What is the primary objective of **NIST 800-171**?

**NIST SP 800-171 provides recommended security requirements for protecting the confidentiality of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations.** It applies to components that process, store, transmit CUI, or provide protection for such components, tailored from NIST SP 800-53 Moderate baseline. Revision 3 (May 2024), superseding Revision 2, organizes requirements into 17 families including new areas like Supply Chain Risk Management (SR) and Planning (PL), emphasizing consistent safeguards without full FISMA obligations.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **NIST 800-171**?

**Nonfederal organizations handling CUI via federal contracts, grants, or agreements must comply with NIST SP 800-171.** This includes DoD contractors and subcontractors under DFARS 252.204-7012 for covered contractor information systems processing Covered Defense Information (CDI). Applicability is contractually enforced, excluding COTS-only acquisitions; cloud providers require FedRAMP Moderate equivalence.

Does **NIST 800-171** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**No, NIST SP 800-171 does not mandate external audits or third-party certification.** It recommends self-assessments using SP 800-171A procedures (examine/interview/test). DoD may require SPRS score postings or CMMC Level 2 certifications via C3PAOs for higher assurance, but the standard itself relies on SSPs and POA&Ms for evidence.

How often should an assessment for **NIST 800-171** be performed?

**Organizations must perform assessments at least annually and after significant system changes.** SP 800-171A Rev 3 supports continuous monitoring; DoD requires annual SPRS reaffirmations for Basic assessments. SSPs document implementation status, with POA&Ms tracking remediation to maintain compliance.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **NIST 800-171**?

**Non-compliance risks contract ineligibility, termination, and exclusion from DoD awards.** DFARS 252.204-7012 mandates implementation; failures lead to SPRS score deductions (down to -203), remedial demands, 72-hour incident reporting violations, False Claims Act liability, and reputational damage in federal supply chains.

Can **NIST 800-171** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2 Appendix D maps directly to NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls.** Revision 3 aligns closely with SP 800-53 Rev 5, supporting integration into existing ISMS or NIST CSF programs. Tailoring via compensating controls or FedRAMP Moderate equivalence is permitted with documentation.

What is the first step to begin implementing **NIST 800-171**?

**Define the system boundary and inventory components processing, storing, or transmitting CUI.** Develop an SSP describing the environment, connections, and requirement implementations; create a POA&M for gaps. Use NIST templates and scoping via CUI security domains to limit scope effectively.

What is the primary objective of **BREEAM**?

**BREEAM's primary objective is to provide a science-led sustainability assessment and third-party certification framework for the built environment.** Developed by BRE in 1990, it measures performance across categories like **Management**, **Health & Wellbeing**, **Energy**, **Transport**, **Water**, **Materials**, **Waste**, **Land Use & Ecology**, **Pollution**, and **Innovation**. Credits are weighted and aggregated into ratings from **Pass (≥30%)** to **Outstanding (≥85%)**, enabling comparable verification of environmental, social, and resilience outcomes for buildings, infrastructure, and communities.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **BREEAM**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with BREEAM, as it is a voluntary certification scheme.** Professionally, it applies to developers, owners, and operators of new construction, refurbishments, in-use assets, communities, and infrastructure seeking market differentiation, ESG credibility, or alignment with planning incentives. Licensed **BREEAM Assessors** and **Advisory Professionals (APs)** are mandatory for certification, with BRE Global conducting quality audits.

Does **BREEAM** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, BREEAM mandates third-party certification by BRE Global following quality audits of licensed Assessor submissions.** Assessors compile evidence against scheme technical manuals and **Knowledge Base Compliance Notes (KBCNs)**; BRE performs QA, potentially including site visits, under UKAS **ISO/IEC 17065** accreditation, ensuring impartial verification before issuing ratings.

How often should an assessment for **BREEAM** be performed?

**BREEAM New Construction assessments occur once per project at design and post-construction stages.** For **BREEAM In-Use**, certifications are valid for **3 years**, requiring reassessment for renewal to verify ongoing operational performance via **Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE)** and metrics like energy monitoring.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **BREEAM**?

**Non-compliance with BREEAM results in denied credits, lower ratings, or failed certification, with no direct legal penalties as it is voluntary.** Indirect consequences include lost market premiums (e.g., up to 25% rental uplift), planning delays, reduced ESG reporting credibility, and higher operational costs from unoptimized energy or health performance.

Can **BREEAM** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**BREEAM does not officially map to other frameworks within its standalone requirements.** However, Version 7 aligns with **EU Taxonomy** via revised issues on whole-life carbon, net-zero strategies, biodiversity, and resilience, supporting ESG disclosures while maintaining scheme-specific criteria.

What is the first step to begin implementing **BREEAM**?

**The first step is to select the appropriate scheme (e.g., New Construction, In-Use) and appoint a licensed BREEAM Assessor early at project inception.** Conduct a pre-assessment using the technical manual to target ratings, identify credits, and integrate requirements into design and procurement for cost-effective compliance.

