Fips 200Edit
FIPS 200, the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 200, is a U.S. federal standard published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish minimum information security requirements for federal information systems. Released in 2006 as part of the broader Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) framework, FIPS 200 articulates the baseline protections that agencies must implement to safeguard information processed, stored, and transmitted by government systems. The standard is designed to provide a consistent floor of security across agencies and to facilitate accountability through uniform expectations.
FIPS 200 works in concert with the NIST Special Publication 800-53, which catalogs the specific security controls that agencies select and implement to meet the baseline requirements. In practice, FIPS 200 defines what needs to be protected (the security categories) and the level of protection required, while SP 800-53 provides the concrete controls and procedures to achieve those protections. This pairing creates a risk-based, defense-in-depth approach to federal information security that remains in use as technology and threats evolve. NIST SP 800-53 FISMA information security
Overview
FIPS 200 identifies 17 security categories, which are broad domains of protection that agencies must address when securing information systems. The categories are intended to cover the full spectrum of security needs, from access control to incident response, and from physical protection to system integrity. The 17 categories commonly cited are:
- Access Control
- Awareness and Training
- Audit and Accountability
- Certification, Accreditation, and Security Assessment
- Configuration Management
- Contingency Planning
- Identification and Authentication
- Incident Response
- Maintenance
- Media Protection
- Physical and Environmental Protection
- Planning
- Personnel Security
- Risk Assessment
- System and Communications Protection
- System and Information Integrity
- Program Management
In addition to the categories, FIPS 200 specifies the concept of impact levels that an agency assigns to a system based on the potential harm that a loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability could cause. The three commonly referenced impact levels—low, moderate, and high—determine the baseline set of SP 800-53 controls that must be implemented. This structure is intended to align security requirements with the sensitivity of information and the consequences of a breach, while allowing flexibility for different operating environments. See also risk management.
FIPS 200 has shaped how the federal government views security governance by tying policy to measurable baselines. It is cited in agency risk management frameworks and in procurement requirements that affect contractors and suppliers who handle federal data. risk management FISMA
History and Development
FIPS 200 emerged from the mid-2000s push to codify a uniform, auditable standard for protecting federal data in an era of increasing reliance on information technology. It built on earlier FIPS publications and the broader FISMA regime, and it complements SP 800-53, which provides the detailed controls and tailoring guidance agencies use to satisfy the FIPS 200 baselines. Over time, updates to related guidance (notably revisions to SP 800-53) have kept the baseline concept current with evolving threats, cloud computing, mobile devices, and modern supply chains. The ongoing dialogue around how best to balance security rigor with operational flexibility continues to influence how the federal baseline is interpreted and implemented. See FISMA NIST.
Implementation and Impact
Implementation of FIPS 200 centers on a risk-based approach: agencies classify information systems by impact level, then apply the corresponding baseline controls derived from SP 800-53 to achieve at least the minimum required protection. This approach aims to standardize security expectations across the federal landscape while allowing for adaptation to agency-specific contexts. The framework supports interoperability and accountability, because audits, assessments, and reporting are anchored in a common standard. It also influences private-sector practices where organizations seek to align with government security benchmarks, either through direct contracting requirements or by benchmarking against federal standards. See SP 800-53 risk management.
Critics have long debated the balance between prescriptive baselines and flexible, risk-based tailoring. Proponents argue that uniform baselines reduce security gaps, simplify procurement, and facilitate oversight. Critics contend that rigid baselines can be costly, burdensome for smaller agencies, and slow to adapt to rapid changes in technology (such as cloud services and zero-trust architectures). The ongoing modernization of federal cybersecurity policy seeks to address these tensions by refining control catalogs, updating guidance on outsourcing and cloud use, and incorporating newer risk-management practices while preserving the core objective of a defensible minimum security posture. See cloud computing zero trust.