NIST SP 800-53
Technical

System & Communications Protection Policy (SC Family) Template

Defines requirements for protecting system communications and data, including boundary protection, cryptography, and denial-of-service protection, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 SC control family.

What This Policy Covers

Purpose and Scope-Policy objectives and applicability (SC-1).
Boundary Protection-Network boundaries, DMZs, and traffic filtering (SC-7).
Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity-Encryption requirements for data in transit (SC-8).
Cryptographic Key Management-Key generation, distribution, storage, and destruction (SC-12).
Denial-of-Service Protection-DDoS mitigation and resource availability (SC-5).
Network Segmentation-Subnetwork isolation and access control (SC-7, SC-32).
Secure Name/Address Resolution-DNS security and integrity requirements (SC-20, SC-21).

Required Sections

A compliant System & Communications Protection Policy (SC Family) for NIST SP 800-53 must include the following7 sections. Each section addresses a specific control requirement that auditors will review.

1

Purpose and Scope

Policy objectives and applicability (SC-1).

2

Boundary Protection

Network boundaries, DMZs, and traffic filtering (SC-7).

3

Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity

Encryption requirements for data in transit (SC-8).

4

Cryptographic Key Management

Key generation, distribution, storage, and destruction (SC-12).

5

Denial-of-Service Protection

DDoS mitigation and resource availability (SC-5).

6

Network Segmentation

Subnetwork isolation and access control (SC-7, SC-32).

7

Secure Name/Address Resolution

DNS security and integrity requirements (SC-20, SC-21).

Generate a Customized Version

This template shows the required structure. PoliWriter generates a fully customized System & Communications Protection Policy (SC Family) that references your actual cloud providers, identity systems, tools, and team practices — ready for auditor review.

Policy Details

Category

Technical

Sections

7 total (7 required)

Other NIST SP 800-53 Templates

Access Control Policy (AC Family)

Establishes access control requirements covering account management, access enforcement, separation of duties, and least privilege, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 AC control family.

Audit & Accountability Policy (AU Family)

Defines audit logging, monitoring, and accountability requirements aligned with NIST SP 800-53 AU control family.

Security Assessment & Authorization Policy (CA Family)

Establishes requirements for security assessments, system authorization, and continuous monitoring, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 CA control family.

Configuration Management Policy (CM Family)

Defines configuration management requirements including baseline configurations, change control, and configuration monitoring, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 CM control family.

Contingency Planning Policy (CP Family)

Establishes contingency planning requirements including backup, recovery, and continuity of operations, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 CP control family.

Identification & Authentication Policy (IA Family)

Defines requirements for identifying and authenticating users, devices, and services, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 IA control family.

Incident Response Policy (IR Family)

Establishes an incident response capability including preparation, detection, analysis, containment, recovery, and post-incident activities, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 IR control family.

Risk Assessment Policy (RA Family)

Establishes requirements for assessing security risks including vulnerability scanning, threat analysis, and privacy impact assessments, aligned with NIST SP 800-53 RA control family.

View all 10 templates