Say Hi to NIST 800-53 without the control overload
Federal-grade security controls that don't require a dedicated spreadsheet team. Manage 1,000+ controls with automation that actually works.
What is NIST 800-53, and why does it matter?
NIST Special Publication 800-53 is the definitive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems. It's also famously thorough—over 1,000 controls across 20 families, which is either impressive or terrifying depending on your current compliance situation.
Whether you're a federal contractor protecting sensitive data or a private org voluntarily adopting best-in-class security, NIST 800-53 proves you take information protection seriously. No more control mapping in Excel at 2am.

Audit-Ready in 90 Days
Control selection, policy mapping, implementation tracking. Predictable progress, zero Excel fatigue.
Baseline selection (low, moderate, high), control prioritisation, gap analysis

Control deployment, policy mapping, evidence automation setup

Final testing, audit prep, documentation export ready

NIST 800-53 That Actually Scales
Less manual tracking, clearer audit trails, comprehensive control coverage. Compliance that keeps pace with operations.
Guided workflow turns control chaos into manageable implementation phases
Link 1,000+ controls to policies, procedures, and technical implementations without manual cross-referencing
Access Control to System Integrity—all families tracked with clear ownership and status
Continuous validation keeps control posture current between audits. No quarterly fire drills
Toggle between low, moderate, and high impact baselines as system criticality changes
Generate audit documentation packages that assessors actually want to see. Format included
All-in-one DSPT toolkit
Manage mandatory items, policies, evidence and staff training in one workflow. Make submissions oddly satisfying.
Complete NIST 800-53 Rev 5 catalog with searchable controls, enhancements, and baseline assignments
Pre-mapped policy templates aligned to control requirements. Customise and deploy without starting from scratch.
Real-time implementation tracking across all 20 families with owners, due dates, and pass/fail status
Centralised storage for control evidence—technical configs, scan results, training records, policy acknowledgements
Compare current state to target baseline. Prioritise control implementation based on risk and resource availability.
One-click documentation packages formatted for assessors. SSP sections, control implementation statements, evidence trails
Chosen by federal contractors and security-conscious organisations
From first implementation to continuous monitoring, teams use Hicomply to maintain NIST 800-53 compliance without expanding headcount.
Hicomply has completely transformed the way that we manage our ISO27001 certification. We purchased Hicomply a few months before our re-certification was due. Zoe worked with us to set up everything up and show us how to use the platform most efficiently. She has been an amazing support to myself and my colleague as we navigated through this process.

"Implementing Hicomply has streamlined our compliance processes, making it more efficient to manage and maintain our ISO certifications. The platform's intuitive design and comprehensive features have been instrumental in enhancing our operational excellence."

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“The things that we've seen this product and service deliver has far exceeded what we originally thought we would get from it."

FormusPro achieved ISO 27001 certification in under six months. Less than half the typical timeline predicted by other providers.


From start to finish, the service and engagement from Hicomply has been fantastic… Whenever we had any questions, the team were always on hand to offer advice.

Hicomply has reduced our compliance preparation time by over 50%, ensuring we’re always audit-ready. It’s a game-changer for maintaining trust with clients.

I have found Hicomply to be incredibly useful as a platform for a new company… it has taken the stress out of our hands.

Organization at its finest. A great sorting system—I can easily find new articles that I need to review with a click.

Very interactive, not boring at all. It’s straight to the point and teaches you things in an interactive way.

Hicomply delivers a refreshingly streamlined experience in compliance management… What truly sets them apart is their outstanding support.

Easy to use and straightforward for confirming you’ve read the necessary documents. The dashboard lets you see what your direct reports have completed.

Possibly the most helpful feature about Hicomply is the UI itself—user-friendly and easy to use without over-complicating things.

Easy way to track compliance learning. A simple product that makes keeping up to date with policy changes simple.

“The real benefit of Hicomply, as far as I’m concerned, is twofold: the software and the personnel. It’s an all-encompassing tool that consolidated everything and enabled us to deliver on our commitments with confidence.”
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Hicomply is particularly user-friendly for someone unfamiliar with this type of software… It’s making us more organised.

Very interactive, not boring at all. It’s straight to the point and teaches you things in an interactive way.

Easy to use and straightforward for confirming you’ve read the necessary documents. The dashboard lets you see what your direGreat app for ISO implementation and auditing—task managing, informative dashboard, intuitive to implement.ct reports have completed.

Ready to tame 1,000+ controls?
See how security teams go from control chaos to audit confidence.

