Understanding the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework can help guide small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) through the process of building and improving their cybersecurity initiatives. Cyberthreats and cybersecurity technology are continuously evolving and it can be hard to identify what to prioritize and where to get started. Cybersecurity frameworks like the NIST framework offer benchmarks and cybersecurity best practices that you can use to determine what success looks like and create a roadmap for achieving your security and privacy goals.
In this guide, we’ll break down what the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is, why it matters for SMBs, and how you can use it to improve your security posture.
What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) provides cybersecurity best practices that companies of all sizes can use to build a cybersecurity-first culture, proactively manage cybersecurity risk, and successfully respond to and recover from attacks. NIST is the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency within the US Department of Commerce. While NIST initially designed the framework for critical infrastructure industries like finance, energy, and healthcare, it’s flexible enough for any organization to use, regardless of technical sophistication or cybersecurity maturity level.
The NIST CSF outlines key cybersecurity outcomes, rather than a prescriptive checklist of activities. This makes it easy for organizations to tailor the framework to the unique needs of the business. Working through the NIST CSF enables teams to assess their cybersecurity posture, prioritize cybersecurity efforts, and ensure organization-wide adoption of cybersecurity policy.
Why the NIST CSF Matters for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses
Cybersecurity isn’t just a concern for large enterprises. Seventy-three percent of Canadian SMBs have experienced a cybersecurity incident, yet only 40% believe that they have data that exposes them to the risk of a cyberattack. Phishing, malware, and unauthorized access to company networks top the list of threats SMBs are most likely to face. Cyberattacks lead to increased costs and can damage a company’s reputation—especially if customer data is compromised. Smaller, fast-growing companies that are rapidly adding team members, online accounts, and mobile devices often struggle to keep their expanding digital footprint secure.
SMBs can reduce their risk by proactively developing cybersecurity policies, providing cybersecurity training, and creating a plan for responding to and recovering from incidents. But just 25% of SMBs say they have a formal cybersecurity policy and over half do not have a plan for responding to a cyberattack.
Cybersecurity frameworks like the NIST CSF and CIS Critical Security Controls provide a starting point for small businesses that are embarking on cybersecurity initiatives for the first time. The NIST CSF is also a great tool for gap analysis, enabling teams to thoroughly analyze their organization’s security operations against a North Star of cybersecurity excellence. Using a framework like the NIST CSF can help you develop cybersecurity safeguards and track your progress towards your cybersecurity goals.
Can Canadian Businesses Use the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
Even though it was created in the US, Canadian companies can take advantage of the NIST CSF to inform their cybersecurity initiatives. The NIST CSF provides general guidance, not regulatory requirements. Organizations operating in Canada can leverage the framework to tailor cybersecurity policies to meet their compliance obligations in their region or industry.
Core Components of the NIST CSF
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is built around six core cybersecurity outcomes, known as Functions. The Functions are further broken down into Categories and Subcategories, which outline management and technical objectives that support each Function. Ideally, the outcomes listed under each Function happen simultaneously on a continuous basis throughout the organization, resulting in an effective security posture that limits risk and ensures resilience. The six core Functions are:
Govern: The Govern Function lays the foundation for achieving the outcomes listed under the other five Functions. Govern encompasses developing a risk management strategy and policy within the context of your business structure and goals. You’ll establish roles and responsibilities and ensure that there’s oversight for your cybersecurity initiatives.
Identify: The main outcome of Identify is fully understanding your organization’s current cybersecurity risks. At this stage, you’ll inventory your assets—like data, devices, software, and systems—as well as any digital services provided by suppliers and assess threats and vulnerabilities. You’ll also identify opportunities to improve the cybersecurity procedures and policies you already have in place.
Protect: The Categories under this Function guide you through the process of securing your assets to prevent cybersecurity incidents. This includes prioritizing identity management, authentication, and access control, as well as awareness-building and training. It also includes platform security management, such as software and hardware maintenance, and technology infrastructure resilience activities.
Detect: Working through the Categories under the Detect Function helps you set up systems for catching anomalies or compromises and flagging incidents when they occur so you can take action. Continuous monitoring and event analysis are the core components of this Function.
Respond: Through the Respond Function, you’ll work to develop a procedure for managing, analyzing, and mitigating cybersecurity incidents. You’ll also establish clear lines of communication and set standards for reporting incidents to relevant stakeholders or regulators.
Recover: Finally, the Recover Function guides you through the process of creating a path to resilience in the wake of cybersecurity incidents. This Function helps you determine how your team will execute your incident recovery plan and communicate with each other as they work towards recovery.
