NIST Cybersecurity Framework

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is a set of guidelines, best practices, and standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risk.

Key Components of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

1. Core

The Framework Core consists of five key functions:

• Identify – Understanding assets, risks, and resources.
• Protect – Implementing safeguards to ensure security.
• Detect – Continuously monitoring for cybersecurity threats.
• Respond – Taking action to mitigate and contain incidents.
• Recover – Restoring normal operations after a cyber event.

2. Implementation Tiers

Organizations can assess their cybersecurity maturity using these tiers:

• Tier 1 (Partial) – Informal and reactive risk management.
• Tier 2 (Risk-Informed) – Risk management is approved but not organization-wide.
• Tier 3 (Repeatable) – Cybersecurity policies are consistently applied.
• Tier 4 (Adaptive) – The organization has a proactive cybersecurity culture.

3. Profiles

A Framework Profile aligns with an organization’s business needs, risk tolerance, and industry requirements.

Benefits of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

• Provides a common language for cybersecurity management.
• Aligns with industry regulations and best practices.
• Helps organizations assess and improve their cybersecurity maturity.
• Enables risk-based decision-making for security investments.
• Enhances resilience against cyber threats.

Who Uses the Framework?

The NIST CSF is widely adopted by:

• Government agencies
• Financial institutions
• Healthcare providers
• Critical infrastructure sectors
• Small and large businesses

Since its release in 2014, the framework has been updated, with NIST CSF 2.0 introduced in 2024, bringing expanded guidance on governance and supply chain risk management.