Cyber threats never sleep, and so should your defenses. To that end, the U.S. government's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently updated its Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) to version 2.0. This is the first major update since his founding of CSF 10 years ago.
The biggest addition is the governance feature, which emphasizes the importance of governance in cyber risk management. Policies, procedures, monitoring, resource allocation, etc. are now built within the framework.
Another major change in the new framework is its expansion beyond critical infrastructure areas. While his original 2014 version focused on industries such as energy, finance, and transportation, this new version is designed to help organizations of all types and sizes.
Let's take a closer look at the major updates in version 2.0. Before we get into that, let's take a look at why this framework was established in the first place and what it covers at a high level.
NIST CSF Overview
The NIST CSF was established to provide guidance to help organizations manage cyber risk. When first introduced in 2014, it outlined five core features that remain central to the framework today. identify, protect, detect, respond; and Recover. Identify and Protect helps you understand and manage your cybersecurity risks. Detection, response, and recovery help handle cybersecurity events.
Now, in Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, NIST has added a sixth feature. To govern.
So what does the new governance function include?
The most important addition in NIST CSF 2.0 is a new governance feature that emphasizes the importance of governance and oversight in managing cyber risk. The governance function helps establish and monitor cyber risk strategies, policies, and expectations, and provides results to guide the organization to achieve the goals of other functions.
Governance capabilities consist of six categories, each of which is essential to building a strong cybersecurity governance framework.
Organization background: This category is designed to help you understand how cyber risk relates to you as an organization: your mission, objectives, the people you serve, your risk tolerance, and more. Understanding this will help you tailor your cybersecurity efforts to your unique needs.
risk management strategy: Here, the framework addresses cyber risk identification, assessment, and tackling head-on. The key is to have a plan in place to deal with any cyber threat that may come your way.
Roles and responsibilities: Clear roles and responsibilities are important to ensure everyone understands what they need to do to keep digital assets safe. This category helps define who is responsible for what in your organization's cybersecurity efforts.
policy: Policies are like a cybersecurity rulebook. These set out what is expected of employees and how to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
Oversight: Provide oversight and oversight to assess and improve the effectiveness of your cyber risk management program. Report cyber risks and progress to senior leadership and the board of directors.
Cybersecurity supply chain risk management: As organizations become more reliant on third-party vendors and suppliers, cybersecurity is not only about what's happening within the organization, but also about the companies they partner with. This category helps companies manage the risks associated with outsourcing and working with third-party vendors. Learn more about how vendor security assessments can help your company identify cybersecurity risks.
CSF 2.0 is designed to help all Not only the critical infrastructure sector but also the organization.
Initially, CSF focused primarily on critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, finance, and healthcare. CSF 2.0 expands its reach to include organizations of all sizes and industries. Whether you run a small business, midsize business, or large enterprise, this framework can help you better manage your cyber risks.
There are also benefits for startups.
Startups often struggle to implement robust cybersecurity programs due to limited resources and expertise. CSF 2.0 provides guidance tailored to organizations with less complex IT infrastructure and staffing. Things like streamlining risk assessments, focusing on key controls, and appointing one of your own (or a Scytale compliance expert!) to lead your cyber efforts can help startups implement this framework.
One size does not fit all
The updated framework recognizes that different organizations have different needs and risk tolerances. It provides flexibility so you can adapt your cybersecurity practices to your unique business requirements, risk profile, and resources. Choose which parts of the framework to implement based on your priorities and what's practical for your organization.
CSF 2.0 provides more guidance and resources
CSF 2.0 provides a wealth of new resources to accelerate framework adoption for all types of organizations. Case studies, videos, sector-specific guidance, a five-step implementation process, and more make the framework easy to put into practice. Whether you need to build a cyber program from scratch or enhance an existing program, CSF 2.0 has the tools and advice. These resources include:
quick start guide
A new quick start guide for small businesses shows you how to get started using the framework. If you run a startup, these guides are invaluable. Learn more about how to perform a basic risk assessment, set cybersecurity goals, and implement smaller-scale safeguards.
mapping
Framework 2.0 also includes mappings to other standards, guidelines, and practices. These mappings will help you determine how the framework works with what you're already doing. We can also provide additional guidance to strengthen your cybersecurity program.
additional resources
In addition to these, NIST has released a catalog of resources, including educational materials, videos, spreadsheets, and document templates, to support use of the framework. Diverse resources mean there are options for different learning styles and needs.
How Scytale can help
Although CSF 2.0 provides more resources for implementation, implementing the framework can still be a large and difficult project. If you lack the resources, expertise, or time to tackle this problem on your own, Scytale is here to help you every step of the way.
Scytale's continuous monitoring and risk management tools help you implement key controls to improve cyber resiliency and protect against emerging threats. Our experts guide you through a gap analysis and create a customized implementation roadmap that takes into account your unique business needs and risk tolerance. This ensures you meet NIST compliance requirements while optimizing security and efficiency.
The post NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0: What Changed and Why It Matters appeared first on Scytale.
*** This is a syndicated Security Bloggers Network blog brought to you by Blog | Security Bloggers Network. The author of Scytale is Lauren Blanc, Marketing Manager at Scytale. Read the original post: https://scytale.ai/resources/nist-cybersecurity-framework-2-0/
