Audit and Accountability for NIST 800-171 Revision 2

Audit and Accountability for NIST 800-171 Revision 2 assess an organization's adherence to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171 Revision 2 guidelines. These standards aim to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations that deal with CUI on behalf of the government.

NIST 800-171 Revision 2 outlines security requirements to protect CUI in nonfederal systems. It primarily applies to organizations managing CUI for the government or serving as contractors or subcontractors.

The audit and accountability controls emphasize establishing robust systems to monitor and analyze security-related events within an organization's systems. These controls enable the swift detection and response to potential cybersecurity threats, unauthorized access attempts, and policy breaches.

The benchmark stresses the need for organizations to generate comprehensive audit records for relevant events like user and system activities affecting CUI security. Regular review and analysis of these records are necessary to detect anomalies or breaches promptly.

To ensure integrity and confidentiality, organizations must restrict access to authorized personnel only, securely store, and transmit audit records. Retaining these records for a specified duration, as per policies and regulations, facilitates future incident analysis and investigations.

Organizations are mandated to develop incident response procedures comprising response plans, actions, responsibilities, and communication protocols. Periodic testing validates these procedures, ensuring prompt and effective responses to security incidents.

Adhering to the audit and accountability controls in this benchmark fortifies an organization's cybersecurity stance, showcases compliance with NIST 800-171 Revision 2, and shields CUI integrity, availability, and confidentiality.

In essence, the Audit and Accountability for NIST 800-171 Revision 2 benchmark enforces the establishment and upkeep of effective audit and accountability controls. It aids in safeguarding CUI, enhancing incident prevention, detection, and response, and showcasing a commitment to cybersecurity excellence and regulatory conformity.