control

The NIST SP 800-53 Access Control chapter describes the requirements for controlling access to information and information systems, including user identification and authentication, privileges, access enforcement, and monitoring. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A5.1.1, A5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A10.1.1, A.10.8.1, A.11.1.1, A.11.2.1, A11.2.2, A11.4.1, A.11.7.1, A.11.7.2, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which sets out the requirements for control of access to information, control of changes to the information, and the management of information security incidents.

Audit and Accountability

The NIST SP 800-53 Audit and Accountability chapter describes audit and accountability measures, including audit records, audit review and reporting, and audit reduction. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.10.10.2, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1, A.15.3.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for monitoring and logging security events, responding to security events, and reporting security events to management.

Awareness and Training

The NIST SP 800-53 Awareness and Training chapter describes the requirements for security awareness and training, including personnel security and security education and training. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for personnel security, including access control, background screening, and training.

Configuration Management

The NIST SP 800-53 Configuration Management chapter describes configuration management measures, including configuration management planning, configuration change control, and configuration status accounting. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.6.1.3. A.7.1.1, A.7.1.2, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.10.1.2, A.10.3.2, A.12.4.1, A.12.4.3, A.12.5.1, A.12.5.2, A.12.5.3 chapters which outlines the requirements for configuration management, including change control, configuration identification, and configuration audit.

Contingency Planning

The NIST SP 800-53 Contingency Planning chapter describes contingency planning measures, including contingency planning policy and procedures, contingency planning coordination, and contingency planning testing and exercising. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.9.1.4, A.10.1.1, A.10.1.2, A.14.1.1, A.14.1.3, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for contingency planning, including risk assessment, risk treatment, and continuity planning.

Identification and Authentication

The NIST SP 800-53 chapter describes the requirements for identification and authentication measures, including user identification and authentication and user access control enforcement. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.11.2.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for identity and access management, including user registration and identity proofing, authentication methods, and access control.

Incident Response

The NIST SP 800-53 Incident Response chapter describes incident response measures, including incident response planning, incident detection and analysis, and incident containment and eradication. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.13.1.1, A.13.2.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for responding to security incidents, including incident response planning, incident detection and analysis, and containment and recovery.

Maintenance

The NIST SP 800-53 Maintenance chapter describes maintenance measures, including maintenance planning, maintenance control, and maintenance review and audit. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.9.2.4, A.10.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for maintenance of information security, including change control, system performance review, and system maintenance.

Media Protection

The NIST SP 800-53 Media Protection chapter describes media protection measures, including media labeling and handling, media storage and disposal, and media transport. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.10.7.1, A.10.7.2, A.10.7.3, A.11.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.1.3, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for media handling, including media labelling and handling, media storage and disposal, and media transport.

Personnel Security

The NIST SP 800-53 Personnel Security chapter describes personnel security measures, including personnel selection and hiring, personnel clearance, and personnel termination. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for personnel security, including selection and hiring, clearance, and termination.

Physical and Environmental Protection

The NIST SP 800-53 Physical and Environmental Protection chapter describes physical and environmental protection measures, including physical access control, environmental monitoring, and equipment maintenance. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.9.1.4, A.9.2.1, A.9.2.2, A.10.1.1, A.11.1.1, A.11.2.1, A.11.2.2, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for physical and environmental security, including access control, environmental monitoring, and asset management.

Planning

The NIST SP 800-53 Planning chapter describes planning measures, including system and services acquisition, system and services development, and system and services implementation. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.2, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for information security policy, including policy development, policy maintenance, and policy review.

Program Management

The NIST SP 800-53 Program Management chapter describes program management measures, including program management planning and requirements, program management reporting and monitoring, and program management review and audit. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3 A.8.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for information security organization, including organization of information security, management responsibilities, and communication.

Risk Assessment

The NIST SP 800-53 Risk Assessment chapter describes risk assessment measures, including risk assessment planning and coordination, risk assessment operations, and risk assessment reporting. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.14.1.2, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for risk assessment, including risk assessment planning, risk assessment operations, and risk assessment reporting.

Security Assessment and Authorization

The NIST SP 800-53 Security Assessment and Authorization chapter describes security assessment and authorization measures, including security assessment planning and coordination, security assessment operations, and security assessment reporting. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.11.2.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for security assessment, including security assessment planning, security assessment operations, and security assessment reporting.

System and Communications Protection

The NIST SP 800-53 System and Communications Protection chapter describes system and communications protection measures, including system and communications protection planning, system and communications protection implementation, and system and communications protection monitoring. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.12.1.1, A.18.1.1, A.18.2.2 chapters which outlines the requirements for communications security, including security requirements for communications, implementation of communications security, and monitoring of communications security.

System and Information Integrity

The NIST SP 800-53 chapter describes system and information integrity measures, including system and information integrity planning, system and information integrity implementation, and system and information integrity monitoring. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for system integrity, including system integrity planning, system integrity implementation, and system integrity monitoring.

System and Services Acquisition

The NIST SP 800-53 System and Services Acquisition chapter describes system and services acquisition measures, including system and services acquisition planning, system and services acquisition implementation, and system and services acquisition monitoring. This is comparable to the ISO 27001 A.5.1.1, A.5.1.2, A.6.1.1, A.6.1.3, A.6.2.1, A.8.1.1, A.10.1.1, A.12.1.1, A.12.5.5, A.15.1.1, A.15.2.1 chapters which outlines the requirements for acquisition, development, and maintenance of information systems, including system acquisition planning, system development and maintenance planning, and system acquisition, development, and maintenance monitoring.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NIST SP 800-53 and the ISO/IEC 27001 are two different standards that can be used together to create a comprehensive security framework. The NIST SP 800-53 provides detailed guidance on how to implement the security controls, while the ISO/IEC 27001 provides a structure for how the controls should be organized and implemented. By using the two standards together, organizations can ensure their systems and data are protected from unauthorized access and other security threats. Examples of organizations that have successfully implemented both standards include the US Department of Defense and the UK National Health Service.