NIST 800-53 REV 5 • PLANNING
PL-3 — System Security Plan Update
CMMC Practice Mapping
No direct CMMC mapping
NIST 800-171 Mapping
No direct NIST 800-171 mapping
Related Controls
No related controls listed
Practitioner Notes
Your system security plan is a living document — it needs to be updated whenever there are significant changes to the system, its environment, or the threats it faces. An outdated SSP is almost as bad as no SSP.
Example 1: Set a calendar reminder to review your SSP at least annually. Also update it whenever you make significant changes: adding new servers, migrating to cloud, changing network architecture, or deploying new security tools. Track versions with a revision history table at the front of the document.
Example 2: Tie SSP updates to your change management process. When a significant change is approved, include 'Update SSP' as a required step in the change ticket. This ensures the SSP stays current without relying solely on periodic reviews. Use your GRC tool or a simple tracker to log every SSP update.