# NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3 3.12.3 — Continuous Monitoring - Source: https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-12-3-continuous-monitoring - Section: [Compliance](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance) › [NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3 Requirements](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3) › Security Assessment and Monitoring — §3.12 - Last updated: 2026-06-05 - Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com) **NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3**·Requirement `3.12.3`·high·Component: **Security Assessment** ## What this control requires > This control requires developing and implementing a system-level continuous monitoring strategy to maintain ongoing awareness of the system's security posture. The strategy should support risk management decisions by providing frequent assessments and monitoring, tailored to meet security requirements. This control supports the Continuous Monitoring capability within the Security Assessment (3.12) family. > > — NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3, Requirement 3.12.3 ### In plain English This control requires developing and implementing a system-level continuous monitoring strategy to maintain ongoing awareness of the system's security posture. In practice, this means you can prove you system management-level controls on a defined cadence. ## Why it matters DoD contractors and their subcontractors must implement all 100 SP 800-171 requirements to keep CUI handling contracts. Gaps are scored against the SPRS scoring methodology; below a 110-point starting score, each unmet requirement deducts points and a below-threshold score can disqualify a bid. This control is rated **high**. Auditors expect a named owner, a remediation SLA, and a tooling artefact that evidences continuous operation. ## What an auditor looks for A C3PAO conducting a CMMC Level 2 assessment uses NIST SP 800-171A objectives. They expect a System Security Plan (SSP), Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) for any gaps, and objective evidence (configurations, ticket records, training records) for every requirement. Within **Security Assessment**, the assessor will trace your implementation back to the catalogue reference (Requirement 3.12.3) and look for objective evidence on the latest two assessment cycles. ## How to implement #### Cloud Posture **CSPM.** Run Wiz / Prisma / Defender for Cloud / Security Command Center over every account; auto-ticket findings above your accepted-risk threshold. #### Policy Management **Docs.** Keep each policy in version-controlled Markdown alongside the code that implements it; ship a signed PDF snapshot at each annual review and link the SHA into the SoA. ### Operational checklist - **System.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence. - **Risk.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence. - **Security.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence. - **Policy.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence. - **Scope:** management, security, assessment. ## Evidence to collect - **Policy Document.** A signed and version-controlled policy / standard / procedure document. - **Infra Scan.** Continuous infrastructure-posture telemetry — AWS Config, Azure Policy compliance, GCP Organisation Policy, Wiz / Prisma findings. Signed policy or standard documents the safeguard. Focus: Continuous Monitoring. ## Common pitfalls - Treating CSPM findings as a backlog instead of a hot queue: findings older than the policy SLA accumulate until the auditor asks why. - Policies that no engineer has read; the version in Confluence drifts from the version that's actually being enforced. ## How it maps to other frameworks Computed from shared tags, control component and key-operation subjects — handy when you are reconciling controls across an audit. - [**BSI C5:2020 SP-01** — Documentation, communication and provision of policies and instructions](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/bsi-c5-2020/sp-01-documentation-communication-and-provision-of-policies-and-instructions) - [**SOC 2 (2017 TSC) CC4.1** — Control Monitoring](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria/cc4-1-control-monitoring) - [**ISO/IEC 27001:2022 A.5.23** — Information security for use of cloud services](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022/a-5-23-information-security-for-use-of-cloud-services) - [**HIPAA (45 CFR Part 164) 164.308(a)(5)(i)** — Security Awareness and Training](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/hipaa/164-308-a-5-i-security-awareness-and-training) - [**NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 CA-7(6)** — Automation Support For Monitoring](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-53-rev-5/ca-7-6-automation-support-for-monitoring) ## Related controls in NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3 - [**Requirement 3.12.1** — Security Assessment](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-12-1-security-assessment) - [**Requirement 3.12.2** — Plan of Action and Milestones](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-12-2-plan-of-action-and-milestones) - [**Requirement 3.11.4** — Risk Response](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-11-4-risk-response) - [**Requirement 3.12.5** — Information Exchange](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-12-5-information-exchange) - [**Requirement 3.4.4** — Impact Analyses](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-4-4-impact-analyses) - [**Requirement 3.3.5** — Audit Record Review, Analysis, and Reporting](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-3-5-audit-record-review-analysis-and-reporting) ## References - [NIST Computer Security Resource Center — NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/171/r3/final) - Catalogue identifier: `Requirement 3.12.3` Topics: governance riskawareness trainingcontinuous monitoringcloud posturepolicy management ## Related compliance guidance - [NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC: a practical guide to protecting CUI in the cloud](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3): Start with the full NIST SP 800-171 implementation guide — scope, roadmap, evidence and how the assessment runs. - [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: a practical implementation guide for cloud teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-53-rev-5): The catalogue 800-171 is tailored from, and the basis of the FedRAMP Moderate baseline your cloud providers must meet for CUI. - [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): If commercial customers ask for a certificate as well, most 800-171 controls can be evidenced once and mapped to Annex A.