Which NIST standard is focused on the overall security and privacy controls required for federal information systems?

NIST 800-53 is recognized as the appropriate standard because it provides a comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls specifically designed to safeguard federal information systems. The document outlines a wide range of controls that can be employed to address various security and privacy risks, ensuring that information systems can maintain confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

This standard is foundational for federal agencies as it is part of the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and serves to assist in assessing and managing risks to information systems. By categorizing these controls according to different baselines, NIST 800-53 allows organizations to tailor their security measures according to the sensitivity of the information they handle, thus promoting a scalable and risk-informed security posture.

In contrast, the other standards mentioned have specific applications or scope that do not encompass the full spectrum of security and privacy controls across all federal information systems. For example, NIST 800-63 primarily deals with identity management, while NIST 800-84 focuses on the testing methodologies for security controls. NIST 800-207 addresses zero trust architecture, which is a specific approach rather than an overarching standard for security and privacy controls. Therefore, NIST 800-53 stands out as the comprehensive guide for overall security and privacy controls in