national institute of standards and technology (NIST)
What is NIST?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S. government agency that develops and promotes measurement standards and best practices across science, technology, and industry. In cybersecurity, NIST is widely respected for its guidelines, frameworks, and publications that help organizations manage and reduce risk.
Originally founded in 1901, NIST is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and plays a leading role in shaping secure systems through its rigorous and research-backed recommendations.
What does NIST do in cybersecurity?
NIST provides frameworks, standards, and guidelines to help businesses protect their data, systems, and networks. These include:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): A voluntary framework to help organizations assess and improve their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.
- NIST SP 800-53: A catalog of security and privacy controls used in federal systems and by organizations looking to build strong security foundations.
- NIST SP 800-171: Focused on protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems, commonly used in defense and contractor environments.
These resources are globally referenced and widely adopted, even outside the U.S., due to their thoroughness and practicality.
What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)?
The NIST CSF provides a structured approach to identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents. It consists of five key functions:
- Identify – Know your environment and understand the risks
- Protect – Develop safeguards like access control, data security, and training
- Detect – Implement activities to discover incidents early
- Respond – Establish plans for dealing with cybersecurity events
- Recover – Build resilience and restore capabilities after incidents
These five pillars offer a comprehensive view of cybersecurity maturity.
What is NIST compliance?
NIST compliance means aligning your security practices with one or more of NIST’s publications, depending on your industry and regulatory requirements. While some organizations voluntarily follow NIST frameworks to improve their cybersecurity posture, others - such as U.S. federal contractors - are required to comply.
Common goals of NIST compliance include:
- Protecting sensitive data
- Meeting regulatory requirements (e.g., FISMA, DFARS)
- Improving risk management
- Enhancing trust with customers and partners
How Intruder supports NIST-based security
Intruder helps you meet many NIST security goals through:
- Continuous vulnerability scanning
- Risk-based prioritization of flaws
- Monitoring external attack surfaces
- Automated reporting for audits
These capabilities align with NIST’s recommendations around vulnerability management, asset inventory, and continuous monitoring.
