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NIST CSF

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework is more important than ever as the benchmark for cybersecurity in the United States, and the basis for many new standards and laws that are beginning to emerge today. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is an optional framework composed of standards, recommendations, and best practices for managing cybersecurity-related risk. 

The primary objective of the NIST Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Framework is "Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity." The focused, adaptable, and cost-effective strategy of the Cybersecurity Framework contributes to the safety and fortitude of critical infrastructure.

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Why Choose Accorian?

Our team have managed innumerable NIST CSF projects across various sectors and regions over the last five years. Our customer portfolio spans several industries, including SaaS, financial services, healthcare, and service providers. 

Through their preparedness and implementation services, our team has helped firms fulfil NIST criteria and guided them through the assessment or assurance process.

 

 

NIST CSF Overview

The NIST CSF is comprised of three elements. These CSF components may assist both government and non-government entities in enhancing the security of their vital infrastructure. It gives the foundational information necessary to comprehend the Framework's further online learning sites.

Who needs to comply to NIST CSF?

Entities like SaaS, Financial services, Educational & Research institutions, Healthcare, Consulting companies, and Service providers will have an elevated security posture if they comply with the requirements of NIST CSF

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SaaS

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Consulting Companies

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Financial Services

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Educational & Research Institutions

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Healthcare

Salient Features Of The NIST Cybersecurity Framework

It enables you to better comprehend, manage, and decrease cybersecurity threats, data loss, and restoration costs.
It allows you to identify your most essential tasks for delivering critical operations and service delivery.
It implies that you are a trusted organization that protects your critical assets.
It facilitates investment prioritization and maximizes the effect of every dollar spent on cybersecurity.
It covers contractual and regulatory requirements.
It contributes to the larger information security program.
Framework Core

A collection of cybersecurity actions, results, and instructive references shared by sectors of critical infrastructure. The Framework Core offers five fundamental capabilities

Framework Profile

It allows you to create a path for decreasing cybersecurity risk that is consistent with company objectives and legal or regulatory constraints.

Framework Profiles are the unique alignment of an organization's organizational goals and needs, resources, and risk tolerance with the expected results of the NIST CSF Core. By compartmentalizing a "Current Profile" and a "Target Profile," you will be able to identify chances to increase the cybersecurity protection of your organization.

Framework Implementation Tiers

Provides a means for businesses to compare their approach to cybersecurity risk management with the best practices outlined in the framework. In order to fulfil the diverse security needs of various companies, The NIST CSF implementation Consists of 4 tiers Which specify the extent to which their cyber risk management procedures display the NIST CSF criteria.

These  four implementations are detailed below:

Each layer of NIST CSF implementation is further subdivided into three principal components:

Risk Management Processes

Risk Management Program

External Participation

NIST explains expressly that they are not maturity levels. The greater the tier, the more closely a company's risk management processes align with the NIST CSF requirements.

NIST CSF Implementation - Methodology

Accorian Deliverables

Accorian will provide a comprehensive study of how the information security program of a firm compares to the NIST Cyber Security Framework. These include:

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Report Executive Summary

A summary report on the scope, method, and approach.

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Detailed Assessment Report

Summarizing the findings/observations. Assigning levels of maturity to the duties (Identify, protect, detect, respond, recover). Determining the maturity level of the organization as a whole.

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Plan for Corrective Action

A roadmap that facilitates prompt corrective measures, including short-term suggestions, to enhance the efficacy of each deficiency, discovery, or observation.

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Detailed Work Documents

Detailed work documents for each step, encompassing supporting documents for the work completed and conclusion drawn, and any reports or paperwork produced throughout the evaluation.

