The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cyber Security Framework (CSF) is a comprehensive guide designed to help organisations manage and mitigate cyber security risks. This framework is widely recognised and adopted across various industries due to its flexibility, scalability, and effectiveness in enhancing cyber security posture. In this blog post, we will delve into what the NIST Cyber Security Framework is, its importance, and the different components that make up this robust framework.
What is the NIST Cyber Security Framework?
The NIST Cyber Security Framework was first introduced in 2014 as a response to Executive Order 13636, which called for the development of a voluntary framework to improve the cyber security of critical infrastructure in the United States. The framework provides a policy framework of computer security guidance for how private sector organisations in the US can assess and improve their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber attacks.
The framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing organisations of all sizes and sectors to tailor it to their specific needs. It is not prescriptive, meaning it does not mandate specific actions but rather provides a set of best practices and guidelines that organisations can use to enhance their cyber security measures.
Importance of the NIST Cyber Security Framework
The NIST Cyber Security Framework is important for several reasons:
- Standardisation: It provides a common language and systematic methodology for managing cyber security risks, which is crucial for communication within and between organisations.
- Flexibility: The framework is designed to be adaptable to different types of organisations, regardless of size, sector, or maturity level.
- Comprehensive: It covers a wide range of cyber security activities and outcomes, ensuring that all aspects of cyber security are addressed.
- Risk Management: It helps organisations to identify, assess, and manage cyber security risks in a structured and efficient manner.
- Compliance: Many regulatory bodies and industry standards reference the NIST Cyber Security Framework, making it a valuable tool for achieving compliance.
Components of the NIST Cyber Security Framework
The NIST Cyber Security Framework consists of three main components: the Framework Core, Implementation Tiers, and Profiles. Each of these components plays a crucial role in helping organisations manage their cyber security risks.
1. Framework Core
The Framework Core is the heart of the NIST Cyber Security Framework. It provides a set of desired cyber security activities and outcomes organised into categories and aligned to informative references. The Framework Core is designed to be intuitive and to act as a translation layer to enable communication between multidisciplinary teams by using simplistic and non-technical language.
The Framework Core consists of three parts: Functions, Categories, and Subcategories.
Functions
The Functions are the highest level of abstraction in the Framework Core. They provide a high-level, strategic view of an organisation’s management of cyber security risk. The five Functions are:
- Identify: Develop an organisational understanding to manage cyber security risk to systems, assets, data, and capabilities. Activities in the Identify Function are foundational for effective use of the Framework.
- Protect: Develop and implement appropriate safeguards to ensure the delivery of critical infrastructure services. The Protect Function supports the ability to limit or contain the impact of a potential cyber security event.
- Detect: Develop and implement appropriate activities to identify the occurrence of a cyber security event. The Detect Function enables timely discovery of cyber security events.
- Respond: Develop and implement appropriate activities to take action regarding a detected cyber security event. The Respond Function supports the ability to contain the impact of a potential cyber security incident.
- Recover: Develop and implement appropriate activities to maintain plans for resilience and to restore any capabilities or services that were impaired due to a cyber security incident. The Recover Function supports timely recovery to normal operations to reduce the impact from a cyber security incident.
Categories and Subcategories
Within each Function, there are Categories and Subcategories that provide more detailed guidance. Categories are the subdivisions of a Function into groups of cyber security outcomes closely tied to programmatic needs and particular activities. Subcategories further divide a Category into specific outcomes of technical and/or management activities.
For example, under the Identify Function, there are Categories such as Asset Management, Business Environment, Governance, Risk Assessment, and Risk Management Strategy. Each of these Categories is further divided into Subcategories that provide specific outcomes.
2. Implementation Tiers
The Implementation Tiers provide context on how an organisation views cyber security risk and the processes in place to manage that risk. The Tiers range from Partial (Tier 1) to Adaptive (Tier 4) and describe an increasing degree of rigor and sophistication in cyber security risk management practices.
- Tier 1: Partial: Risk management practices are not formalised, and risk is managed in an ad hoc and sometimes reactive manner. There is limited awareness of cyber security risk at the organisational level.
- Tier 2: Risk Informed: Risk management practices are approved by management but may not be established as organisational-wide policy. There is an awareness of cyber security risk at the organisational level, but it is not consistently applied across the organisation.
- Tier 3: Repeatable: Risk management practices are formally approved and expressed as policy. There is an organisation-wide approach to managing cyber security risk, and risk-informed policies, processes, and procedures are defined, implemented, and reviewed.
- Tier 4: Adaptive: Risk management practices are part of the organisational culture and are continuously improved by incorporating lessons learned and predictive indicators. There is a robust understanding of cyber security risk at the organisational level, and the organisation adapts its cyber security practices based on lessons learned and predictive indicators.
3. Profiles
Profiles are a unique aspect of the NIST Cyber Security Framework. They represent the alignment of the Framework Core with the business requirements, risk tolerance, and resources of the organisation. Profiles can be used to identify opportunities for improving cyber security posture by comparing a “Current” Profile (the “as is” state) with a “Target” Profile (the “to be” state).