The Functions and Categories describe desired outcomes, but they don’t outline how to achieve those outcomes. NIST has additional resources you can use to take action based on the framework. However, launching cybersecurity initiatives is time- and resource-intensive—especially for small businesses that don’t yet have robust cybersecurity processes. An IT service provider like IX Solutions can guide you through the NIST CSF and support your team with setting up security infrastructure as well as ongoing cybersecurity tasks like data backup and threat monitoring.
Getting Started with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Using the NIST CSF starts with reviewing your current security architecture and the level of cybersecurity awareness within your organization. The NIST CSF provides two tools, the CSF Organizational Profile and CSF Tiers, to help you understand how to apply the framework within your organization.
Build Your Organizational Profile
You can use the NIST CSF Organizational Profile to get a clear picture of your current cybersecurity readiness and determine which Categories you need to prioritize. The exercise prompts you to go through all of the outcomes listed under each of the six Functions to see what you’ve achieved so far and where there’s work to do. The NIST CSF prompts organizations to create a Current Profile as well as a hypothetical Target Profile that outlines the ideal state of cybersecurity and takes into account any changes the organization is likely to experience in the future, such as new regulatory requirements, technology, or shifts in the threat landscape.
NIST provides a template and quick-start guide for creating your Organizational Profile. These resources provide general guidance, but it’s up to you to conduct a thorough investigation into your infrastructure and approach to cybersecurity. IX Solutions’ team of cybersecurity experts can help you understand the gaps in your security posture and offer solutions to help you achieve outcomes in line with your Target Profile.
Define Your Cybersecurity Maturity Level
After you’ve completed your Organizational Profile, you can identify which CSF Tier your organization falls under today—and which tier you want to work towards. Here are the four Tiers at a glance so you can get a general sense of where your organization is at:
Tier 1: Partial: Organizations at this tier have limited awareness of cybersecurity risks. Cybersecurity priorities are executed on an ad hoc basis and are not tied to larger risk objectives or the current threat landscape. The risk management strategy isn’t standardized and cybersecurity procedures are reactive rather than proactive
Tier 2: Risk Informed: At this tier, the organization is aware of cybersecurity risks and may have a risk management plan approved by leadership. Priorities are informed by the organization’s needs, business goals, and the threat landscape. However, the company does not yet have an organization-wide policy that’s consistently communicated and adopted at all levels.
Tier 3: Repeatable: Consistency is the core feature of organizations at this tier. Processes are well-defined, implemented across the organization, reviewed regularly, and updated based on changes in the business and the threat landscape. The organization consistently monitors cybersecurity risk across all assets.
Tier 4: Adaptable: Organizations at this tier have a culture of risk management, taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity and adapting processes to current risks based on insights and lessons from past events. The organization is capable of responding to an evolving threat landscape through continuous improvement, real-time threat detection, and organization-wide communication.
Implementing the NIST CSF: A Step-by-Step Approach
Here are the steps you can take to implement the NIST CSF in your organization:
Assign Ownership Over Cybersecurity Initiatives (Govern) — Determine who will be responsible for creating the Organizational Profile and leading the team through the outcomes outlined in the NIST CSF.
Complete Your Organizational Profile and Set Goals — Use your Organizational Profile to determine which Categories you’ll tackle first. Create an action plan with a clear timeline and goals that reflect the NIST CSF outcomes.
Inventory Your Assets and Conduct a Risk Assessment (Identify) — Once you’ve completed your Organizational Profile and identified gaps, start working through the Categories under the Identify Function. Get a full picture of the assets you need to protect and your current level of risk.
Move Through the Six Functions Until You Achieve Your Target Profile — Refer to the priorities set in your Organizational Profile and work through the Categories. Measure your progress against your Current and Target Profiles. Communicate with your team and encourage active participation in reaching organization-wide cybersecurity objectives.
Continuously Revisit the Functions and Iterate As You Go — Keep coming back to the NIST CSF to inform the process of iterating on and improving your security posture as your business and the threat landscape continue to evolve.
Prioritizing Cybersecurity in Your Growing Business
SMBs must be ready to address the mounting cybersecurity threats that can disrupt operations and cut into the bottom line. Using cybersecurity frameworks like the NIST CSF break cybersecurity down into manageable steps so that you can build the fortifications your business needs to reduce vulnerabilities and defend against attacks. The team at IX Solutions can help you tailor the NIST CSF to your organization and help you take action on the priorities that matter most to your business.
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