Day 53: What Is NIST SP 800-171—and Why It’s the Backbone of CMMC

CMMC Level 2 isn’t built from scratch—it’s built on NIST SP 800-171. 
With 53 days left until the deadline, it’s critical to understand the framework behind the compliance: NIST SP 800-171. 

What Is NIST SP 800-171? 

It’s a cybersecurity standard developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems. CMMC Level 2 directly maps to the 110 security practices outlined in this standard. 

Key Domains Covered 

• Access Control 

• Awareness & Training 

• Incident Response 

• Configuration Management 

• System & Communications Protection 
  …and 9 more domains critical to securing sensitive data. 

Why It Matters 

• ✅ It’s the foundation of CMMC Level 2 

• ✅ It defines the technical and procedural controls required 

• ✅ It’s used by C3PAOs to evaluate compliance readiness 

How Valeo Networks Helps 

We simplify NIST SP 800-171 by: 

• Mapping your current controls to the 110 practices 

• Identifying gaps and remediation steps 

• Implementing missing controls 

• Preparing documentation for assessments 

Don’t just aim for CMMC—master the framework behind it. 
Start your NIST 800-171 readiness review 
📧 Contact: Jim Gast – jim@valeonetworks.com