# NIST800 171 3.14.2 — Malicious Code Protection

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/a_gen_nist800171_3142_796f20ccff-nist800-171-3142-malicious-code-protection
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [NIST SP 800-171 Readiness](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/c_gen_nist800171) › [System and Communications Protection](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/f_gen_cgennist800171_systemandcommunicationsprotection)
- Last updated: 2026-05-30
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

NIST800 171 · Control 3.14.2 · Priority: critical · Component: System and Communications Protection

### What this control covers

This control requires implementing malicious code protection mechanisms at system entry and exit points to detect and eradicate malicious code. It mandates updating these mechanisms as new releases become available, and configuring them to perform regular scans, real-time scans of external files, and take mitigation actions such as blocking or quarantining malicious code This control supports the Malicious Code Protection capability within the System and Communications Protection (3.14) family.

### Why it matters

Vulnerabilities introduced in code are 100× cheaper to fix in development than in production; this control is the place where security shifts left.

### How to implement

#### AWS

Use **CodeBuild** with [VPC-isolated](https://aws.amazon.com/codebuild/) build environments and **CodeArtifact** for an internal package mirror so builds don't pull straight from the public registry. Sign artefacts with **AWS Signer**.

#### Azure

Use **Azure DevOps Pipelines** with mandatory approvals on production environments and **Microsoft Defender for DevOps** for secret scanning across GitHub/ADO/GitLab in one pane.

#### GitHub

Apply **branch protection** on default and release branches: require PR review, status checks, signed commits, linear history, and dismiss stale reviews on new commits. Use **CODEOWNERS** for required reviewers, **Dependabot** + **CodeQL** for SAST, and the **Dependency graph / SBOM** export for vendor disclosures.

### Evidence to collect

-   `code_repo_scan` — See the iCompaas Evidence library for the canonical source for this evidence type.

Source control pipelines (GitHub, GitLab) enforce SDLC guardrails. Focus: Malicious Code Protection.

### Quick checklist

-   Time — Time / Security
-   Protection — Time / Security
-   System — Time / Security
-   Security — Time / Security
-   Malicious — Time / Security
-   External — Time / Security

### Related articles on this site

-   [NIST 800-171 3.14.4 Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229238-nist-800-171-3-14-4-update-malicious-code-protection-mechanisms-when-new-releases-are-available-)
-   [CMMC 2.0 SI.1.212 Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229433-cmmc-2-0-si-1-212-update-malicious-code-protection-mechanisms-when-new-releases-are-available-)
-   [NIST 800-171 3.14.2 Provide protection from malicious code at designated locations within organizational systems.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229240-nist-800-171-3-14-2-provide-protection-from-malicious-code-at-designated-locations-within-organizatio)
-   [CMMC 2.0 SI.1.211 Provide protection from malicious code at appropriate locations within organizational information systems.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229435-cmmc-2-0-si-1-211-provide-protection-from-malicious-code-at-appropriate-locations-within-organization)

## 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): The CUI requirements CMMC Level 2 assesses, the SPRS score, POA&M rules and the phased DFARS rollout.
- [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 federal catalogue 800-171 is derived from — useful when a contract also cites a FedRAMP baseline.