NIST 800-171 vs BREEAM

Standards Comparison

NIST 800-171

Mandatory

2020

U.S. standard safeguarding CUI in nonfederal systems

BREEAM

Voluntary

1990

Global sustainability certification for built environment

Quick Verdict

NIST 800-171 mandates CUI protection for defense contractors via contractual cybersecurity controls, while BREEAM certifies sustainable buildings voluntarily. Organizations adopt NIST for DoD compliance and BREEAM for ESG value, energy savings, and market premiums.

Controlled Unclassified Information

NIST 800-171

NIST SP 800-171 Protecting CUI in Nonfederal Systems

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Protects CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems
Scoped to CUI enclave isolation strategy
Mandates SSP and POA&M documentation
110 requirements across 17 families in r3
FedRAMP Moderate equivalence for cloud

Building Sustainability

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Credit-based scoring with category weightings
Third-party BRE certification and audits
10 sustainability categories including energy, health
Knowledge Base for continuous compliance updates
Global schemes for new build, in-use, infrastructure

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

NIST 800-171 Details

What It Is

NIST Special Publication 800-171 Revision 3 is a U.S. government framework providing security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) confidentiality in nonfederal systems. Its primary scope targets federal contractors and supply chains, using a control-based approach tailored from SP 800-53 Moderate baseline with risk-commensurate safeguards.

Key Components

17 families (e.g., Access Control, Audit, Supply Chain Risk Management) with ~97 requirements in r3.
Organization-Defined Parameters (ODPs) for flexibility.
Core artifacts: System Security Plan (SSP) and Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M).
Assessment via SP 800-171A r3 (examine/interview/test methods); no formal certification but contractual compliance.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory via DFARS 252.204-7012 for DoD contracts handling CUI/CDI.
Reduces breach risk, ensures contract eligibility, builds CMMC readiness.
Enhances stakeholder trust, supply chain resilience, competitive edge in federal procurement.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: scope CUI enclaves, gap analysis, implement controls (MFA, SIEM), document SSP/POA&M. Applies to contractors of all sizes; audits via self-assessment or C3PAO. Timelines 6-36 months based on complexity.

BREEAM Details

What It Is

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability assessment and certification framework for the built environment. It evaluates environmental, social, and resilience performance across buildings, infrastructure, and communities using a credit-based, weighted scoring methodology.

Key Components

10 core categories: Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation
Credits awarded for compliance with issue criteria, transformed into ratings (Pass to Outstanding)
Built on technical manuals, KBCNs (Knowledge Base Compliance Notes), and third-party assurance
Licenced assessor-led certification with BRE Global QA audits

Why Organizations Use It

Drives operational savings (e.g., 22-33% energy reduction), asset value uplift, ESG alignment
Meets planning incentives, EU Taxonomy, net zero goals
Mitigates risks in regulation, climate resilience, greenwashing
Enhances market differentiation, tenant appeal, investor confidence

Implementation Overview

Phased: pre-assessment, design integration, construction evidence, post-occupancy
Early BREEAM Assessor/AP appointment essential
Applies to all sizes, global with local adaptations
Requires evidence submission for BRE certification (valid 3 years for In-Use)

Key Differences

Aspect	NIST 800-171	BREEAM
Scope	CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems	Building sustainability and performance
Industry	Defense contractors, federal supply chain	Construction, real estate, infrastructure
Nature	Contractual cybersecurity requirements	Voluntary sustainability certification
Testing	SP 800-171A examine/interview/test assessments	Licensed assessor audits and BRE QA
Penalties	Contract ineligibility, DFARS penalties	No legal penalties, lost certification

Scope

NIST 800-171

CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems

BREEAM

Building sustainability and performance

Industry

NIST 800-171

Defense contractors, federal supply chain

BREEAM

Construction, real estate, infrastructure

Nature

NIST 800-171

Contractual cybersecurity requirements

BREEAM

Voluntary sustainability certification

Testing

NIST 800-171

SP 800-171A examine/interview/test assessments

BREEAM

Licensed assessor audits and BRE QA

Penalties

NIST 800-171

Contract ineligibility, DFARS penalties

BREEAM

No legal penalties, lost certification

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about NIST 800-171 and BREEAM

NIST 800-171 FAQ

BREEAM FAQ

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NIST 800-171

BREEAM

Quick Verdict

NIST 800-171

Key Features

BREEAM

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

NIST 800-171 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

BREEAM Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

NIST 800-171 FAQ

What is the primary objective of NIST 800-171?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with NIST 800-171?

Does NIST 800-171 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for NIST 800-171 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with NIST 800-171?

Can NIST 800-171 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing NIST 800-171?

BREEAM FAQ

What is the primary objective of BREEAM?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with BREEAM?

Does BREEAM require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for BREEAM be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with BREEAM?

Can BREEAM be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing BREEAM?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

SEC Cybersecurity Rules Materiality Determination Framework: Step-by-Step Guide with Checklists and Real-World Examples

SOC 2 Audit Survival Guide: First 5 Steps to Ace Your Type 2 Audit with Infographic

DORA Third-Party Risk Management: A Consultant’s Guide to Mapping Critical ICT Service Providers in 2026

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

ISO 27017 vs 23 NYCRR 500

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