What document serves as the authoritative source for determining security control requirements?

The correct answer is NIST SP 800-53, which is indeed the authoritative source for determining security control requirements. This publication provides a comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations, guiding agencies in the implementation of security safeguards.

NIST SP 800-53 details various controls categorized by the type of impact they have on an organization's information systems, such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It establishes a baseline for security controls and assists organizations in effectively managing risk associated with their information systems.

This document is part of the Risk Management Framework (RMF) that federal agencies must follow, and it is regularly updated to reflect the latest technological and threat landscape developments. Therefore, its use ensures that agencies align their security measures with established best practices.

In contrast, NIST SP 800-37 provides guidance on the Risk Management Framework but does not specify the security controls themselves. The Federal Information Security Management Act, while critical for establishing a security framework, does not provide specific control requirements. Similarly, ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems but is not directly tailored to U.S. federal requirements and does not serve specifically as a control requirements document.