NIST 800-53 and FISMA with ARRTECH
Records for the audit controls in a system security plan.
Audit controls with records an assessor can test
A control assessment needs evidence of configuration and operation. Source coverage, protected records, incident decisions and administrative history help reviewers examine the selected NIST SP 800-53 controls.
Requirements
| Clause | What it asks | Security support |
|---|---|---|
| AU-2 | Event logging for defined event types. | Events in common categories. → |
| AU-9 | Audit information protected. | A signature chain that breaks on change. → |
| AU-9(3) | Cryptographic protection of audit information. | Each log signed and chained. → |
| AU-6(3) | Correlate audit record repositories. | Correlation across sources. → |
| AU-11 | Audit records retained. | Retention set per source. → |
| IR-5 | Incidents tracked and documented. | Case records with history. → |
| CM-8 | A system component inventory. | Each computer’s inventory and changes. → |
| MP-7 | Media use restricted. | DLP controls USB devices. → |
Events
Common event categories in a SIEM let reviewers search across different source formats. Keep the original records available and use relevant MITRE ATT&CK context to help explain a finding.
Protection
Restrict access to audit information and retain integrity checks alongside the records. Signed exports from a SIEM help a reviewer detect changes after collection without relying only on the original console.
Analysis
Correlation in a SIEM connects relevant activity across repositories into a reviewable sequence. Reports should identify the sources and period so an assessor can follow the evidence behind the result.
Incidents
An incident record brings together ownership, severity, SLA targets, evidence, decisions and actions. Response workflows in a SOAR can carry out approved procedures and preserve the result of each step, including failures and requests for human approval.
Assets
Endpoint inventory and change records help the team understand the computers included in monitoring. DLP device-control events add evidence of how removable-media policy was applied.
Limits
The following responsibilities belong to the organization’s wider security and governance program. Their owners maintain the evidence needed for review.
AU-8
Time stamps from a reliable clock. The record comes from the time servers’ configuration.
By rule
Use these references to connect the requirement with relevant operating evidence. The organization defines the scope and implementation being assessed.
AU-2
Identify the event types the system can log. Common event categories in a SIEM let reviewers search related activity across supported sources.
AU-9
Protect audit information and audit logging tools from unauthorized access, modification and deletion. Restricted access, signed records and administrative history support protection and review of the audit trail.
AU-9(3)
Use cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of audit information. Signed records from a SIEM and verification material support an independent check of the evidence’s integrity.
AU-6(3)
Analyze and correlate audit records across repositories. Correlation in a SIEM connects related events across sources while preserving the records behind the resulting finding.
AU-11
Retain audit records for the period the organization defines. A SIEM can retain the relevant sources for the required period and make the history available for review.
IR-5
Track and document incidents. A SOAR incident workflow retains ownership, evidence, approvals and actions so reviewers can follow the response.
CM-8
Develop and maintain an inventory of system components. Endpoint inventory and change history help the team review the supported computers and changes to them.
MP-7
Restrict the use of types of system media. DLP device policies restrict supported removable media, with approved exceptions and activity retained for review.
Questions
Does signing meet AU-10?
Signing maps to AU-9 and AU-9(3), which protect audit information. AU-10, non-repudiation, covers a person denying an action.
Is there a ready FISMA report?
Yes, for FISMA/NIST. Check each one against the system’s baseline.
Can our assessor check the logs without ARRTECH?
Yes. A signed SIEM export includes the verification material and a standalone verifier, allowing an independent check of record integrity.
Does ARRTECH grant an authorization to operate?
No. A senior agency official authorizes each federal system.
Guide
What is NIST 800-53?
NIST SP 800-53 is a catalog of security and privacy controls used to build and assess risk-based programs. Organizations select and tailor controls for their systems and responsibilities.
What is FISMA?
The federal law that requires agencies to secure their information systems, using NIST standards.
Who authorizes a federal system?
A senior agency official grants the authorization to operate. NIST does not endorse any program or tool.
How ARRTECH takes care of NIST 800-53 audit controls
Connects security activity into a signed record, giving incident decisions and board reporting evidence that can be independently verified.
Protects intellectual property and customer trust, with content-aware controls that let organizations adopt AI on their own terms.
Expands response capacity through automation, with defined human authority and a record of who approved what.
Finds changes in behavior that predefined rules miss, connecting the signs of an attack so teams can understand what warrants action.
Investigates alerts, tests explanations and prepares the evidence, giving analysts more capacity while people retain authority over the response.