Resources

Article

NIST SP 800-39 - The Framework of Security

Written By: Vigneswar Ravi & Vedashree Venkatesh The ever-changing digital landscape poses a rising security challenge for organizations. Data security is not just a priority; it's a necessity. It must be effectively integrated with development objectives to ensure alignment and effectiveness. According to a recent IBM report, the average data breach cost in 2023 was $4.35 million, emphasizing the importance of robust information security measures. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-39, released in 2011, is a valuable resource in the ongoing battle for data security. The National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication (NIST SP) 800-39 is an exhaustive guide for incorporating information security into organizational architecture. This document enables organizations of any size or industry to efficiently manage risks to assets, operations, and information systems. Why Do You Need Robust Information Security Practices? Robust information security practices are a strategic approach against the complexity and evolution of cybersecurity risks. As technology becomes more prevalent, the risk of cyberattacks rises dramatically. Enterprises can secure sensitive data, maintain regulatory compliance, ensure business continuity during disruptions, and create stakeholder trust by actively detecting vulnerabilities, assessing risks, and implementing focused mitigation techniques. Types of NIST 800-39 NIST Special Publication 800-39 is divided into volumes, each focusing on a different facet of data security. Despite this division, the publication provides comprehensive guidance for managing risks related to data security. These comprise: NIST 800-39 Volume 1</h2 > Handbook for Risk Assessments NIST 800-39 Volume 2</h2 > Handbook for Using the Risk Management Framework with Federal Information Systems NIST 800-39 Volume 3</h2 > Handbook for Evaluating Security Controls in Federal Information Systems and Organizations NIST 800-39 Volume 4</h2 > Handbook for Security Authorization of Federal Information Systems Understanding the Risk Management Framework (RMF) in NIST 800-39 NIST Special Publication 800-39 offers guidance on risk management for information systems. Organizations can enhance their risk management compliance and cybersecurity posture by understanding the essential elements of NIST 800-39. By categorizing systems, organizations can identify the right level of protection necessary. The RMF consists of several measures that assist organizations in consistently and fully implementing risk management practices. Benefits of Implementing NIST 800 – 39 Enhanced Risk Management Improved Security Posture Regulatory Compliance Proactive Threat Management Continuous Improvement Resilience Benefits Beyond Compliance While consistency is a significant driver for adopting the NIST Special Publication 800-39 framework, numerous additional benefits extend beyond consistency. Associations can: Reduce Security Risks: </h2 > Proactive risk management helps prevent security breaches and minimizes potential damage Improve Data Protection: </h2 > Enhanced security measures ensure better sensitive information and data protection Boost Operational Efficiency: </h2 > Optimized resource allocation and streamlined security processes lead to improved operational efficiency Build Trust and Confidence: </h2 > Strong information security practices foster trust with stakeholders, customers, and partners

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Article

NIST Cybersecurity Framework Version 2.0: New Release

In a landmark move for cybersecurity, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released version 2.0 of the Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), an essential resource referenced in President Biden's National Cybersecurity Strategy. This update represents a significant expansion of cybersecurity risk management protocols, transitioning from safeguarding critical infrastructure to encompassing organizations across all sectors. Designed for Universal Adoption NIST CSF 2.0 offers a universally applicable framework with detailed guidance and resources tailored to the diverse needs of various entities, from small businesses and schools to large corporations. Introduction of the “Govern” Function Credits: NIST Six functions, 22 categories, and 106 subcategories make up the CSF 2.0 The framework historically comprised five core functions for a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy: Identify Protect Detect Respond Recover NIST has now introduced a sixth function, Govern, in CSF 2.0, expanding the framework to offer a holistic view of managing cybersecurity risks throughout their lifecycle. This addition promotes a more comprehensive approach to organizational security, emphasizing managing cybersecurity risks throughout their entire lifecycle. Furthermore, within the Govern function, particular emphasis is placed on the critical role of supply chain risk management, highlighting the necessity for robust cybersecurity practices that extend throughout supply chains. Salient Features and Major Changes The “Govern” function comprises several categories to provide organizations with a structured approach to effectively addressing cybersecurity challenges. These categories include Organizational Context, Risk Management Strategy, Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities, Policy, Oversight, and Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management. A notable enhancement in CSF 2.0 is incorporating the "Govern" function, promoting a more comprehensive approach to organizational security. Furthermore, there is greater emphasis on the critical role of supply chain risk management within the "Govern" function, highlighting the necessity for robust cybersecurity practices that extend throughout supply chains. The older Governance category in CSF 1.0 has been made into a function. There are a few concepts from Identify, Protection, and Detection in the form of procedures to be laid down. Govern, CSF 2.0 now comprises six core functions, collectively offering an integrative perspective on the lifecycle management of cybersecurity risk. The Govern (GV) function focuses on the following categories: Organizational Context (GV.OC) Risk Management Strategy (GV.RM) Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities (GV.RR) Policy (GV.PO) Oversight (GV.OV) Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (GV.SC) Expanded Guidance on Profiles and Implementation Substantial revisions and expansions to profile guidance In-depth examples and steps for creating and using profiles Profile template to help organizations create profiles Implementation examples Quick start guides Mappings Realignment of Categories Ten categories from NIST CSF 1.0 have been realigned to enhance clarity and coherence. Notable realignments include the Business Environment, Governance, Identity Management, Access Control, Information Protection Processes and Procedures, Maintenance, Protective Technology, Detection Processes, Response Planning, and Improvements from Response and Recovery. Note: The previous improvement category from Respond & Recover is now consolidated to 1 under identity. Innovative Tools and Resources CSF 2.0 introduces the CSF 2.0 Reference Tool, an innovative platform that allows users to access, search, and export the framework's guidance in user-friendly and machine-readable formats. CSF 2.0's searchable catalog of informative references helps organizations align their ongoing efforts with the framework's principles. It links to over fifty cybersecurity documents, including NIST's SP 800-53 Rev. 5. CSF's global impact grows with translations into multiple languages and efforts to align with ISO/IEC standards. The Cybersecurity and Privacy Reference Tool (CPRT) compiles NIST guidance into a cohesive, accessible set, positioning the CSF within a broader context of respected resources and facilitating communication across organizational levels. The information protection processes and procedures category has now been divided into seven categories. Roles, Responsibilities & authorities, Asset Management, Risk Assessment,...

