- SSP template tailored for NIST 800-171 to document protections for CUI.
- Based on the FedRAMP design - the "gold standard" for SSP formatting.
- Includes a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) template.
- Immense time & cost savings - enables subject matter experts to fill in the details that only they know.
Don't Write It From Scratch.
A System Security Plan is the first document a DIBCAC assessor or CMMC C3PAO asks for, and a weak or missing SSP can sink an assessment before it starts. Could you produce a complete, defensible SSP for your CUI environment today, or is yours partial or out of date? Writing one from a blank page, in the format assessors expect, is exactly where teams stall. The NIST 800-171 System Security Plan (SSP) Template gives you a running start: an editable, FedRAMP-formatted SSP tailored to NIST 800-171, covering the CUI and NFO controls, with a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) template included. It gets you roughly 80 to 90 percent of the way there, then you fill in the implementation details specific to your environment.
The System Security Plan (SSP) template is editable NIST 800-171 system security planning documentation built to satisfy the documentation requirements that DoD contracting officers, DIBCAC assessors, CMMC C3PAOs, customers, and prime contractors expect. The SSP provides a defensible, professionally written baseline that organizations customize for their specific Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) environment.
The SSP is based on existing formats used for FedRAMP and is tailored specifically for NIST 800-171 to document the controls affecting environments where CUI is stored, processed, or transmitted. It is a living document that captures the implementation details for all CUI and Non-Federal Organization (NFO) controls in Appendices D and E of NIST 800-171. A complementary Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) Microsoft Excel template is included at no additional cost.
What Is The NIST 800-171 SSP Template?
Based on customer demand, we developed an editable System Security Plan (SSP) template that is specifically designed for NIST 800-171 compliance. This template is available for immediate download.
The SSP is meant to be a "living document" that captures pertinent information on the controls implementation for NIST 800-171. Specifically, the SSP template covers all Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Non-Federal Organization (NFO) controls that are listed in Appendices D and E of NIST 800-171. The SSP can serve as a key element in your organization's cybersecurity program. It can stand alone or be paired with other specialized products we offer.
It is important to understand that there is no officially-sanctioned format for a System Security Plan (SSP) to meet NIST 800-171 compliance requirements. This template is based on SSP requirements that are used for other US government compliance requirements for SSPs, but it is tailored to document the entire Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) environment for an organization.
Our products are one-time purchases with no software to install - you are buying Microsoft Office-based documentation templates that you can edit for your specific needs. If you can use Microsoft Office or OpenOffice, you can use this product! The SSP contains the framework you need to document your Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) environment, which is a requirement of NIST 800-171.
No Software To Install
The SSP is a one-time purchase of editable Microsoft Office-based documentation templates. There is no software to install, no agent to deploy, no account to provision, and no cloud environment to configure. If the organization can open and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files, the SSP is ready to use.
Microsoft Word & Excel
Delivered as fully editable .docx and .xlsx files. Compatible with Microsoft 365, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and Google Workspace. The Excel POA&M template tracks identified deficiencies and remediation milestones.
Email Delivery
Documentation is delivered via email download link within 1-2 business days of purchase, often the same business day. There is no installer, no license server, and no activation step.
One-Time Purchase
A single-entity license is included with purchase. There is no recurring subscription requirement, although an optional update subscription is available to stay current as NIST 800-171 and CMMC frameworks evolve.
This deployment model is intentional. SSP documentation benefits from being in the organization's own hands, inside its own document management systems, rather than locked inside a vendor's SaaS tool. Once delivered, this product belongs to the buyer.
What Problems Does the SSP Solve?
DoD contractors and federal supply-chain organizations face common NIST 800-171 system security planning documentation challenges. The SSP is designed to address them directly with a defensible, audit-ready baseline.
Lack Of In-House Security Experience
Writing cybersecurity documentation is a skill that most cybersecurity professionals simply are not proficient at and avoid the task at all cost. Tasking your security analysts and engineers to write documentation means you are actively taking them away from protecting and defending your network, which is not a wise use of their time. The SSP is an efficient method to obtain a quality SSP template for your organization!
Compliance Requirements
As a DoD or US government contractor, having a SSP is a requirement of NIST 800-171.
A key concept to keep in mind with the SSP is that it should be complete enough for a reasonable person to pick up, read through and understand the following information:
- The definition of CUI, in regards to the company’s operations. This is how CUI is defined in contracts.
- Where CUI is stored, transmitted or processed.
- What controls are in place to protect CUI as it is stored, transmitted and processed.
- Any deficiencies that exist in protecting CUI, if applicable.
- Remediation plans address known deficiencies, if applicable.
How Does the SSP Solve These Problems?
The SSP addresses each NIST 800-171 system security planning challenge with concrete, measurable outcomes. It is designed to take an organization from a blank document to a defensible, customizable SSP in weeks rather than months.
Clear Documentation
The SSP provides a comprehensive template to document your CUI environment. This equates to a time savings in staff and consultant expenses!
Time Savings
The SSP can provide your organization with a templated solution that requires minimal resources to fine tune for your organization's specific SSP needs.
Audit-Defensible Format
Documentation is written to withstand scrutiny by DIBCAC and CMMC C3PAO assessors. The structure aligns with FedRAMP-derived SSP formats while tailoring the content to private-sector NIST 800-171 environments.
Alignment With Leading Practices
The SSP is written to align with NIST 800-53 controls for NIST 800-171 compliance.
What Is Included?
The SSP is delivered as editable Microsoft Office documentation. Purchase includes a single-entity license and the first year of product updates, plus the POA&M Microsoft Excel template at no additional cost.
