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Published Sep 6, 2025
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a major effort to tackle the growing cybersecurity risks tied to artificial intelligence. The agency has released a concept paper and proposed action plan for developing a series of NIST SP 800-53 Control Overlays for Securing AI Systems, as well as a launching a Slack channel for this community of interest.
Closing Critical Security Gaps
This initiative responds to the urgent need for standardized security measures as AI becomes deeply embedded in critical infrastructure and business operations. The proposed overlays extend the widely adopted SP 800-53 framework, adapting its proven methodology to address the unique risks of AI.
The controls will apply across a range of AI deployment scenarios, from generative AI applications and predictive decision-making systems to single- and multi-agent architectures. Importantly, they also include guidance for AI developers, ensuring that security is integrated throughout the entire development lifecycle—not added as an afterthought.
Community Collaboration
To drive collaboration, NIST has launched a dedicated Slack channel, “NIST Overlays for Securing AI (#NIST-Overlays-Securing-AI).” This forum allows cybersecurity experts, AI developers, system administrators, and risk managers to:
- Share expertise and implementation insights
- Engage directly with NIST principal investigators
- Provide real-time feedback on the evolving framework
Through regular updates and technical discussions, participants will help shape practical, real-world overlays that reflect the diverse challenges of AI security.
Addressing Emerging Threats
The timing is critical. AI-specific vulnerabilities—such as prompt injection, model poisoning, data exfiltration, and adversarial manipulation—are increasingly exploited, while traditional cybersecurity frameworks often fail to address them.
The new overlays will complement existing guidance, including the AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0), by providing actionable security controls organizations can adopt immediately to protect their AI systems.
By standardizing approaches to AI cybersecurity, NIST’s effort has the potential to influence security practices worldwide, shaping how organizations safeguard AI technologies in the years ahead.
Download SP 800-53 Control Overlays for Securing AI Systems Concept Paper HERE