What is the NIST Framework?

In today’s world, cyberattacks are more and more dangerous with many hackers always looking for ways to get into one’s personal information. Even with a strong password, it’s not enough when data leaks happen very frequently. So, how do different companies protect us from online threats? NIST Frameworks are part of the answer.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Framework is a set of standards that guide how to protect organizations from cyberattacks. The framework is a joint effort between the public and private sectors to develop a more secure and resilient critical infrastructure.

Organizations need to be aware of the risks involved with cyberattacks as well as how to prevent them. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework can help an organization prioritize its cybersecurity efforts by identifying the five categories of the framework.

Understanding Cyber Attacks

Before going into depth about the details of the NIST framework, let’s understand what a general cyber attack looks like and how to prevent one.

1. What is a Cyberattack?

A cyberattack occurs when hackers attempt to gain unauthorized access to a computer system. A cyber attack may involve accessing data, altering data, shutting down systems, or causing damage to physical assets. In many cases, a cyber attacker may even use malware to infect other computers and steal data.

2. Why Is Cybersecurity Important?

Cybersecurity plays a critical role in protecting your business from cyber-attacks. At its core, cybersecurity protects against threats that could harm your company’s operations. By implementing a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, you can protect your network and ensure that your information remains secure.

3. How Can You Prevent Attacks?

The first step in preventing a cyberattack is risk assessment. This means that an organization identifies where they stand currently in terms of security posture and what steps need to be taken to improve technology. Once you understand what a cyber attack looks like, you can begin to take steps to mitigate those risks.

The Steps of the NIST Framework

NIST Framework is a set of standards and guidelines for cyber security, which is developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The framework aims to help organizations improve their cybersecurity capabilities and help companies protect their networks from attacks. The framework identifies the steps necessary to protect their systems against cyberattacks.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, The framework consists of five parts:

1. Identify

The organization should identify its assets and the value they provide The “Identify” step outlines suitable safeguards to make sure transport of vital infrastructure services. The shield function supports the capacity to limit or comprise the impact of a capability cybersecurity occasion.

2. Protect

The organization should protect its assets from threats. The “Protect” step checks for appropriate safeguards to transport crucial infrastructure offerings. It supports the capacity to restrict or include the effect of an ability cybersecurity event.

3. Detect

The organization should monitor its environment for any changes that might indicate a cyberattack. The “Detect” step discovers the appropriate activities to identify the incidence of a cybersecurity event.

4. Respond

The “Respond” step supports the ability to contain the impact of a potential cybersecurity incident. If an attack occurs, the organization needs to be able to respond quickly in order to reduce or eliminate any damages.

5. Recover

The “Recover” step identifies appropriate support to begin plans for restoring any abilities that have been impaired due to a cybersecurity incident. The get better function supports timely recuperation to ordinary operations to reduce the effect of a cybersecurity incident.

The Importance of the NIST Framework

The framework provides a common language for discussing cybersecurity and helps to identify vulnerabilities early on. It provides a consistent approach to assessing and prioritizing risks, as well as implementing protective measures,

Cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting networks from cyberattacks; it's now about protecting people and organizations from cyber-related threats. This shift has led to the need for a new approach to cybersecurity, a comprehensive approach that addresses the entire lifecycle of a threat – attack, detection, containment, and mitigation – rather than focusing only on network security. A well-designed cybersecurity program should encompass an effective governance structure, a set of policies and procedures, and an adequate level of funding to ensure allocated resources.

In order to effectively manage cybersecurity risks, businesses must first understand the nature of these risks. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), cybersecurity risk can be defined as the likelihood of a disruptive event occurring and the potential impact of that event.

Here are some ideas to consider with cybersecurity threats:

1. Risk Assessment

The first step in preventing a cyberattack is risk assessment. This means that an organization identifies where they stand currently in terms of security posture and what steps need to be taken to improve its position. To do this, they use the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). The CSF has four components: Risk Management, Security Controls, Personnel Security, and Information Systems Protection.

2. Threats

Threats come in many forms. They can be internal threats from employees who have malicious intent, external threats from hackers, and insider threats from people who work within the company but have malicious intentions. These threats are often referred to as actors. An actor is someone who carries out an action or performs a function. In other words, an actor is a person, group of people, or system that takes action to perform functions.

3. Vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities are the weak points in your security. They could be anything from physical access to information systems to human behavior. A vulnerability is something that may lead to harm if exploited. When looking at vulnerabilities, it is important to identify them before they become problems. Popular forms of vulnerabilities include phishing links in emails, fake advertisements, etc.

4. Risks

Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to breach security systems and gain access to sensitive information. They do this through phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering. These techniques allow criminals to impersonate entities they are not affiliated with, trick users into disclosing confidential data, and manipulate people into clicking malicious links.

5. Prevention

Organizations should implement strong passwords and multifactor authentication across all systems. Users should always use unique usernames and passwords that cannot be guessed easily. Organizations should monitor suspicious activity on their networks and report any issues immediately. Finally, organizations should take advantage of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize threats based on risk. The biggest priority of NIST frameworks is making sure to keep all online browsing safe.

Get A Cyber Risk Checkup

It’s always important to consider getting a cyber risk checkup on your devices to detect any weak security areas. Trava is an excellent service that protects organizations from cyber threats. With tools such as integrating evaluation and vCISO insights to create a high-quality cybersecurity control platform. Trava Security allows companies to eliminate the fear of interruption or loss caused by cyber incidents. You can sign up for a cyber risk checkup today!