National Institute of Standards and Technology SP 800-115 · Published by National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST Special Publication 800-115, the Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment, provides a structured methodology for planning and conducting security assessments developed by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology. This publication establishes a framework for organisations to evaluate the effectiveness of their security controls through testing techniques including vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and social engineering.
NIST SP 800-115 defines four phases of security testing: planning, discovery, attack, and reporting. The planning phase covers scope definition, rules of engagement, and approval processes. The discovery phase includes information gathering, vulnerability scanning, and analysis. The attack phase covers exploitation, privilege escalation, and lateral movement. The reporting phase defines how findings should be documented, prioritised, and communicated to stakeholders.
As a US government publication, NIST SP 800-115 is authoritative for federal agencies and contractors, and is widely referenced in private sector security testing programmes. It aligns with the broader NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and NIST SP 800-53 security controls, making it particularly relevant for organisations that use NIST as their primary security framework. The methodology's emphasis on thorough planning and clear reporting makes it a strong foundation for regulatory-driven penetration testing programmes.
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While not universally mandatory, NIST SP 800-115 is the authoritative technical guide for federal security testing and is widely adopted across US government agencies and their contractors. FedRAMP and CMMC reference NIST testing standards.
SP 800-115 provides the technical testing methodology that supports the NIST CSF's Identify and Protect functions. It helps organisations assess whether the security controls defined by NIST SP 800-53 are effectively implemented.
Absolutely. While developed for US government use, NIST SP 800-115 is freely available and widely adopted internationally. Many organisations outside the US use it alongside other frameworks like OWASP and PTES.