

It is important to understand that there is no officially-sanctioned format for a System Security Plan (SSP) to meet NIST 800-171 compliance requirements. It can stand alone or be paired with other specialized products we offer. The SSP can serve as a key element in your organization's cybersecurity program. Specifically, the SSP template covers all Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Non-Federal Organization (NFO) controls that are listed in Appendices D and E of NIST 800-171. The SSP is meant to be a "living document" that captures pertinent information on the controls implementation for NIST 800-171. NIST 800-171 System Security Plan (SSP) Template Even when you bring in a consultant, this also requires involvement from your internal team for quality control and answering questions, so the impact is not limited to just the consultant's time being consumed. In addition to the immense cost of hiring a cybersecurity consultant at $300/hr+ to write this documentation for you, the time to schedule a consultant, provide guidance and get the deliverable product can take months. The process of writing cybersecurity documentation can take an internal team many months and it involves pulling your most senior and experienced cybersecurity experts away from operational duties to assist in the process, which is generally not the most efficient use of their time.

The SSP is based on existing formats that are used for FedRAMP, but is designed specifically for NIST 800-171 to document the controls affecting your Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Non-Federal Organization (NFO) controls.

This template is available for immediate download. Based on customer demand, we developed an editable System Security Plan (SSP) template that is specifically designed for NIST 800-171 compliance.