NIST 800-53 hub highlights
The essential guides, checklists and templates that actually help.
We’re adding new stuff all the time, so check back for more in this section, or browse other categories.
Got questions? Start here
Planning NIST 800-53 implementation? These will help.For anything else, just ask.
What is NIST 800-53?
NIST Special Publication 800-53 is a comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems. It provides over 1,000 controls organised into 20 families, covering everything from access control to system integrity. Originally developed for federal agencies, it's now widely adopted by contractors, private organisations, and anyone seeking robust security standards.
Who needs to comply with NIST 800-53?
Federal agencies: Mandatory under FISMA for all federal information systems
Federal contractors: Required for FedRAMP authorisation and contracts handling sensitive federal data
Defence contractors: Often required as part of CMMC and DoD contracts
Private organisations: Voluntary adoption to demonstrate comprehensive security controls
If you handle federal data or want federal-level security, you need NIST 800-53.
What are the three security baselines?
NIST 800-53 defines three control baselines based on system impact level:
Low baseline: Systems where loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability has limited adverse effect
Moderate baseline: Systems where loss would have serious adverse effect
High baseline: Systems where loss would have severe or catastrophic adverse effect
Your baseline determines which controls apply. High-impact systems require significantly more controls than low-impact ones.
What are the 20 NIST 800-53 control families?
Controls are organised into 20 families, each addressing a specific security area:
- Access Control (AC)
- Awareness and Training (AT)
- Audit and Accountability (AU)
- Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring (CA)
- Configuration Management (CM)
- Contingency Planning (CP)
- Identification and Authentication (IA)
- Incident Response (IR)
- Maintenance (MA)
- Media Protection (MP)
- Physical and Environmental Protection (PE)
- Planning (PL)
- Program Management (PM)
- Personnel Security (PS)
- PII Processing and Transparency (PT)
- Risk Assessment (RA)
- System and Services Acquisition (SA)
- System and Communications Protection (SC)
- System and Information Integrity (SI)
- Supply Chain Risk Management (SR)
What's the difference between NIST 800-53 and NIST CSF?
NIST 800-53: Prescriptive security controls catalog with specific implementation requirements. Tells you what to implement.
NIST CSF: High-level risk management framework organised around six functions (Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover). Tells you how to organise your security program.
Use CSF for strategic planning. Use 800-53 for technical implementation. They complement each other—CSF provides the framework, 800-53 provides the controls.
Is NIST 800-53 compliance mandatory?
For federal agencies and contractors, yes—it's mandatory under FISMA, FedRAMP, and various federal contracts.
For private organisations, it's voluntary but increasingly expected in RFPs, especially when handling sensitive data or pursuing federal contracts.
How does NIST 800-53 relate to FedRAMP?
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorisation Management Program) uses NIST 800-53 as its control baseline. Cloud service providers seeking FedRAMP authorisation must implement NIST 800-53 controls appropriate to their impact level (Low, Moderate, High) and provide evidence to third-party assessors.
What's the difference between NIST 800-53 and ISO 27001?
NIST 800-53: Over 1,000 prescriptive controls with specific implementation guidance. US federal focus.
ISO 27001: 93 controls organised into 14 domains. International standard, more flexible implementation.
ISO 27001 is broader and less prescriptive. NIST 800-53 is deeper with detailed technical requirements. Many organisations implement both—ISO 27001 for international recognition, NIST 800-53 for federal requirements.
How often do controls need to be assessed?
Continuous monitoring is the goal, with formal assessments at defined intervals:
- Control assessments as part of initial authorization
- Ongoing monitoring of control effectiveness
- Annual or three-year reauthorization assessments depending on system impact level
- Whenever significant system changes occur
How does Hicomply help with NIST 800-53 compliance?
We automate the heavy lifting: control library management, policy mapping, implementation tracking, evidence collection, and audit documentation. You select your baseline, we organise the controls and track implementation status. When auditors arrive, documentation exports in assessor-friendly formats. No spreadsheet archaeology required.
Can small teams implement NIST 800-53?
Yes, but it requires the right tools. NIST 800-53 was designed for federal agencies with dedicated security teams, which is why manual implementation feels overwhelming. With automation handling control mapping, policy deployment, and evidence tracking, small teams can implement comprehensive controls without expanding headcount.
How long does NIST 800-53 implementation take?
Implementation timeframe depends on your baseline and current security posture:
Low baseline: 8-12 weeks for organisations with existing security controls
Moderate baseline: 3-6 months with dedicated resources and automation
High baseline: 6-12 months with significant technical and process changes
Most delays come from manual tracking and documentation. Automation compresses timelines significantly.