Profiles help organisations to:
- Identify and Prioritise: Determine which activities are most important to ensure critical operations and service delivery.
- Assess and Improve: Measure progress towards the Target Profile and identify areas for improvement.
- Communicate: Facilitate communication within the organisation and with external stakeholders about cyber security risk management.
The 5 Core Functions (Expanded)
The NIST Cyber Security Framework is structured around five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These functions provide a high-level, strategic view of an organisation’s management of cyber security risk. Let’s explore each function in detail:
1. Identify
The Identify function is foundational for effective use of the NIST Cyber Security Framework. It involves developing an organisational understanding to manage cyber security risk to systems, assets, data, and capabilities. This function helps organisations to gain a clear picture of their cyber security risks and resources. Key activities include:
- Asset Management: Identifying and managing the data, personnel, devices, systems, and facilities that enable the organisation to achieve business purposes.
- Business Environment: Understanding the organisation’s mission, objectives, stakeholders, and activities.
- Governance: Establishing policies, procedures, and processes to manage and monitor the organisation’s regulatory, legal, risk, environmental, and operational requirements.
- Risk Assessment: Identifying and evaluating risk to organisational operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), organisational assets, and individuals.
- Risk Management Strategy: Establishing and maintaining a risk management strategy to inform and prioritise decisions regarding cyber security.
2. Protect
The Protect function involves developing and implementing appropriate safeguards to ensure the delivery of critical infrastructure services. This function supports the ability to limit or contain the impact of a potential cyber security event. Key activities include:
- Access Control: Managing access to assets and associated facilities.
- Awareness and Training: Ensuring that personnel are adequately trained to perform their cyber security-related duties and responsibilities.
- Data Security: Protecting information and information systems from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
- Information Protection Processes and Procedures: Maintaining and using security policies, processes, and procedures to manage the protection of information systems and assets.
- Maintenance: Performing maintenance and repairs of industrial control and information system components in a manner that protects the systems and their components.
- Protective Technology: Implementing technical security solutions to ensure the security and resilience of systems and assets.
3. Detect
The Detect function involves developing and implementing appropriate activities to identify the occurrence of a cyber security event. This function enables timely discovery of cyber security events. Key activities include:
- Anomalies and Events: Detecting and understanding anomalies and events, and determining whether they are cyber security-related.
- Security Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitoring information systems to detect cyber security events and verify the effectiveness of protective measures.
- Detection Processes: Ensuring that detection processes and procedures are tested and updated regularly to ensure timely and adequate awareness of anomalous events.
4. Respond
The Respond function involves developing and implementing appropriate activities to take action regarding a detected cyber security event. This function supports the ability to contain the impact of a potential cyber security incident. Key activities include:
- Response Planning: Ensuring that response processes and procedures are executed and maintained to ensure timely response to detected cyber security events.
- Communications: Coordinating response activities with internal and external stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies.
- Analysis: Conducting analysis to ensure effective response and support recovery activities, including forensic analysis and determining the impact of incidents.
- Mitigation: Implementing activities to prevent the expansion of an event, mitigate its effects, and resolve the incident.
- Improvements: Incorporating lessons learned from current and previous detection/response activities to improve response capabilities.
5. Recover
The Recover function involves developing and implementing appropriate activities to maintain plans for resilience and to restore any capabilities or services that were impaired due to a cyber security incident. This function supports timely recovery to normal operations to reduce the impact from a cyber security incident. Key activities include:
- Recovery Planning: Ensuring that recovery processes and procedures are executed and maintained to ensure timely restoration of systems or assets affected by cyber security incidents.
- Improvements: Incorporating lessons learned from recovery activities into the organisation’s incident response plans and recovery strategies.
- Communications: Coordinating restoration activities with internal and external stakeholders, including coordinating public relations and managing reputational damage.
By understanding and implementing these five functions, organisations can create a comprehensive and effective approach to managing cyber security risks. Each function plays a critical role in ensuring that an organisation can identify potential risks, protect its assets, detect incidents, respond effectively, and recover swiftly from any disruptions.
Conclusion
The NIST Cyber Security Framework is a powerful tool that provides a structured and flexible approach to managing cyber security risks. By understanding and implementing the Framework Core, Implementation Tiers, and Profiles, organisations can enhance their cyber security posture, improve risk management practices, and achieve compliance with regulatory requirements.
Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, the NIST Cyber Security Framework can help you to better understand, assess, and manage your cyber security risks. By adopting this framework, you can ensure that your organisation is better prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber security incidents.
In summary, the NIST Cyber Security Framework is not just a set of guidelines but a comprehensive approach to cyber security that can be tailored to fit the unique needs of any organisation. By leveraging the framework, organisations can build a robust cyber security program that protects their critical assets and supports their overall business objectives.