As cyber threats become increasingly complex, organisations that operate critical systems must demonstrate resilience against evolving risks. In the UK, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) developed the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) to help organisations assess and improve their cyber resilience, particularly those within the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors. This blog explores what the NCSC CAF is, its core principles, and practical steps to implement it in your organisation.
What is the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF)?
The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is a structured approach to help organisations understand their cybersecurity posture and resilience. It provides a way to measure cyber risk and maturity against objectives and outcomes that align with the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy.
The framework was initially designed for operators of essential services under the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, but it is increasingly being used across broader sectors to benchmark cyber resilience.
The Four Objectives of the NCSC CAF
The CAF is structured around four high-level objectives, each containing several contributing outcomes:
- Managing Security Risk (Objective A)
- Governance, risk management, asset management, and supply chain assurance.
- Protecting Against Cyber Attack (Objective B)
- Access control, data security, system security, and protective technology.
- Detecting Cyber Security Events (Objective C)
- Logging, monitoring, and detection capabilities.
- Minimising the Impact of Cyber Security Incidents (Objective D)
- Response and recovery planning, incident management, and lessons learned.
Each outcome includes indicators of good practice (IGPs) that define what good security looks like and help organisations evaluate their current level of maturity.
Why Implement the NCSC CAF?
Implementing the CAF helps organisations:
- Comply with NIS Regulations and demonstrate due diligence.
- Build and maintain cyber resilience to withstand advanced threats.
- Improve risk visibility across systems, suppliers, and processes.
- Create a consistent language for internal and external cyber risk discussions.
- Guide investment and resource allocation based on assessed gaps.
How to Implement the NCSC CAF
Implementing the CAF doesn’t require starting from scratch. Here’s a step-by-step approach:
1. Engage Stakeholders
- Involve leadership, IT, operations, compliance, and risk teams.
- Ensure executive sponsorship to drive prioritisation and resources.
2. Define the Scope
- Identify the systems and services to be assessed (especially essential services).
- Determine organisational boundaries and responsibilities.
3. Conduct a Baseline Assessment
- Evaluate current practices against the CAF objectives and outcomes.
- Use the IGPs to assign maturity levels (typically from ‘Not Achieved’ to ‘Fully Achieved’).
4. Identify Gaps and Prioritise Actions
- Highlight areas with low maturity or where outcomes are not fully achieved.
- Focus on high-risk gaps and essential services first.
5. Develop an Improvement Plan
- Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
- Include plans for policy updates, technical implementations, training, and monitoring.
6. Embed and Integrate
- Make cybersecurity practices part of your organisation’s culture.
- Integrate with other frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST CSF) for consistency.
7. Monitor and Review
- Establish regular reviews to measure progress and adapt to evolving threats.
- Use outcomes from real incidents and exercises to inform changes.
Common Challenges and Tips
| Challenge | Tip |
|---|---|
| Lack of resources or skills | Start small, focus on highest-risk areas, and consider external support |
| Complex supply chains | Use the CAF to set security expectations and monitor third-party compliance |
| Conflicting frameworks | Map the CAF to existing compliance standards to avoid duplication |
| Executive buy-in | Communicate business impact and regulatory requirements clearly |
CAF Implementation Example: Water Utility Sector
A UK water utility began using the CAF to assess its SCADA and telemetry systems. By aligning with the framework, the company:
- Improved visibility of cyber risks across remote sites.
- Introduced 24/7 security monitoring (Objective C).
- Strengthened supplier controls (Objective A).
- Developed a tested cyber incident response plan (Objective D).
The result was greater confidence from regulators and the ability to prioritise funding for cyber resilience projects.
Final Thoughts
The NCSC CAF is more than a compliance checklist—it’s a strategic tool for improving resilience in an increasingly hostile digital landscape. Whether you are in a regulated sector or simply seeking to raise your cyber maturity, adopting the CAF helps build a more secure and prepared organisation.