Security Self-Assessment Guide for Information Technology Systems

Published

September 5, 2001

Author(s)

Marianne M. Swanson, Elizabeth B. Lennon

Abstract

This ITL Bulletin summarizes Special Publication (SP) 800-26, Security Self-Assessment Guide for Information Technology Systems. Adequate security of information and the systems that process it is a fundamental management responsibility. Agency officials must understand the current status of their information security program and controls in order to make informed judgments and investments that appropriately mitigate risks to an acceptable level.Self-assessments provide a method for agency officials to determine the current status of their information security programs and, where necessary, establish a target for improvement. This self-assessment guide utilizes an extensive questionnaire containing specific control objectives and techniques against which an unclassified system or group of interconnected systems can be tested and measured. The guide does not establish new security requirements. The control objectives and techniques are abstracted directly from long-standing requirements found in statute, policy, and guidance on security.

Citation

ITL Bulletin -

NIST Pub Series

ITL Bulletin

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

assessments, computers, control objectives, information technology, security controls, self-assessments

Citation

Swanson, M. and Lennon, E. (2001), Security Self-Assessment Guide for Information Technology Systems, ITL Bulletin, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=151245 (Accessed October 14, 2025)