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Article

UNDERSTANDING AI RMF 1.0 - The Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework

Written by Tathagat Katiyar & Harshitha Chondamma II Artificial Intelligence is undergoing continuous growth and development, with new technologies and applications being developed daily. As AI becomes more prevalent and integrated into various industries, it is critical to ensure that these systems are trustworthy, secure, and transparent. This is where the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework 1.0 (AI RMF 1.0) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) comes in. This framework provides organizations with guidelines and best practices to help them confidently develop, deploy, and operate AI systems. In this blog, we will cover NIST AI RMF 1.0 in-depth, including its features, benefits, and how organizations can use it to ensure AI systems meet high security and compliance standards. On January 26, 2023, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce) released a Risk Management Framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI RMF). The AI RMF is designed to assist companies in managing risks and promoting responsible development while deploying or using AI systems. Although compliance with the AI RMF is voluntary, it can be helpful for companies seeking to manage their risks, particularly in light of regulators' increased scrutiny of AI. The Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework helps organizations to establish a systematic approach for information security and risk management activities focusing explicitly on Artificial Intelligence.  A robust AI risk management framework offers organizations asset protection, reputation management, and optimized data management.  It can also protect against competitive advantage, legal risks, and missed business opportunities. What is NIST AI RMF 1.0? The NIST AI RMF 1.0 is a set of standards and practices for evaluating, maintaining, and improving the trustworthiness of AI systems. AI RMF 1.0 provides an adaptable, structured, and quantifiable process that enables organizations to address AI risks. The aim is to assist organizations in understanding the risks associated with AI, developing strategies to manage those risks, and evaluating the trustworthiness of AI systems prior to deployment. Organizations may voluntarily determine compliance with AI RMF 1.0. The framework is designed for organizations that operate, develop, or deploy AI systems. It also applies to government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies. Additionally, it can serve as a reference guide for meeting regulatory and compliance requirements and enhancing their AI systems' performance, transparency, and trustworthiness. Salient Features of NIST AI RMF The AI RMF consists of two main components: Section 1 The first section outlines how organizations can frame AI risks and the features of trustworthy AI systems. Section 2 This forms the framework's core and includes four specific functions to help organizations address risks associated with AI systems. These include: 1. Govern: Guides organizations on how to develop governance structures and processes for AI risk management. 2. Map: Advises organizations on identifying, assessing, and prioritizing AI risks. 3. Measure: Helps organizations evaluate and monitor AI systems to ensure they perform as intended and per the organization's risk management objectives. 4. Manage: Assists organizations in implementing risk mitigation strategies and managing AI risks over time. Objectives of NIST AI RMF The framework is designed to be voluntary, preserve rights, be non-sector specific, and be agnostic to use cases. This gives organizations of all sizes, sectors, and industries the flexibility to implement the ideas in the framework. The core objectives are to: • Provide a resource to companies creating, developing, deploying, or utilizing AI systems. • Assist organizations in managing various risks associated with AI. • Promote the development and usage of AI systems that are trustworthy and responsible. Bias in AI extends beyond ensuring demographic balance and representative data. In other words, an...

