For The Record Earns NIST Compliance Setting a New Standard for Court Data Security

PHOENIX, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For The Record, a global leader in court record technology, has achieved compliance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's NIST 800-53r5 security framework—one of the most comprehensive and demanding cybersecurity standards. The achievement, verified by an independent auditor, underscores For The Record's commitment to protecting sensitive justice system data with the same rigor applied to classified federal environments.

"At For The Record, we are proud to confirm our successful attainment of NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 compliance," said Tony Douglass, CEO of For The Record. "This achievement marks a significant step forward in our mission to support courts with secure, resilient, and trustworthy technology solutions. It affirms our commitment to meeting the rigorous standards expected in the justice system and to being a reliable partner to courts across jurisdictions."

While SOC 2, Type 2 is a widely recognized security standard for business and cloud service providers—focusing on things like data access, privacy, and operational controls—NIST 800-53r5 takes protection several levels higher. Designed for federal systems, it includes over 1,200 controls spanning technical safeguards, physical security, and human processes. These cover everything from zero-trust architecture and insider threat detection to supply chain risk management and continuous monitoring.

"If SOC 2 is like flying a commercial jet, NIST is a crewed mission to Mars," said John Doyle, Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation at For The Record. "It's built for hostile environments, where failure is not an option. We chose this path because courts are increasingly handling more sensitive data, in more distributed ways—and the stakes demand a higher standard."

The company's achievement comes as courts modernize their operations, with digital recordings, cloud platforms, and remote access becoming essential tools in justice delivery. With NIST compliance in place, courts using For The Record's FTR Justice Cloud platform can expect:

• Enterprise-level encryption and authentication
• Real-time risk monitoring and mitigation
• Audit logs that track every access point
• Supply chain integrity and system hardening
• Secure support for remote proceedings and data sharing

This level of protection is increasingly important as courts become targets for ransomware, unauthorized access, and breaches that can compromise public trust. For The Record's layered approach also includes alignment with CJIS standards for law enforcement-level security and SOC 2, Type 2 to demonstrate operational integrity across time.

"We recognize the critical importance of safeguarding the integrity of court proceedings and the sensitive data entrusted to us," Douglass added. "This milestone reflects the dedication of our team and our deep collaboration with the courts we serve. As threats evolve, we remain focused on continuous improvement—and on delivering the highest levels of security, transparency, and accountability in everything we do."

About Us
For The Record is a global leader in courtroom recording and speech-to-text technologies that accelerate access to justice. With over 30 years of experience and installations in more than 30,000 courtrooms across 75 countries, the company has redefined how courts capture, manage, and distribute the official record. Driven by innovation, For The Record continues to modernize the way justice is documented and delivered—advancing the transparency and accessibility of the official record—with innovations such as FTR Justice Cloud and FTR RealTime. Learn more at www.fortherecord.com 

SOURCE For The Record