The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 provides critical guidance to industries, government agencies, and other organizations for managing cybersecurity risks effectively. Initially developed in 2014 as the "Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity," by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, it was tailored specifically for critical infrastructure sectors.
In its second version, the scope has expanded to include public and private organizations, as well as government entities, making it a universally applicable framework for enhancing cybersecurity resilience. Widely adopted on a global scale, the NIST CSF serves as a benchmark for aligning cybersecurity practices with recognized international standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001.
Breaking Down the NIST CSF 2.0 Framework
1. CSF Core
The CSF Core outlines high-level cybersecurity outcomes that guide organizations in managing cybersecurity risks comprehensively. It comprises six essential functions/ outcomes:
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GOVERN: Establish organizational processes and governance structures to manage cybersecurity.
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IDENTIFY: Understand the organization’s assets, systems, and risks.
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PROTECT: Implement safeguards to ensure the delivery of critical services.
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DETECT: Identify cybersecurity incidents promptly.
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RESPOND: Take action against detected cybersecurity events.
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RECOVER: Restore capabilities and services impacted by a cybersecurity incident.
2. CSF Profile
The CSF Profile reflects an organization’s cybersecurity posture based on the outcomes defined in the CSF Core. It is divided into:
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Current Profile: Represents the organization’s existing cybersecurity state.
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Target Profile: Defines the desired cybersecurity outcomes that the organization aims to achieve to meet its risk management objectives.
3. CSF Tiers
The CSF Tiers indicate the ways an organization manages cybersecurity risk. They also provide a mechanism to measure and define the maturity of CSF profiles.
While not explicitly labeled as maturity levels, they provide insights into the organization’s preparedness for cybersecurity events:
- Tier 1 (Partial): Informal and ad hoc risk management practices.
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Tier 2 (Risk-Informed): Risk management is informed and aligned with business objectives.
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Tier 3 (Repeatable): Risk management practices are consistently applied and maintained.
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Tier 4 (Adaptive): Risk management processes are continuously improved and adapt to evolving threats.
Three reasons why Endpoint Central is poised to help you with NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
1. Simplified Compliance Process
Endpoint Central simplifies compliance with audit-ready reports and dynamic dashboards, providing real-time insights into risks and vulnerabilities across your IT infrastructure. This ensures organizations can meet regulatory requirements with minimal effort.
2. Comprehensive IT Visibility
Achieve complete visibility into your IT environment through advanced asset management capabilities. With features like privileged access management, conditional access, and single sign-on, Endpoint Central protects assets from unauthorized access, reducing the attack surface, and strengthening overall network security.
3. Incident Detection, Response, and Recovery
Enhance your organization’s security posture with Endpoint Central’s robust anti-malware tools, one-click data restoration, and endpoint quarantine capabilities. These features minimize disruptions, streamline incident handling, and ensure seamless operations, enabling swift recovery from cybersecurity events.
Click here to learn how Endpoint Central can help implement the Core functions mentioned in the NIST 2.0 cybersecurity framework.
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"We at the Bank of Holden have met patch management and secured controls required for Federal Compliance by implementing ManageEngine Endpoint Central. Our workstations are now more organized, manageable, and secure than we could have ever imagined possible"
Steven Deines,
Bank of Holden