In today’s digital age, cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Organisations must be mindful of the emerging cybersecurity trends to look out for and take proactive steps to protect themselves from potential cyber-attacks. Adopting a cybersecurity framework such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can help organisations identify, assess, and manage their cybersecurity risks.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a set of guidelines and best practices created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which provides a flexible and adaptable approach to managing cybersecurity risks that can be customised to fit the unique needs of any organisation.
Here are the key steps for adopting the NIST Cybersecurity Framework:
1. Set your goals
The first step in adopting the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is identifying your organisation’s cybersecurity goals. Your goals should align with your business objectives and help you achieve your desired level of security. To ensure everyone is on the same page, it is essential to involve all stakeholders in this process, including senior management, IT personnel, and employees from other departments.
2. Profile creation
The next step is creating a profile outlining your organisation’s cybersecurity posture. This profile should identify your organisation’s cybersecurity objectives, including the systems, assets, data, and capabilities critical to your business operations. The profile should also include your organisation’s risk tolerance, which will help determine the level of cybersecurity controls required.
Implementation tiers help organisations go from Tier 1, which means your practices generally respond to cybersecurity incidents, to Tier 4, which means the organisation is proactive in cybersecurity measures. It is not necessary to move from Tier 1 to Tier 4 as soon as possible. A company should progress through the tiers when it is the most cost-effective and secure option.
3. Determine your current position
Once you have created your profile, the next step is determining your organisation’s cybersecurity position. This involves identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your current cybersecurity controls and assessing how they align with your cybersecurity goals. You can use tools such as cybersecurity maturity models to help you assess your current cybersecurity position.
4. Conduct a gap analysis and identify actions needed
After determining your current position, the next step is to conduct a gap analysis. Gap analysis involves comparing your current cybersecurity position with your desired cybersecurity posture. This will help you identify any gaps and weaknesses that need to be addressed. Once you have identified these gaps, you can prioritise them based on their impact on your business operations and determine the necessary actions to manage them.
5. Implementation
The final step in adopting the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is implementing the necessary actions to address the gaps identified in the gap analysis. This involves developing and implementing policies and procedures that align with the five core functions of the framework: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. You should also ensure that all employees are trained on these policies and procedures and aware of their cybersecurity responsibilities.
Conclusion
Adopting the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is critical in protecting your organisation from potential cybersecurity threats. By following these key steps, you can develop a robust cybersecurity strategy that aligns with your business objectives and helps you achieve your desired level of security. Remember to involve all stakeholders in the process and regularly review and update your cybersecurity framework to stay ahead of new and emerging threats.
BridgingMinds offers various cybersecurity training courses to ensure your organisation stays safe from any potential cybersecurity attacks. We also provide CISSP online training for aspiring IT professionals.
BridgingMinds will also host a NIST Cybersecurity Framework webinar to enhance your knowledge of cybersecurity. Join our webinar and learn about NIST Cybersecurity Framework in just 60 minutes!
The webinar details are as follows:
28th April 2023 | 2pm
Register via Virtual Webinar on Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9wJyGJSoSuq-mJFSWOJsrA