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Article

Adobe's Common Controls Framework of Industry-acclaimed security standards

Today’s world is an ever-changing scenario with changes to the technology sector happening more frequently than ever due to emerging technologies. The case is quite similar in the field of Cyber Security. There are a few industry-acclaimed cybersecurity standards for governing the processes and execution of these standards. These standards are usually built upon a framework of control objectives that need to be implemented by the organizations to comply with these standards. Compliance is measured in terms of control objectives meeting the compliance criteria and also other regulatory and statutory criteria. Since most of these Cybersecurity standards speak of similar control objectives or lay emphasis on similar control areas, it is advisable to have the ‘Adobe’s Common Control Framework’, which means that if we are able to comply with a single requirement from a particular framework, in theory, we should be able to use the adherence of that requirement for ALL the similar frameworks. There are several approaches to achieving this Adobe's Common Controls Framework both in theory and in practice and will be discussed in detail later on in this article. The most relevant security and privacy frameworks are ISO 27001, NIST, PCIDSS, GDPR, SOC Type 2. There is a significant overlap of controls contained in these standards as all of these standards primarily deal with one requirement which is the protection of data. Protection of information from unauthorized disclosure, compromise, and theft forms the backbone or the building blocks of an Adobe's Common Control Framework. This leverages the fact that similar controls or that the essence of the controls is the same across standards and can be used to gauge the adherence or compliance of an organization to the standard. In actual execution, while gauging the compliance of an organization, the Adobe's Common Controls Framework is not only holistic but can reduce the effort and cost otherwise required by the organization to comply with individual standards. There are two methods of developing the Adobe's Common Control Framework for an organization and there are very subtle differences between the two methods. They are Controls harmonization and Controls Mapping. Controls Harmonization: Harmonization is the creation of a brand-new control language set from several source languages of standards taking into consideration content & context. In theory, the intent and meaning of the words and sentences remain intact, but the language and actual words of the individual standards have been changed with a new harmonized meaning defined. To achieve the usage of a single language as an industry, globally, it would have significant benefits and it would be the most efficient way to operate not only as security professionals but also as humans. Adobe’s Common Control Framework is an example of this type of construct. The benefits of having a single operating language can truly be amazing in terms of effort reduction and cost reduction. Control Mapping: Today, most brilliant and forward-thinking security professionals are using the control mapping method. The main idea behind this method is to keep the original language intact as much as possible while mapping and matching the intent and meaning of each sentence and word. This is the most practical and realistic approach because this is how humans fundamentally interact with each other globally. One can see this working in real life where two different languages are being spoken by individuals and kept mainly intact, but an interpreter or linguist is translating between the two — the map is developed in the mind of the linguist. Some real-life examples of mapping for cybersecurity frameworks can be seen in HITRUST Framework, Cloud Security Alliance Framework, and even the U.S. Government formally...

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Article

Risk Management Framework – Managing & Measuring what matters

A risk management program allows you to manage overall information security risk.  It is an approach to identify, quantify, mitigate, and monitor risks.  The reason to look at risk in a comprehensive manner is to make sure no one area is getting too much attention or, too little. Frameworks also help you identify the bigger elements of risk that need review and mitigation. Additionally, it help you to prioritize the treatment of certain risks. The adherence to risk frameworks also helps give your customers comfort that a standard risk management is in place and hence, reduce your audit burden.  Typically, a Risk Management program comprises of the following phases: Risk identification Risk analysis Risk evaluation Risk treatment Risk Monitoring A good risk management framework will have the following characteristics: Comprehensive in types of risks it covers Practical for an organization to implement Updated with current real-world risks Based on controls that can be reviewed and audited Reliable so that your vendors and customers can accept it There are many risk management frameworks that one can choose from and it important to understand the advantages of each. Common risk management frameworks include: NIST CSF SOC 2 ISO 27001 HITRUST NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) framework is a comprehensive cybersecurity framework (CSF).  It is very widely accepted across different company sizes and business domains. Most cyber-security professionals are well aware of this framework as it is readily available.  Although widely available and very popular there is no certified third-party audit mechanism. Hence, it can only be self-assessed.   SOC 2 Type 2 is an internal controls report based on the scope you define.  It is widely used in the United States to show the maturity of your controls.  A CPA firm that is part of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) conducts the audit & issues an assessment report.  The AICPA does not audit/review the assessment for completeness or quality.  HITRUST CSF is a framework that came leverages NIST, SOC, and ISO along with others to create a more comprehensive standard.  It is widely implemented in the United States by organisations in the healthcare space.  Unlike others, although there are external assessors that are involved in the certification process, HITRUST reviews all assessments and issues the certificate. Additionally, among all the frameworks above it tends to be the most expensive to implement.  It is important to choose a framework that matches your long-term security goals & needs.  At Accorian, we work with all of the above frameworks. We help organizations choose the right framework and aid with the implementation. This is done by augmenting our team into your security team to help steer the rollout, aid with query resolution, choosing of the right controls & workaround during mitigation advisory, facilitating the selection of vendors & products and end to end program management. 

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The Accorian Advantage

Accorian’s cybersecurity and compliance teams bring a wealth of experience to help navigate organizations through their information security journey. Our hands-on, white-glove approach combined with a goal-oriented, proven methodology brings both fiscal value and expertise to each of our clients. The facts speak for themselves.

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