NIST SP 800-172

Enhanced Security for Critical CUI Programs

When baseline NIST 800-171 protections are not enough, SP 800-172 provides enhanced security requirements designed to defend against Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state adversaries targeting critical programs and high-value assets.

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Beyond Baseline

Enhanced Requirements for APT Defense

SP 800-172 assumes sophisticated adversaries will gain access and focuses on limiting their ability to achieve objectives once inside.

What 800-172 Adds

  • Penetration-resistant architecture that limits lateral movement
  • Zero trust implementation with continuous verification
  • Dual authorization for critical operations on CUI systems
  • Cyber resiliency to operate through attacks

PTG Implementation

  • Purple team exercises simulating APT tactics for your industry
  • Micro-segmentation preventing single-exploit compromise
  • Threat hunting with MITRE ATT&CK-mapped detection
  • CMMC Level 3 preparation for government-led assessments
Key Capabilities

Enhanced Security Domains

APT-Resistant Architecture

Network diversity, defense in depth, and technology variation that force adversaries to develop multiple independent attack chains.

Zero Trust Deployment

Software-defined perimeters, micro-segmentation, and continuous authentication replacing traditional VPN access.

Advanced Threat Detection

Behavioral analytics and proactive threat hunting that identify adversary activity conventional tools miss.

Cyber Resiliency Engineering

Redundant systems, automated failover, and rapid reconstitution from immutable backups.

Process

Our 800-172 Implementation Process

01

Verify 800-171 Baseline

02

Conduct Threat Analysis

03

Design Enhanced Architecture

04

Deploy Advanced Controls

05

Validate with Purple Team

06

Maintain and Hunt

Who This Is For

Built For

Defense Contractors on Critical Programs CMMC Level 3 Candidates Intelligence Community Suppliers Weapons Systems Contractors
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How does 800-172 differ from 800-171?

NIST 800-171 provides baseline CUI protection. SP 800-172 adds enhanced requirements for critical programs, assuming adversaries will breach the perimeter and focusing on limiting damage and maintaining operations.

Is 800-172 required for CMMC Level 3?

Yes. CMMC Level 3 will incorporate enhanced requirements derived from 800-172. Government-led assessments at this level demand demonstrable advanced control implementation.

What is penetration-resistant architecture?

Architecture designed so that an attacker gaining initial access cannot easily move laterally, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate data without triggering detection and response mechanisms.

Does PTG provide ongoing threat hunting?

Yes. PTG conducts scheduled and hypothesis-driven threat hunts targeting MITRE ATT&CK techniques relevant to your threat profile, using behavioral analytics on our private AI infrastructure.

Get Started

Ready for Enhanced CUI Protection?

PTG builds APT-resistant architectures that defend your most sensitive programs against nation-state threats.