NIST
800-171 Compliance: How 0t.links Meets Federal Security
Requirements

Understanding NIST 800-171

NIST Special Publication 800-171, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified
Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations,” establishes
security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information
(CUI) in nonfederal information systems and organizations. This
framework is mandatory for contractors working with federal
agencies.

Key Security Requirements

Access Control (AC)

• AC.3.1: Limit information system access to
  authorized users
• AC.3.2: Limit information system access to
  authorized processes
• AC.3.3: Control information posted or processed on
  publicly accessible information systems

Awareness and Training (AT)

• AT.3.1: Provide security awareness training to
  personnel
• AT.3.2: Provide role-based security training to
  personnel

Audit and Accountability (AU)

• AU.3.1: Create and retain system audit logs
• AU.3.2: Ensure audit logs are reviewed and
  analyzed
• AU.3.3: Protect audit information and audit logging
  tools

Configuration Management (CM)

• CM.3.1: Establish and maintain baseline
  configurations
• CM.3.2: Establish and maintain configuration change
  control
• CM.3.3: Establish and maintain security
  configuration settings

Identification and
Authentication (IA)

• IA.3.1: Identify information system users and
  processes
• IA.3.2: Authenticate identities before allowing
  access
• IA.3.3: Use multifactor authentication for local
  and network access

Incident Response (IR)

• IR.3.1: Establish operational incident handling
  capability
• IR.3.2: Track, document, and report incidents
• IR.3.3: Test incident response capability

Maintenance (MA)

• MA.3.1: Perform maintenance on information system
  components
• MA.3.2: Provide controls on the tools, techniques,
  and personnel used

Media Protection (MP)

• MP.3.1: Protect information system media during
  transport
• MP.3.2: Sanitize or destroy information system
  media
• MP.3.3: Limit access to information on portable
  storage devices

Personnel Security (PS)

• PS.3.1: Screen individuals prior to authorizing
  access
• PS.3.2: Ensure information system access is
  terminated upon employment separation

Physical Protection (PE)

• PE.3.1: Limit physical access to information
  systems
• PE.3.2: Protect the physical plant and support
  infrastructure

Risk Assessment (RA)

• RA.3.1: Periodically assess risk to organizational
  operations
• RA.3.2: Scan for vulnerabilities and remediate

Security Assessment (CA)

• CA.3.1: Periodically assess the security
  controls
• CA.3.2: Develop and implement plans of action
• CA.3.3: Monitor security control assessments

System and
Communications Protection (SC)

• SC.3.1: Monitor, control, and protect
  communications
• SC.3.2: Employ architectural designs and software
  development practices
• SC.3.3: Separate user functionality from system
  management

System and Information
Integrity (SI)

• SI.3.1: Identify, report, and correct information
  and information system flaws
• SI.3.2: Provide protection from malicious code
• SI.3.3: Monitor information system security
  alerts

How 0t.links
Ensures NIST 800-171 Compliance

1. Encrypted Link
Generation

• All secure links are encrypted using AES-256 encryption
• No plaintext URLs are stored in our systems
• Zero-knowledge architecture ensures we cannot access your data

2. Access Control
Implementation

• Multi-factor authentication required for link creation
• Role-based access controls for different user types
• Time-limited access tokens for enhanced security

3. Audit and
Monitoring

• Comprehensive logging of all link access attempts
• Real-time monitoring of security events
• Detailed audit trails for compliance reporting

4. Data Protection

• End-to-end encryption for all data transmission
• Secure key management and rotation
• Data sanitization upon link expiration

5. Incident Response

• Automated threat detection and response
• 24/7 security monitoring
• Rapid incident containment and reporting

6. Configuration
Management

• Hardened security configurations by default
• Regular security updates and patches
• Change control processes for all modifications

Benefits for Federal
Contractors

Simplified
Compliance

• Pre-built security controls that meet NIST 800-171 requirements
• Automated compliance reporting and documentation
• Reduced implementation time and costs

Enhanced Security
Posture

• Military-grade encryption and security protocols
• Continuous monitoring and threat detection
• Regular security assessments and updates

Operational
Efficiency

• Seamless integration with existing systems
• User-friendly interface for secure link management
• Automated security controls reduce manual overhead

Implementation Guide

Step 1: Assessment

• Evaluate current security posture
• Identify gaps in current NIST 800-171 compliance
• Determine specific requirements for your organization

Step 2: Integration

• Deploy 0t.links secure link solution
• Configure security controls to meet your specific needs
• Integrate with existing security infrastructure

Step 3: Validation

• Conduct security testing and validation
• Perform compliance assessment
• Document security controls and procedures

Step 4: Monitoring

• Implement continuous monitoring
• Regular security assessments
• Ongoing compliance validation

Compliance Documentation

Security Control
Mapping

• Detailed mapping of 0t.links controls to NIST 800-171
  requirements
• Evidence collection for audit purposes
• Continuous compliance monitoring

Audit Support

• Comprehensive audit logs and reports
• Security control documentation
• Incident response procedures

Training and
Awareness

• Security awareness training materials
• Role-based training programs
• Regular security updates and communications

Conclusion

NIST 800-171 compliance is essential for federal contractors, and
0t.links provides a comprehensive solution that meets all security
requirements while simplifying implementation and ongoing management.
Our zero-knowledge architecture, military-grade encryption, and
automated security controls ensure your organization maintains the
highest standards of security and compliance.

By choosing 0t.links, federal contractors can achieve NIST 800-171
compliance more efficiently, reduce security risks, and maintain the
trust of their federal partners while protecting sensitive Controlled
Unclassified Information.

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For more information about NIST 800-171 compliance and how
0t.links can help your organization meet federal security requirements,
contact our compliance team.