If your business works with federal agencies or the Department of Defense, NIST SP 800-171 compliance is a legal requirement — not optional. Non-compliance puts your contracts at risk and exposes you to False Claims Act liability. Skyward IT helps Orange County businesses implement all 110 NIST controls and maintain compliance with confidence.
- Full NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 gap assessment
- All 110 security controls implemented & documented
- System Security Plan (SSP) & POA&M creation
- CUI identification, labeling & protection
- DFARS 252.204-7012 compliance support
- Foundation for CMMC Level 2 certification
Skyward IT is a Managed IT Service Provider serving Orange County businesses since 2011. We specialize in helping federal contractors, DoD subcontractors, manufacturers, and engineering firms implement and document the 110 security controls defined in NIST Special Publication 800-171. Whether you need full implementation from scratch or help closing specific gaps before a CMMC assessment, we have the technical expertise and documentation experience to get you there.
What is NIST SP 800-171 and Why Does It Apply to You?
NIST Special Publication 800-171, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations,” defines 110 security requirements across 14 control families that any non-federal organization must implement when handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Compliance has been required under DFARS clause 252.204-7012 since 2017, and enforcement tightened significantly with the phased rollout of CMMC beginning November 2025.
NIST 800-171 is also the direct foundation of CMMC Level 2 — meaning every organization pursuing CMMC certification must first achieve full NIST 800-171 compliance. If you handle any CUI for a federal agency or DoD contractor, the clock is running.
Control Families
Access Control, Audit & Accountability, Configuration Management, Incident Response, and 10 more domains.
Domains
Security Requirements
Every requirement must be implemented or have a documented Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) for each gap.
All Required
Current Version
NIST 800-171 Revision 2 currently governs CMMC Level 2. Rev 3 is in development and will expand requirements further.
CMMC Foundation
The 14 NIST 800-171 Control Families — What We Implement
NIST 800-171 organizes its 110 requirements into 14 control families. Skyward IT addresses every family as part of our compliance engagements:
Our NIST 800-171 Compliance Services for Orange County
We provide end-to-end NIST 800-171 compliance support — from initial gap assessment through full implementation, documentation, and ongoing management. We also serve as the technical bridge between your NIST compliance program and your CMMC certification path.
NIST 800-171 Gap Assessment
We evaluate your current environment against all 110 NIST requirements, scoring each control and producing a prioritized gap report with remediation timelines and effort estimates.
System Security Plan (SSP)
We build your System Security Plan — a required document that describes how each of the 110 controls is implemented in your environment. This is the primary artifact evaluated during a CMMC assessment.
POA&M Development
For controls not yet fully implemented, we create a formal Plan of Action & Milestones documenting your remediation plan — allowing you to demonstrate good-faith compliance progress to auditors and DoD primes.
CUI Identification & Protection
We help you identify exactly what data in your environment qualifies as Controlled Unclassified Information, establish CUI boundaries, and implement the required technical protections — including encryption, access restrictions, and labeling.
Technical Controls Implementation
We deploy and configure MFA, endpoint detection, audit logging, network segmentation, vulnerability scanning, encryption, and all other technical requirements across your IT environment.
CMMC Level 2 Preparation
Full NIST 800-171 compliance is the prerequisite for CMMC Level 2 certification. We build your compliance program with CMMC assessment in mind from day one — so you are not starting over when your C3PAO assessment date arrives.
Our NIST 800-171 Compliance Process
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1
Free Consultation & Scoping
We review your federal contracts, identify which data qualifies as CUI, and determine the full scope of your NIST 800-171 compliance obligation.
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2
Gap Assessment Against All 110 Controls
We evaluate your current systems, policies, and configurations against every NIST requirement — producing a scored gap report that shows exactly where you stand and what needs to change.
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3
Remediation Roadmap
You receive a prioritized action plan with clear timelines, resource requirements, and cost estimates — organized so you can address the highest-risk gaps first.
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4
Technical Implementation
We deploy and configure all required technical controls — from MFA and encryption to audit logging, endpoint protection, and network segmentation — across your environment.
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5
SSP & POA&M Documentation
We build all required compliance documentation — your System Security Plan, Plan of Action & Milestones, policies, and evidence library — in a format ready for CMMC assessment or DCSA review.
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6
Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance
We provide continuous monitoring, log retention, quarterly reviews, and annual reassessments to prevent compliance drift as your business and the NIST framework evolve.
Justin and his team at Skyward IT have been partnering with us for years. Throughout all of this, Skyward IT has been a dedicated resource — one of the most responsive companies I have worked with. We would recommend working with Skyward IT for their customer-centric approach, skill sets, and knowledge.
NIST 800-171 Frequently Asked Questions
Know Your NIST Score Before Your Customer Does
Get a free NIST SP 800-171 gap assessment from Skyward IT. We will score your environment, identify your highest-risk gaps, and show you a clear path to compliance — before your next contract renewal or prime contractor audit.
