Documentation That Reflects Reality—and ==Stands Up to Scrutiny==
System Security Plans (SSP) & POA&M Development
System Security Plans and Plans of Action & Milestones are more than compliance paperwork, they are the foundation of certification validation and ongoing security governance. Yet too many organizations rely on generic templates that don't reflect how their systems actually operate, creating risk during audits and certification assessments. At IHI, we develop accurate, auditable documentation aligned to your real environment.
*Our Approach:*
Documentation Built for ==Audit Success==
IHI's SSP & POA&M Development framework ensures that every document we deliver is accurate, traceable, and defensible, connecting compliance requirements directly to your operational reality. Built from the ground up, based on your actual systems, controls, and operations, and not boilerplate language, we develop SSPs and POA&Ms are documentation that supports certification today, scales with your organization, and stands up to assessor scrutiny.
The IHI Documentation Process
1. Environment & Control Discovery
Map your systems, data flows, and existing control implementations to establish an accurate baseline.
2. Control-to-System Traceability
Document how each NIST 800-171 control is implemented, where it applies, and what evidence supports it.
3. Gap Identification & POA&M Development
Identify control gaps and develop prioritized remediation plans with realistic timelines and ownership assignments.
4. Review, Refinement & Validation
Conduct collaborative workshops to validate accuracy, clarify ownership, and prepare teams for assessor conversations.
Building SSPs That ==Reflect Your Environment==
What We Deliver
- Complete System Security Plan (SSP): Comprehensive documentation covering all 110 NIST 800-171 controls, tailored to your specific systems, boundaries, and operational context.
- Control Implementation Descriptions: Clear, specific language describing how each control is implemented—not generic boilerplate that assessors see through.
- System & Network Documentation: Architecture diagrams, data flow maps, and boundary definitions that support and clarify your SSP narrative.
- Evidence Mapping & Artifact Guidance: Traceability matrices connecting controls to systems, responsible parties, and supporting evidence for audit readiness.
- POA&M with Prioritized Remediation: Actionable plans for addressing control gaps, including milestones, ownership, resource estimates, and target completion dates.
Closing Gaps with ==Actionable POA&Ms==
Plans That Drive Remediation, Not Just Document It
- Risk-Ranked Prioritization: Gaps prioritized by compliance impact and remediation complexity so you focus resources where they matter most.
- Clear Ownership & Accountability: Each POA&M item assigned to responsible parties with defined milestones and timelines.
- Realistic Remediation Timelines: Plans built around your organization's capacity, budget, and certification deadlines—not arbitrary targets.
- Progress Tracking & Reporting: Frameworks for monitoring remediation progress and demonstrating continuous improvement to assessors.
Audit-Ready Documentation That Scales With Your Organization
No Generic Templates
Every SSP built from your actual environment, not recycled boilerplate.
Assessor-Ready Language
Documentation written to answer the questions C3PAOs and auditors will ask.
Traceable & Defensible
Controls mapped to systems, evidence, and ownership for clear accountability.
Living Documents
SSPs and POA&Ms designed to evolve with your organization and support ongoing compliance.
Ready to build ==audit-ready documentation==?
Let's Develop Your SSP & POA&M
Whether you're starting from scratch or need to remediate existing documentation before certification, IHI delivers SSPs and POA&Ms that reflect your real environment and stand up to scrutiny.