NIST Special Publication 800 -12 Revision 1 An Introduction to Information Security Michael Nieles Kelley Dempsey Victoria Yan Pillitteri This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/ NIST.SP.800- 12r1 C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y NIST Special Publication 800 -12 Revision 1 An Introduc tion to Information Security Michael Nieles Kelley Dempsey Victoria Yan Pillitteri Computer Security Division Information Technology Laboratory This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/ NIST.SP.800- 12r1 June 2017 U.S. Department of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. , Secretary National Institute of Standards and Technology Kent Rochford , Acting NIST Director and Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Authority This publication has been developed by NIST in accordance with its statutory responsibilities under the Federal Information Security M odernization Act (FISMA) of 2014 , 44 U.S.C. § 35 51 et seq. , Public Law (P.L.) 113 -283. NIST is responsible for developing information security standards and guidelines, incl uding minimum requireme nts for federal systems, but such standards and guidelines shall not apply to national security systems without the express approval of appropriate f ederal officials exercising policy authority over such systems. This guideline is consistent with the requi rements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A -130. Nothing in this publication should be taken to contradict the standards and guidelines made mandatory and binding on f ederal agencies by the Secretary of Commerce under statutory authorit y. Nor should these guidelines be interpreted as altering or superseding the existing authorities of the Secretary of Commerce, Director of the OMB, or any other f ederal official. This publication may be used by nongovernmental organizations on a voluntar y basis and is not subject to copyright in the United States. Attribution would, however, be appreciated by NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-12 Revision 1 Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 800- 12 Rev. 1 , 101 pages (June 2017) CODEN: NSPUE2 This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/ NIST.SP.800 -12r1 Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by NIST, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. There may be references in this publication to other publications curre ntly under development by NIST in accordance with its assigned statutory responsibilities. The information in this publication, including concepts and methodologies, may be used by f ederal agencies even before the completion of such companion publications. Thus, until each publication is completed, current requirements, guideline s, and procedures, where they exist, remain operative. For planning and transition purposes, f ederal agencies may wish to closely follow the development of these new publications by NIST. Organizations are encouraged to review all draft publications during public comment periods and provide feedback to NIST. Many NIST cybersecurity publications , ot her than the ones noted above, are available at http://csrc.nist.gov/publications . Comments on this publication may be submitted to: National Institute of Standards and Technology Attn: Computer Security Division, Information Technology Laboratory 100 Bureau Drive (Mail Stop 8930) Gaithersburg, MD 20899 -8930 Email: sec-cert@nist.gov All comments are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act (FO