The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently published NIST Internal Report (IR) 8517, titled “Hardware Security Failure Scenarios: Potential Hardware Weaknesses.” This pivotal document underscores the complexities of hardware security, a field often overshadowed by its software counterpart. While hardware is generally considered resilient, its vulnerabilities can have far-reaching consequences, especially given the embedded software and intricate designs in modern chips.

NIST IR 8517 details 98 hardware security failure scenarios, categorizes weaknesses and outlines their implications. This report aims to bridge the gap between hardware security and existing frameworks like the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE). Here, we explore the report’s key insights, categorizations, and what organizations need to know to ensure compliance and mitigate risks effectively.

Audit Machine Awareness Frameworks

What Is NIST 800-172 and Advanced Security Structures

Mar 7, 2024 Continuum GRC 0 Comment

The ongoing rise of state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) has increased scrutiny of federal and state IT systems security systems. The latest version of CMMC includes a high-maturity level specifically designed to address these threats, which relies primarily on advanced security controls listed in NIST Special Publication 800-172.

Awareness Continuum GRC

CMMC, NIST 800-172, and Advanced Persistent Threats

Feb 28, 2024 Continuum GRC 1 Comment

As organizations move up the CMMC maturity model, they do so for one reason: to prepare themselves better to protect against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). These threats are a significant problem in the defense supply chain, and as such, CMMC leans heavily on NIST 800-171 and 800-172 to address them.

This article introduces how these documents, particularly Special Publication 800-172, address APTs.