5 Steps Small to Mid-Sized Businesses Can Take to Begin NIST 800-171 Compliance

Adopting the NIST 800-171 framework may seem daunting to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re preparing for future compliance requirements or proactively strengthening your cyber security posture, breaking it down into clear, manageable steps makes it achievable.

Here’s how a managed service provider (MSP) can help you get started on the path to NIST 800-171 compliance.

1. Gap Assessment

Before you can implement NIST 800-171 controls, you need to know where you stand. A gap assessment compares your current security practices against the 800-171 requirements.

As an MSP, we will:

• Run audits and interviews to evaluate existing policies, tools and procedures
• Deliver a clear gap report that identifies missing or weak controls

2. Define and Document Policies

NIST compliance isn’t just about technology — it’s about process. You’ll need formal documentation for how your organization manages access, data protection, incident response and more. MSPs have tools to automate and to help create policies and plans. Here are some examples:

• Access control and authentication
• Incident response planning
• Media protection
• System and communications protection

3. Prioritize Technical Remediation

Once gaps are identified, it’s time to fix them. Many of NIST’s requirements can be met by implementing security best practices such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), centralized logging, encryption and endpoint protection. MSPs often have tools like RMM, Intune, group policies or other methods to push down and enforce compliance.

Here are a few ways things can be done via policies, rules and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)/Access Control Lists (ACLs):

• Enabling full-disk encryption
• Setting up and enforcing role-based access controls to limit access to documents, programs, etc.
• Implementing MFA on all systems
• Configuring log retention and auditing

4. Train Your Team

Security awareness is a core part of compliance. All employees must understand their responsibilities when handling sensitive data or identifying phishing attempts. Often, MSPs have security awareness training (SAT) platforms, which also function as a system to send simulated phishing emails.

This not only trains your employees, but tests them, and provides reports and even certifications so you can present proof of training and testing if a vendor or insurance firm wants to see your results. Courses can even be tailored to specific roles in your company such as training only for HR, IT, CEOs and accounting departments.

5. Monitor, Maintain and Improve

NIST compliance isn’t a one-and-done project. Regular reviews, security audits, and updates to policies and controls are essential to stay compliant as threats evolve. What needs to be done?

Ongoing Tasks:

• Continuous monitoring and alerting
• Annual policy reviews and re-training
• Updating system configurations as technologies change
• Reviews of new equipment, user lists and security access

Conclusion

NIST 800-171 compliance may seem like a big lift, but with the right approach and the right MSP, it becomes a strategic investment in your company’s future. Starting small, focusing on high-impact changes, and leveraging expert support makes the journey manageable and meaningful.

Need Help?

Gross Mendelsohn’s Technology Solutions Group can be your managed service provider. Contact us here or call 410.685.5512 for help.