NIST Cybersecurity Framework - An Introduction
Since the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released its Cybersecurity Framework in 2014, it has become one of the most widely used tools for managing cybersecurity risk. The framework provides a flexible and adaptable approach to cybersecurity that can be tailored to the specific needs of any organization. In this blog post, we'll provide an overview of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and explain how you can use it to improve your organization's cybersecurity posture.
What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
There are several different types of cybersecurity frameworks, NIST being one of the most widely used. But what is a cybersecurity framework and why is it used?
A cybersecurity framework is a set of guidelines that can be used to guide the protection strategies that are put into place for a company or organization. A set of documented processes and best practices, they're used to design the IT security policy of an organization and to create a system that is able to detect and respond to potential security threats. Basically, they help organizations address cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in an organized and efficient manner.
Cybersecurity frameworks are usually developed through a process of collaboration involving multiple stakeholders such as government bodies, businesses, and third-party experts. In order to be effective, these frameworks must be tailored specifically to the needs of the organization in question. Some examples of cybersecurity frameworks that are currently in use include NIST,
HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR,
PCI DSS, NERC-CIP, FISMA, and more.
Now let's get into the details of the NIST cybersecurity framework. NIST stands for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It is an organization that eases the way for the government to improve its ability to develop, manage, and use information technology and its related systems. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework provides a flexible and adaptable approach to help organizations manage cybersecurity risk. The framework helps organizations identify, assess, and respond to risks in a way that aligns with their business goals and objectives. By using the framework, organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture and better defend against cyber attacks.
Background
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework was initially put in place after US President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13636 to better manage the security of its critical infrastructure. Under this Executive Order, NIST was required to develop a framework using existing standards, guidelines, and practices to minimize the risk to the critical infrastructure. Originally created for private-sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure, NIST is now adopted by federal agencies, businesses, and educational institutions alike and from all over the world.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework - A Quick Overview
Here’s a quick NIST Cybersecurity Framework Summary and detailed breakdown:
The Framework Core
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is made up of the following core elements - Functions, Categories, Subcategories, and References.
Functions are used to organize basic cybersecurity concepts and activities. They help an organization demonstrate its cybersecurity risk management capabilities. Categories divide a Function into groups of cybersecurity outcomes that are closely related to programmatic needs and specific activities. Subcategories are used to further divide categories into more specific outcomes of technical and/or management activities. Lastly, informative resources are a set of guidelines, standards, and best practices that are common across critical infrastructure sectors and show how to achieve the outcomes associated with each Subcategory.
The Functions area contains the core security functions Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Listed below are the definitions of the core security functions:
Identify - This process includes building organizational understanding of cybersecurity risk management for systems, people, assets, data, and capabilities. The Identify function is used to understand the business context, identify the assets that support critical infrastructure and the risks associated with them. This allows the organization to to concentrate and prioritize its efforts to protect these assets.
Protect - This function involves creating and implementing appropriate safeguards to ensure the delivery of critical services. The Protect function helps to ensure that the impact of a potential cybersecurity incident is minimized.
Detect - Create and put into action activities to detect the occurrence of a cybersecurity event. This function ensures that cybersecurity events are discovered in a timely manner.
Respond - Create and implement appropriate actions in response to a detected cybersecurity incident. The Respond Function facilitates the timely response to a detected cybersecurity event.
Recover - Develop and implement activities to maintain data resilience and to restore any capabilities or services that have been harmed as a result of a cybersecurity incident. The Recover Function enables quick and efficient return to normal operations in order to mitigate the impact of a cybersecurity incident.
Framework Profiles
A Profile in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a detailed description of the current state or the desired target state of a cybersecurity activity. The Current Profile describes the cybersecurity outcomes that are being achieved right now, whereas the Target Profile indicates the outcomes that need to be achieved in order to meet the organizational risk management goals.
In other words, the Framework Profile is used to integrate the Functions, Categories, and Subcategories into the organization's business requirements, resources, and risk tolerance. Organizations can use it to develop a blueprint for risk reduction that takes into consideration the organizational goals, legal and regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and risk management priorities.
Profiles also help to assess the resources required to achieve cybersecurity objectives in a cost-effective and prioritized manner. For instance, a comparative study of the Current and Target Profiles mentioned above can highlight the gaps that must be filled in order to achieve the desired outcomes.
Framework Implementation Tiers
The Framework Implementation Tiers describe how an organization views cybersecurity risk and how it is addressed. They describe the organization's current risk management strategy in relation to the framework's characteristics, such as how repeatable, threat aware, and adaptive the strategy is. They range from Partial (Tier 1) to Adaptive (Tier 4).
Tier 1 - Partial: The organization's risk management strategy is not formalized and is managed haphazardly and occasionally reactively. In addition, the organization is not aware of the risks it faces.
Tier 2 - Risk-Informed: The organization may not have a formalized risk management strategy for managing security risks. The management is in charge of managing cybersecurity risks as they arise.
Tier 3
- Repeatable: The organization has a repeatable and formalized process for managing cybersecurity risks and a clearly defined security policy.
Tier 4 - Adaptable: At this stage, an organization's cybersecurity policies will be adapted based on lessons learned and driven by analytics to provide insights and best practices. The organization continuously improves its security strategy based on the security incidents it experiences and also shares this knowledge with the wider network.
Benefits of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
The benefits of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can be summarized in the following points:
First, the Framework helps organizations to better understand and manage their cybersecurity risks. It helps to strengthen your organization's approach to secure assets and data. And since the NIST Framework is built on the experience of security experts from across the world, following the Framework will help organizations to achieve a global standard of cybersecurity.
Second, it provides a common language for communication between different stakeholders about cybersecurity risks and how to mitigate them. This improves communication between different stakeholders and leads to better collaboration and ultimately a safer organization.
Third, the Framework can be used to assess the effectiveness of an organization's cybersecurity program and identify gaps that need to be addressed.
Finally, the Framework can be used to benchmark an organization's cybersecurity program against others in the same industry. NIST is an internationally recognized and accepted framework in the cybersecurity community. Following this procedure ensures that your organization builds the most dependable foundation for its cybersecurity program.
Conclusion
The Framework is voluntary and provides a flexible approach that can be tailored to the specific needs of any organization. It is not prescriptive, which means that organizations can choose the most appropriate controls for their particular circumstances. The Framework is also designed to be compatible with other security control frameworks, such as ISO 27001 and the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards. When used correctly, it can help organizations of all sizes to develop a robust risk management strategy that takes into account their specific needs and priorities. Utilizing this framework can offer organizations a clear path forward for improving their cybersecurity posture and protecting their critical infrastructure. Threat Intelligence’s Evolve platform has security capabilities for each of the five pillars of the Framework - ranging from Automated Penetration Testing, Extended Detection and Response, Automated Incident Response to Automated Cyber Threat Intelligence, Leaked Password Monitoring, and Supply Chain Monitoring.
Contact us if you would like to know more about how we can help you implement the NIST framework in your organization.
