The initial public draft of NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-234, High-Performance Computing Security Overlay, is now available for public comment.
High-performance computing systems provide fundamental computing infrastructure for large-scale artificial intelligence and machine learning model training, big data analysis, and complex simulations at exceptional speeds. Securing high-performance computing systems is essential for safeguarding AI models, protecting sensitive data, and realising the full benefits of high-performance computing capabilities.
This NIST Special Publication introduces an high-performance computing security overlay that is designed to address the unique characteristics and requirements of high-performance computing systems.
Built upon the moderate baseline defined in SP 800-53B, the overlay tailors 60 security controls with supplemental guidance and/or discussions to enhance their applicability in high-performance computing contexts.
This overlay aims to provide practical, performance-conscious security guidance that can be readily adopted. For many organisations, it offers a robust foundation for securing high-performance computing environments while also allowing for further customisation to meet specific operational or mission needs.
The public comment period is open through July 3, 2025. See the publication details for a copy of the draft and instructions for submitting comments. Additional information can be found at the NIST HPC Security Working Group website.
