What is a "control family" in NIST SP 800-53?

A "control family" in NIST SP 800-53 refers to a category of security controls that share a common function. This concept is foundational in organizing and managing security controls within the risk management framework. Each control family encompasses various controls that work synergistically to address similar objectives related to information security and risk management.

For instance, control families might include areas such as access control, incident response, and risk assessment, among others. By structuring controls into families, organizations can more effectively implement, assess, and maintain their security strategies. This categorization facilitates a clearer understanding of how different controls interact with one another, aiding in the overall management and prioritization of security efforts.

In contrast, a group of security policies would merely represent written directives guiding behavior and procedures but would not encapsulate the broader category of controls. A type of risk assessment pertains to methodologies used to identify and analyze risks but does not align with the concept of organizing security controls. Lastly, a list of controlled substances is unrelated to information security paradigms and does not pertain to NIST SP 800-53. Thus, the identification of control families as a category of controls with a common function is essential for an effective framework for managing security measures within an organization.