Staying ahead of threats is a challenge for organizations of all sizes. Reported global security incidents grew between February and March of 2024. They increased by 69.8%. It’s important to use a structured approach to cybersecurity. This helps to protect your organization.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) created a Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). It provides an industry-agnostic approach to security. It's designed to help companies manage and reduce their cybersecurity risks. The framework was recently updated in 2024 to NIST CSF 2.0.
CSF 2.0 is a comprehensive update that builds upon the success of its predecessor. It offers a more streamlined and flexible approach to cybersecurity. This guide aims to simplify the framework as well as make it more easily accessible to small and large businesses alike.
At the heart of CSF 2.0 is the Core. The Core consists of five concurrent and continuous Functions. These are: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These Functions provide a high-level strategic view of cybersecurity risk as well as an organization's management of that risk. This allows for a dynamic approach to addressing threats.
Here are the five Core Functions of NIST CSF 2.0.
This function involves identifying and understanding the organization's assets, cyber risks, and vulnerabilities. It's essential to have a clear understanding of what you need to protect. You need this before you can install safeguards.
The protect function focuses on implementing safeguards. These protections are to deter, detect, and mitigate cybersecurity risks. This includes measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption.
Early detection of cybersecurity incidents is critical for minimizing damage. The detect function emphasizes the importance of detection as well as having mechanisms to identify and report suspicious activity.
The respond function outlines the steps to take in the event of a cybersecurity incident. This includes activities such as containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.
The recover function focuses on restoring normal operations after a cybersecurity incident. This includes activities such as data restoration, system recovery, and business continuity planning.
The updated framework introduces the concept of Profiles and Tiers. These help organizations tailor their cybersecurity practices. They can customize them to their specific needs, risk tolerances, and resources.
Profiles are the alignment of the Functions, Categories, and Subcategories. They're aligned with the business requirements, risk tolerance, and resources of the organization.
Tiers provide context on how an organization views cybersecurity risk. As well as the processes in place to manage that risk. They range from Partial (Tier 1) to Adaptive (Tier 4).
There are many benefits to using NIST CSF 2.0, including:
Cost Savings: NIST CSF 2.0 can help organizations save money. It does this by preventing cyberattacks and reducing the impact of incidents.
If you are interested in getting started with NIST CSF 2.0, there are a few things you can do:
By following these steps, you can begin to deploy NIST CSF 2.0 in your organization. At the same time, you'll be improving your cybersecurity posture.
The NIST CSF 2.0 is a valuable tool. It can help organizations of all sizes manage and reduce their cybersecurity risks. Follow the guidance in the framework. It will help you develop a more comprehensive and effective cybersecurity program.
Are you looking to improve your organization's cybersecurity posture? NIST CSF 2.0 is a great place to start. We can help you get started with a cybersecurity assessment. We’ll identify assets that need protecting and security risks in your network. We can then work with you on a budget-friendly plan.
Contact us today to schedule a cybersecurity assessment.