Navigating the NIST CSF

The NIST CSF is a guide designed to assist organizations in improving their cybersecurity processes. Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2014, it provides a risk-based approach to managing cybersecurity risk that is scalable and customizable to various sectors and organizations of all sizes.

The NIST CSF is not a set of mandatory regulations, but a series of best practices, guidelines, and standards. Its purpose is to promote the protection of privacy and civil liberties inherent in the secure use of Information Technology.

The NIST CSF is built around five (5) core functions, each providing a high-level, strategic view of an organization’s management of cybersecurity risk. These five functions are: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

1. Identify – Identification is the first function of the NIST CSF. The key objective of this function is to understand the business context, the resources that support critical functions, and the related cybersecurity risks.

The Identification function involves:

• Asset Management: Identifying and managing the data, personnel, devices, systems, and facilities that enable the organization to achieve its objectives.
• Business Environment: Understanding the organization’s objectives, stakeholders, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Governance: Establishing the policy, processes, and procedures to manage and monitor the organization’s regulatory, legal, risk, environmental, and
• operational requirements.
• Risk Assessment: Identifying and prioritizing potential cybersecurity risks.
• Risk Management Strategy: Establishing the organization’s approach to managing cybersecurity risk and communicating it to all stakeholders.

2. Protect – Once an organization has identified its assets and the risks they may face, the next step is to protect those assets. The Protect function outlines how to develop and implement the appropriate safeguards to ensure delivery of critical infrastructure services.

Protection includes:

• Access Control: Implementing policies and procedures for managing access to systems and data.
• Data Security: Ensuring that data-at-rest and data-in-transit is appropriately secure.
• Information Protection Processes and Procedures: Implementing and managing the processes and procedures used to protect information systems and assets.
• Maintenance: Regularly servicing and maintaining systems to ensure their integrity and security.
• Protective Technology: Implementing technical measures to protect systems and data, such as encryption and antivirus software.

3. Detect – Despite the best protection efforts, some cybersecurity events may still occur, which brings us to the Detect function. This function is about developing and implementing appropriate activities to identify (in a timely manner) the occurrence of a cybersecurity event.

Detection involves:

• Anomalies and Events: Identifying unusual activities that could be indicative of a cybersecurity event.
• Security Continuous Monitoring: Regularly observing and recording system activities and configurations to identify potential cybersecurity events.
• Detection Processes: Implementing and testing processes that support prompt detection of cybersecurity events.

4. Respond – Following the detection of a cybersecurity event, the Respond function comes into play. This involves developing and implementing appropriate activities to take action regarding a detected cybersecurity event.

The Response function includes:

• Response Planning: Developing and implementing incident response plans.
• Communications: Coordinating response activities with internal stakeholders and external organizations, such as law enforcement.
• Analysis: Analyzing the impact of the cybersecurity event, identifying the attacker, and determining the attack method.
• Mitigation: Taking steps to prevent expansion of an event and to resolve the incident.
• Improvements: Identifying lessons learned from the incident and updating response strategies accordingly.

5. Recover – The final function of the NIST CSF is Recover. This involves developing and implementing appropriate activities to maintain plans for resilience and to restore any capabilities or services that were impaired due to a cybersecurity incident.

The Recover function focuses on:

• Recovery Planning: Developing and implementing plans for returning to normal operations.
• Improvements: Learning from a cybersecurity event and the recovery process to achieve operational resilience.
• Communications: Coordinating recovery activities with internal and external parties, including public relations and disclosure requirements.

The NIST CSF emphasizes a continuous improvement approach to cybersecurity, where the organization cyclically revisits each of these five functions to ensure its cybersecurity posture remains effective and responsive to the changing cyber threat landscape.

Implementing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) involves a series of steps. Below is a simplified guide to help you understand the process:

1. Prioritize and Scope

At this initial stage, it is crucial to understand your organization’s mission, its critical business objectives, and the strategic priorities. This understanding should inform the decision on the scope of CSF implementation, that is, where within your organization you will apply the framework. While some may choose a broad, organization-wide approach, others might focus on a specific business unit, process, or system. The scope should reflect your organization’s greatest needs and most pressing risks.

2. Orient

Once you’ve established your scope, the next step is to ‘orient’ yourself with the systems, assets, regulatory requirements, and risk approaches relevant to that scope. Understanding your organization’s risk tolerance is key in this phase. That understanding will influence your decisions about which systems, assets, and data are most critical and should be prioritized for protection.

3. Create a Current Profile

With the preliminary steps completed, it’s now time to create a ‘Current Profile.’ This profile maps out the cybersecurity outcomes that your organization is currently achieving from the five core functions of the CSF: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. This profile acts as a benchmark, outlining your existing cybersecurity status and capabilities.

4. Conduct a Risk Assessment

The next step involves conducting a risk assessment. This crucial task uncovers the potential cybersecurity risks within the defined scope. The assessment should consider both the likelihood and potential impact of each risk, thereby aligning your cybersecurity strategy with the ‘Identify’ function of the NIST CSF. It helps prioritize efforts based on the potential damage to the organization’s mission.

5. Create a Target Profile

Once you understand your risks, you then define your organization’s desired cybersecurity outcomes by creating a ‘Target Profile.’ This profile should align with your business objectives and should be tailored to address the findings from your risk assessment. The Target Profile essentially describes your organization’s desired state for cybersecurity risk management.

6. Determine, Analyze, and Prioritize Gaps

Now, it’s time to compare the Current Profile with the Target Profile. This comparison helps identify gaps—cybersecurity outcomes that are part of your Target Profile but not your Current Profile. Once these gaps are identified, they need to be analyzed to determine their impact on your cybersecurity posture. Prioritize them for action based on business needs, risk tolerance, and resource availability.

7. Implement Action Plan

With a clear understanding of what needs to be done, the next step is to develop and implement an action plan to address the identified gaps. This might involve changes to existing policies, processes, or systems. Alternatively, you may need to invest in additional resources or training. The plan should be detailed and actionable, with assigned responsibilities and timelines.

8. Monitor and Review

The final step is an ongoing one. Once your action plan is implemented, its effectiveness should be monitored continuously. This involves periodically reviewing and updating your cybersecurity program. You might need to adjust your Current Profile, conduct new risk assessments, update your Target Profile, and revise your action plan to respond to changes in your business environment, technology, or threat landscape.

The NIST CSF serves as a comprehensive roadmap for organizations striving to achieve cybersecurity success. By understanding the framework, assessing their current cybersecurity posture, mapping the NIST CSF to their specific needs, and implementing its recommendations, organizations can navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape with confidence. Embracing continuous improvement, collaboration, and a proactive mindset, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity resilience and protect their valuable assets in an ever-evolving threat landscape. Remember, the NIST CSF is not a one-time effort but a journey towards cybersecurity excellence and continuous protection.

Please reach out if you would like to learn more about how Audit Peak can assist you with your NIST CSF compliance or for a free consultation. WE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PEAK.