I N F O R M A T I O N S E C U R I T Y Computer Security Division Information Technology Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930 September 2012 U.S. Department of Commerce Rebecca M. Blank, Acting Secretary National Institute of Standards and Technology Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary for Standards and Technology and Director Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments JOINT TASK FORCE TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE NIST Special Publication 800 -30 Revision 1 Special Publication 800- 30 Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments ________________________________________________________________________________________________ PAGE ii Reports on Computer Systems Technology The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the nation’s measurement and standards infrastructure. ITL develops tests, test methods, reference data, proof of concept implementations, and technical analyses to advance the development and productive use of information technology. ITL’s responsibilities include the development of management, administrative, technical, and physical standards and guidelines for the cost -effective security and privacy of other than national security -related information in federal information systems. The Special Publication 800- series reports on ITL’s research, guidelines, and outreach eff orts in information system security, and its collaborative activities with industry, government, and academic organizations. Special Publication 800- 30 Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments ________________________________________________________________________________________________ PAGE iii Authority This publication has been developed by NIST to further its statutory responsibilities under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Public Law (P.L.) 107 -347. NIST is responsible for developing information security standards and guidelines, including minimum requirements for federal information systems, but such stan dards and gui delines shall not apply to national security systems without the express approval of appropriate federal officials exercising polic y authority over such systems. This guideline is consistent with the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB ) Circular A -130, Section 8b(3), Securing Agency Information Systems , as analyzed in Circular A -130, Appendix IV: Analysis of Key Sections . Supplemental information is provided in Circular A -130, Appendix III , Security of Federal Automated Information Resources . Nothing in this publication should be taken to contradict the standards and guidelines made mandatory and binding on federal agencies by the Secretary of Commerce under statu tory authority. 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 federal official. This publication may be used by nongovernmental organizations on a voluntary basis and is not subject to copyright in the United States. Attribution would, however, be appreciated by NIST. NIST Special Publication 800- 30, 95 pages (September 2012 ) CODEN: NSPUE2 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 Electronic mail: sec -cert@nist.gov Certain commercial en