SSP Main Document
Editable Microsoft Word document covering cover page and document control, scope, purpose and applicability, roles and responsibilities, policy and standard sections mapped to NIST 800-171 controls, operational procedures, and revision history structure.
POA&M Template (Included)
Microsoft Excel template for the Plan of Action and Milestones, included at no additional cost. The POA&M is the second NIST 800-171 deliverable that contracting officers and assessors expect alongside the SSP.
Cost Savings Estimate
When you look at the costs associated with either (1) hiring an external consultant to write cybersecurity documentation for you or (2) tasking your internal staff to write it, the cost comparisons paint a clear picture that buying from ComplianceForge is the logical option. Compared to hiring a consultant, you can save months of wait time and tens of thousands of dollars. Whereas, compared to writing your own documentation, you can potentially save hundreds of work hours and the associated cost of lost productivity. Purchasing the SSP from ComplianceForge offers these fundamental advantages when compared to the other options for obtaining quality cybersecurity documentation:
Internal Staff Cost
For your internal staff to generate comparable documentation, it would take them an estimated 90 internal staff work hours, which equates to a cost of approximately $7,000 in staff-related expenses. This is about 2 to 3 months of development time where your staff would be diverted from other work.
The SSP is approximately 12% of the cost for your internal staff to generate equivalent documentation.
External Consultant Cost
If you hire a consultant to generate this documentation, it would take them an estimated 45 consultant work hours, which equates to a cost of approximately $13,500. This is about 1 to 2 months of development time for a contractor to provide you with the deliverable.
The SSP is approximately 7% of the cost for an external consultant to generate equivalent documentation.
Product Examples
The SSP is based on existing formats used for FedRAMP but is designed specifically for NIST 800-171 to document the CUI environment. The PDF examples below show the SSP itself and the included POA&M template so the quality and structure of the documentation can be evaluated before purchase.
The SSP is meant to be a living document that addresses the who, what, why, when, where, and how of the cybersecurity program. The POA&M template tracks identified deficiencies, remediation plans, and milestones in the format that DIBCAC and CMMC C3PAO assessors expect.
Below is a PDF example containing a sample of the policies & standards you would receive upon purchasing the SSP.
Below is a PDF example containing the POA&M you would recieve upon purchasing the SSP.
How Much Customization Remains?
Given the difficult nature of writing templated cybersecurity documentation, ComplianceForge aims for approximately an 80% solution because it is impossible to write a 100% cookie-cutter document that can be equally applied across every organization. ComplianceForge did the heavy lifting, and the remaining work is fine-tuning the SSP with the specific information that only the organization knows.
In practice, customization is filling in the blanks and following the guidance provided to identify the who, what, when, where, why, and how for the specific CUI environment. Typical customization tasks include defining what CUI is in the context of operations, documenting where CUI is stored, transmitted, or processed, naming the controls in place to protect CUI, recording any deficiencies, and capturing remediation plans in the POA&M.
Professional Services
ComplianceForge offers optional professional services to customize purchased documentation. Professional services are not required to customize ComplianceForge documentation. However, some clients want our subject matter expertise to help customize their documentation to meet their specific business needs. If you have any questions about our professional services, please contact us at:
We offer the following professional service bundles:
5-Hour Bundle
This includes five (5) hours of professional services, which may be beneficial for companies that need some guidance on getting started with how to tailor their documentation.
10-Hour Bundle
This includes ten (10) hours of professional services, which may be beneficial for companies that need additional guidance on tailoring their documentation to meet their compliance requirements.
20-Hour Bundle
This includes twenty (20) hours of professional services, which may be beneficial for companies that need robust services, beyond just 10 hours, to assist in tailoring their documentation to meet their compliance requirements.
Purchased professional service hours expire 120 days (4 months) from the time of purchase if unused. Hours are intended to supplement, not replace, your own customization work, since only your organization knows the exact details to tailor your documentation. For questions regarding scoping a professional services engagement or configuring a custom package, contact ComplianceForge directly through the Contact Us page.
Why System Security Plan Documentation Matters
Formal NIST 800-171 SSP documentation has become a baseline expectation across regulatory, contractual, and customer due-diligence contexts. DoD contracting officers, DIBCAC assessors, CMMC C3PAOs, and prime contractors increasingly request the SSP as part of contract award, recompete, and flow-down due diligence. Organizations without an SSP face audit findings, lost contracts, and elevated insurance premiums.
The SSP is the foundational compliance artifact for any organization that stores, processes, or transmits CUI. It is the document that proves the organization has reasoned about its CUI environment, identified the controls in place, captured any deficiencies, and committed to a remediation plan through the included POA&M. The SSP provides a complete, defensible baseline that can be customized to the organization's environment in weeks rather than months.
POA&M Template Included At No Additional Cost
At no additional cost, your purchase of the System Security Plan (SSP) template comes with a Microsoft Excel template for a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) that is editable for your needs.
Aligned With Leading Frameworks
The SSP is written to align with NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 and Rev 3, with control narratives mapped to NIST 800-53 controls underneath the NIST 800-171 control families. This means the SSP works equally well for organizations operating under NIST 800-171 Rev 2 today, organizations transitioning to Rev 3, and organizations integrating SSP content into broader NIST 800-53 or SCF-based programs.
Cross-reference matrices included with the product make it easy to demonstrate framework alignment to DIBCAC assessors, CMMC C3PAOs, and prime contractors. The SSP integrates cleanly with the ComplianceForge CDPP and CSOP products as well as the NIST 800-171 Compliance Program (NCP) for organizations needing the full policy, standards, procedures, SSP, and POA&M stack in a single bundle.