What Is a NIST SP 800-171 Gap Assessment?
Protect Controlled Unclassified Information. Meet federal requirements. Win DoD contracts. palmiq delivers the technical assessments, documentation, and remediation you need to achieve full NIST 800-171 compliance.
NIST 800-171 at a Glance
- 110
- Security requirements in Revision 2 — and the maximum SPRS score
- 14
- Requirement families in Revision 2, the basis of CMMC Level 2
- 17
- Requirement families in Revision 3, as the framework transitions
Sound Familiar?
These are the problems defense contractors bring to palmiq every day. Here's how we solve them.
"We Don't Know Where Our CUI Lives."
palmiq conducts comprehensive CUI scoping and data flow mapping to identify exactly where controlled information is stored, processed, and transmitted across your network — including cloud environments, email systems, and third-party platforms.
"We Failed Our Self-Assessment."
Our gap assessment provides a control-by-control evaluation against all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements, producing a prioritized remediation roadmap with actionable steps to close every deficiency and improve your SPRS score.
"Our Documentation Is Incomplete."
palmiq develops and maintains your System Security Plan (SSP), Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), network diagrams, CUI data flow documentation, and supporting security policies — all formatted for DoD assessment expectations.
"We Need CMMC but Don't Know Where to Start."
NIST 800-171 is the foundation of CMMC Level 2. palmiq aligns your gap assessment and remediation directly with CMMC certification requirements, so every dollar invested accelerates your path to certification.
What palmiq's NIST 800-171 Gap Assessment Includes
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CUI Scoping & Boundary Definition
- Identify all systems, applications, and personnel that process CUI
- Map CUI data flows across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments
- Define your assessment boundary to reduce scope and cost
- Classify assets as CUI, Security Protection, or Contractor Risk Managed
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Control-by-Control Gap Analysis
- Evaluate every NIST 800-171 security requirement
- Document findings as MET, NOT MET, or NOT APPLICABLE
- Calculate your Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score
- Identify highest-risk gaps requiring immediate remediation
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Documentation Development
- System Security Plan (SSP) creation or update
- Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) with timelines
- Network architecture and CUI data flow diagrams
- Security policies aligned with NIST control families
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Remediation & Implementation
- Prioritized remediation plan organized by risk severity
- Deploy Microsoft GCC High, Azure Government, FedRAMP solutions
- Configure endpoints, firewalls, SIEM, and identity management
- Ongoing advisory support throughout contract performance
17 NIST 800-171 Rev. 3 Requirement Families
palmiq's gap assessment covers every requirement family, ensuring complete visibility into your security posture:
Access Control (AC)
Awareness & Training (AT)
Audit & Accountability (AU)
Assessment & Monitoring (CA)
Configuration Management (CM)
Identification & Authentication (IA)
Incident Response (IR)
Maintenance (MA)
Media Protection (MP)
Physical Protection (PE)
Planning (PL)
Personnel Security (PS)
Risk Assessment (RA)
System & Services Acquisition (SA)
System & Communications Protection (SC)
System & Information Integrity (SI)
Supply Chain Risk Management (SR)
Who Must Comply with NIST SP 800-171
You must comply with NIST SP 800-171 if you:
Hold DoD contracts containing DFARS clause 252.204-7012
Store, process, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information
Subcontract to a prime whose contract flows those obligations down
Built for Defense Contractors. Backed by Certifications.
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GCC High & Azure Government
Expert deployment of Microsoft GCC High, Azure Government, Intune, Entra ID, and Defender for NIST-compliant environments.
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Endpoint & Backup
Enterprise-grade backup, endpoint protection, and disaster recovery aligned with NIST control families.
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Assess + Implement
We don't just assess your gaps — we implement the solutions. From endpoint hardening to SIEM deployment, handled end to end.
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Government & DIB Focus
Serving government agencies, defense contractors, and pharmaceutical companies across the Americas.
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Ashburn, Virginia
Certified women-owned small business with deep roots in the federal contracting community. No long-term contracts required.
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English & Spanish
Full service delivery in English and Spanish, supporting clients across the United States and Latin America.
Related Compliance Frameworks
NIST 800-171 Gap Assessment & Readiness
The full service page for this engagement, with the assessment-vs-CMMC comparison.
CMMC Level 2
Where these 110 controls get certified — C3PAO assessment and SPRS scoring.
Microsoft GCC High
The compliant Microsoft 365 platform most CUI environments standardize on.