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PODCAST

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course

This **NIST Special Publication 800-53 Audio Course** is a complete, audio-first learning series designed to make one of the most comprehensive cybersecurity standards both clear and approachable. Through structured, plain-language narration, each episode walks you through the controls, objectives, and principles that form the foundation of modern federal and enterprise security programs. You’ll learn how NIST 800-53 defines safeguards across access control, incident response, risk assessment,

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All Episodes

1:23

Welcome to the NIST 800-53 Audio Course

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

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9:21

Episode 147 — Spotlight: Physical Access Control (PE-3)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Physical Access Control (PE-3) translates least privilege into the built environment by governing who may enter facilities, rooms, and cages that host systems, media, and network infrastructure. For the exam, recognize that PE-3 requires identity-backed credentials, authorization rules tied to roles and need-to-know, and enforcement points—badge readers, biometric devices, mantraps, and locks—that prevent tailgating and unauthorized movement between zones. It mandates auditable processes

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10:51

Episode 146 — Spotlight: Risk Management Strategy (PM-9)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Risk Management Strategy (PM-9) defines how an organization articulates risk appetite, tolerance, priorities, and decision rules so that security and privacy controls are selected and operated with intent. For exam readiness, understand that PM-9 sits above system-level decisions and provides the compass for categorization, tailoring, exception handling, and investment tradeoffs. A credible strategy describes what kinds of loss the organization is willing to accept, which scenarios are

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9:58

Episode 145 — Spotlight: System Security and Privacy...

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

System Security and Privacy Plans (PL-2) define how security and privacy controls are implemented, documented, and maintained for each system. For exam purposes, understand that PL-2 serves as the cornerstone of authorization and continuous monitoring, describing the control environment, inheritance, roles, and connections. The plan must explain how controls satisfy requirements, include system boundaries, and provide rationale for tailoring decisions. Privacy plans parallel security plans,

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8:52

Episode 144 — Spotlight: Authority to Process...

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Authority to Process Personally Identifiable Information (PT-2) requires organizations to establish and document legal, regulatory, and policy bases for collecting and using PII. For exam readiness, understand that PT-2 ensures that all PII processing is traceable to an approved authority—such as consent, statute, contract, or mission necessity—and that systems operate only within those defined bounds. The control mandates evidence of authorization, privacy impact assessments, and

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8:36

Episode 143 — Spotlight: Personnel Screening (PS-3)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Personnel Screening (PS-3) ensures that individuals with system access undergo appropriate background investigations before being granted authorization. For exam purposes, understand that PS-3 verifies identity, trustworthiness, and suitability in relation to assigned duties and system sensitivity. Screening level and frequency depend on position risk designation, regulatory requirements, and access to classified or sensitive data. The objective is to reduce insider threat potential and to

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9:07

Episode 142 — Spotlight: Media Sanitization (MP-6)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Media Sanitization (MP-6) ensures that storage media containing sensitive information are properly cleared, purged, or destroyed before reuse or disposal. For exam purposes, understand that MP-6 applies to any medium capable of retaining data—hard drives, flash memory, tapes, optical disks, mobile devices, and even virtual volumes. The control requires methods aligned with data classification and media type, such as degaussing, cryptographic erase, or physical destruction. The objective is

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9:53

Episode 141 — Spotlight: Controlled Maintenance (MA-2)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Controlled Maintenance (MA-2) ensures that all maintenance activities—routine, preventive, or emergency—are performed under defined, authorized, and auditable conditions. For exam readiness, understand that MA-2 governs both internal and external maintenance, including work performed by contractors or vendors. It requires documented procedures, approval processes, supervision, and recordkeeping to protect systems from accidental damage or malicious modification during servicing. The

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9:52

Episode 140 — Spotlight: Awareness Training (AT-2)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Awareness Training (AT-2) ensures that personnel understand security and privacy responsibilities commensurate with their roles and the organization’s risk environment. For exam readiness, recognize that AT-2 mandates periodic, measurable training that translates policy into behavior. The program must cover acceptable use, data handling, incident reporting, and emerging threats, emphasizing why compliance matters rather than just what rules exist. The objective is to make security awareness

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10:41

Episode 139 — Spotlight: Supply Chain Risk Management...

