What It Is

CE Marking (Conformité Européenne) is the EU's primary product compliance marking under the New Legislative Framework (NLF). It is a manufacturer's declaration that products meet applicable harmonised legislation's essential health, safety, and environmental requirements. Scope covers categories like electrical equipment, machinery, and medical devices. Key approach is risk-proportionate, using conformity assessment modules (A-H) and harmonised standards for presumption of conformity.

Key Components

• Essential requirements from directives/regulations (e.g., LVD 2014/35/EU).
• Conformity modules: self-assessment (Module A) or Notified Body involvement.
• Technical documentation, EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), and CE affixation.
• Post-market surveillance under Regulation (EU) 2019/1020. Self-declaration model for most; third-party certification for high-risk products.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandated for EEA market access; enables free circulation. Reduces trade barriers, builds stakeholder trust, mitigates liability. Provides presumption via OJEU standards, supports fair competition.

Implementation Overview

Map legislation, perform risk assessment, compile technical file (10-year retention), issue DoC, affix mark. Applies to manufacturers/importers globally targeting EEA. Varies by product risk; Notified Body audits for some. Involves testing, documentation, ongoing surveillance.

What It Is

NIST SP 800-171 is a NIST Special Publication providing recommended security requirements for protecting the confidentiality of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems. It is a control-based framework tailored from NIST SP 800-53 Moderate baseline, applicable via federal contracts to contractors and supply chains.

Key Components

• 97-110 requirements (r3/r2) organized into 14-17 families like Access Control, Audit, Configuration Management.
• Core artifacts: System Security Plan (SSP) and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
• Assessment procedures in SP 800-171A using examine/interview/test methods.
• r3 adds Planning, Supply Chain Risk Management; supports tailoring and ODPs.

Why Organizations Use It

• Contractual mandates (e.g., DFARS 252.204-7012) for DoD contractors.
• Risk reduction for CUI breaches; CMMC Level 2 alignment.
• Enhances market access, stakeholder trust, operational resilience.

Implementation Overview

• Phased: scoping CUI enclave, gap analysis, controls, evidence collection.
• Applies to nonfederal orgs handling CUI; audits via self or C3PAO.
• Suits all sizes, especially defense supply chain. (178 words)