Legal Definitions - National Institute of Standards and Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. Its primary mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. NIST achieves this by developing and disseminating measurement standards, guidelines, and best practices across a wide range of scientific and technological fields. This work helps ensure the accuracy, reliability, and interoperability of technologies and processes used by government, industry, and academia, ultimately fostering economic growth, public trust, and national security.

• Example 1: Cybersecurity Framework Adoption

  A major healthcare provider is seeking to strengthen its defenses against cyberattacks and protect sensitive patient information. To achieve this, they decide to implement the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, a voluntary set of guidelines and best practices designed to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risks. This framework provides a structured approach to identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber threats.

  This example illustrates how NIST develops crucial standards and frameworks that, while not legally mandated, are widely adopted by organizations across various sectors to enhance their security posture and ensure the reliability of their digital infrastructure. The healthcare provider benefits from NIST's expertise in creating a comprehensive, adaptable cybersecurity strategy.

• Example 2: Advanced Manufacturing Standards

  An aerospace company is developing new lightweight, high-strength composite materials for next-generation aircraft. To ensure these materials meet rigorous safety and performance requirements, they need precise and standardized methods for testing their properties, such as tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and durability under extreme temperatures. NIST researchers collaborate with industry partners to develop and validate these standardized testing protocols and create certified reference materials that can be used to calibrate testing equipment and ensure consistent quality control across the supply chain.

  This demonstrates NIST's role in advancing measurement science and creating the foundational standards necessary for innovation in advanced manufacturing. By providing reliable testing methods and reference materials, NIST helps the aerospace company ensure the safety and performance of its new materials, fostering trust and enabling technological progress in a critical industry.

• Example 3: Precise Timekeeping for Critical Infrastructure

  Modern electrical power grids rely on extremely precise timing to synchronize the flow of electricity and prevent blackouts. Similarly, financial trading systems require accurate timestamps for transactions, and global navigation satellite systems (like GPS) depend on exact time signals to pinpoint locations. NIST maintains the official U.S. time standard, which is derived from a network of highly accurate atomic clocks. This precise time is then disseminated through various means, including radio signals and network time protocols, for use by critical infrastructure operators.

  This example highlights NIST's fundamental role in maintaining national measurement standards, specifically for time. The accuracy provided by NIST's atomic clocks is essential for the reliable operation of numerous technologies that underpin modern society, from energy distribution to communication and navigation, showcasing its impact on public safety and economic stability.