Comparison between NIST SP 800-53 and GDPR
Explore some of our latest AI related thought leadership and research
6clicks has been built for cybersecurity, risk and compliance professionals.
Learn more about our Hub & Spoke architecture, Hailey AI engine and explore the other content in our platform here.
Overview
NIST SP 800-53 and GDPR are both cybersecurity standards that promote the protection of data and systems. NIST SP 800-53 is a US-based security standard that provides guidelines for federal agencies to protect their data, while GDPR is an EU-based security standard that applies to any organization that collects or processes data from EU citizens. Both standards provide guidance on how to protect data, but GDPR provides more detailed requirements for organizations to comply with, such as the need to obtain consent from data subjects before processing their data. Additionally, GDPR requires organizations to report data breaches to the appropriate authorities, while NIST SP 800-53 does not.
Contents
What is NIST SP 800-53?
NIST SP 800-53 is a set of security and privacy controls developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It is intended to help organizations protect their information systems from potential threats, and to ensure the privacy of their data. The controls in SP 800-53 are organized into 18 families, each of which addresses a different type of security or privacy issue. These families include Access Control, Awareness and Training, Audit and Accountability, Configuration Management, Contingency Planning, Identification and Authentication, Incident Response, Maintenance, Media Protection, Physical and Environmental Protection, Planning, Program Management, Risk Assessment, Security Assessment and Authorization, System and Services Acquisition, System and Communications Protection, System and Information Integrity, and System and Network Security. Each family consists of a number of individual controls, which are further divided into three classes: Basic, Medium, and High. Organizations can use the controls in SP 800-53 to develop a customized security and privacy program that meets their specific requirements.
What is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in European Union (EU) law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the EU. The GDPR aims to give EU citizens control over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU. The GDPR replaces the 1995 Data Protection Directive and was adopted on May 25, 2018. It applies to any company that processes the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the company is located. The GDPR sets out requirements for how companies must protect the personal data of EU citizens and outlines the rights of EU citizens regarding their data. It also includes provisions for fines and other penalties for companies that fail to comply.
A Comparison Between NIST SP 800-53 and GDPR
1. Both NIST SP 800-53 and GDPR focus on protecting the privacy of personal data.
2. Both standards require organizations to implement appropriate security measures to protect the data.
3. Both standards require organizations to perform periodic risk assessments to determine the level of risk associated with their data processing activities.
4. Both standards require organizations to maintain data security and privacy policies and procedures.
5. Both standards require organizations to provide data subjects with access to their personal data and the right to have it corrected or deleted.
6. Both standards require organizations to notify data subjects in the event of a data breach.
7. Both standards require organizations to provide adequate training to their staff on data protection and privacy.
The Key Differences Between NIST SP 800-53 and GDPR
1. NIST SP 800-53 is a security framework developed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), while GDPR is an EU regulation that applies to organizations that process personal data of EU citizens.
2. NIST SP 800-53 focuses on the security of information systems, while GDPR focuses on the protection of personal data.
3. NIST SP 800-53 provides guidance on how to protect information systems from security threats, while GDPR provides guidance on how to process, store, and protect personal data.
4. NIST SP 800-53 provides a framework for organizations to assess their security posture and implement appropriate security controls, while GDPR requires organizations to take specific steps to protect personal data and be transparent about how it is used.
5. NIST SP 800-53 is focused on protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems, while GDPR is focused on protecting the privacy of individuals.