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Supply Chain Risk Management Plan (SR-2) establishes how organizations identify, assess, and mitigate risks arising from suppliers, service providers, and dependencies. For exam purposes, understand that SR-2 formalizes governance: roles, risk criteria, review cadence, escalation procedures, and reporting. The plan must define integration points with procurement, asset management, and incident response. It outlines processes for tiering suppliers by criticality, assigning control

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8:34

Episode 138 — Spotlight: Component Authenticity (SR-11)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Component Authenticity (SR-11) focuses on verifying that hardware, software, and firmware components are genuine, unaltered, and obtained from trusted sources. For the exam, understand that SR-11 mitigates the risk of counterfeit or tampered components entering the system supply chain. This control requires traceability from manufacturer to deployment, authentication of components through digital signatures or serial number validation, and documented custody through delivery and

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9:44

Episode 137 — Spotlight: Supplier Assessments (SR-6)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Supplier Assessments (SR-6) verify that external vendors and service providers meet security and privacy requirements before and during their engagement. For exam readiness, recognize that SR-6 mandates ongoing evaluation of supplier practices through questionnaires, audits, testing, and performance reviews. It aligns with risk tolerance and contract obligations, ensuring suppliers deliver evidence of control implementation and maintain transparency about incidents or material changes. The

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8:48

Episode 136 — Spotlight: Supply Chain Controls and...

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Supply Chain Controls and Processes (SR-3) ensure that products and services acquired or integrated into an organization’s environment meet established security and privacy requirements throughout their lifecycle. For exam purposes, understand that SR-3 requires identifying supply chain risks early—before acquisition—and embedding security criteria into procurement, contracting, and performance management. This includes defining control requirements for vendors, verifying the integrity of

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10:01

Episode 135 — Spotlight: Authorization (CA-6)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Authorization (CA-6) is the formal, risk-based decision that a system may operate within defined conditions, made by an authorizing official who accepts residual risk backed by evidence. For exam readiness, know that CA-6 is not a rubber stamp; it relies on credible inputs—assessment results, POA&M status, continuous monitoring strategy, system documentation, and risk analyses. The decision letter should state the authorization type (initial, ongoing, interim), duration, terms, and any

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10:25

Episode 134 — Spotlight: Continuous Monitoring (CA-7)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Continuous Monitoring (CA-7) sustains assurance between assessments by collecting, analyzing, and acting on security-relevant data with defined cadence and triggers. For exam purposes, CA-7 requires a monitoring strategy that specifies what information to gather (vulnerabilities, configurations, incidents, asset changes), how often to refresh it, and how results influence risk posture and authorization status. The objective is a living understanding of control effectiveness rather than

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9:00

Episode 133 — Spotlight: Plan of Action and...

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Plan of Action and Milestones (CA-5) is the enterprise ledger for weaknesses, corrective actions, and accountability. For the exam, understand that CA-5 transforms assessment and monitoring results into a managed backlog of remediation tasks with owners, budgets, milestones, and due dates. Entries must trace to specific controls, systems, and risks; they include interim compensating measures when full fixes require longer cycles. CA-5 also records risk acceptances with documented

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9:48

Episode 132 — Spotlight: Control Assessments (CA-2)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Control Assessments (CA-2) verify that implemented safeguards function as intended and achieve their stated objectives. For exam readiness, recognize that CA-2 requires assessment plans with defined methods, coverage, and success criteria, executed by qualified and sufficiently independent assessors. The control spans design evaluation, implementation testing, and operational effectiveness checks, producing findings with evidence and severity ratings. CA-2 closes the loop between

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10:55

Episode 131 — Spotlight: System Recovery and...

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

System Recovery and Reconstitution (CP-10) ensures that after a disruption—malware outbreak, data corruption, hardware failure, or site loss—systems are restored to a known good state and returned to normal operations in a controlled, auditable manner. For exam purposes, understand that CP-10 bridges contingency plans with technical execution: recovery procedures must be preapproved, version-controlled, and mapped to specific platforms, data sets, and dependencies. The control expects you

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9:51

Episode 130 — Spotlight: Contingency Plan Testing (CP-4)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

Contingency Plan Testing (CP-4) ensures that the organization’s recovery strategies and procedures are validated through realistic, periodic exercises. For exam readiness, understand that CP-4 transforms written plans into actionable assurance by testing people, processes, and technologies under controlled conditions. The control requires a range of tests—from simple walkthroughs to full operational failovers—conducted at defined intervals and after significant changes. The results must

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9:48

Episode 129 — Spotlight: System Backup (CP-9)

Framework: NIST 800-53 Audio Course ·

2025/10/20

System Backup (CP-9) ensures that critical information, configurations, and software are copied and stored securely to enable rapid recovery after data loss or corruption. For exam purposes, understand that CP-9 defines what data must be backed up, how often, where it resides, and how it is protected. The control mandates that backup media be encrypted, labeled, tested for restorability, and retained according to policy. It also emphasizes segregation between production and backup storage,

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147 results

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