5 Ways To Implement NIST CSF 2.0 In Your Organization

If you pay any attention to the cybersecurity world, you’ll quickly realize hacks and other such incidents are at an all-time high. Companies, databases, and end-users are at greater risk of cyber attacks from multiple sources.

According to a report from the Global State of Industrial Cybersecurity, 37% of cyber hacks affected both OT and IT, up from 10% in 2021. With these worrying statistics in mind, it’s crucial for enterprises to critically assess how to safeguard their cyber-physical systems (CPS). 

Undoubtedly, this involves considering the recent release of NIST CSF 2.0. This blog dives into the details of implementing this new framework in your organization. 

But first….

What is NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0?

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The NIST CSF offers a common methodology and language for containing cybersecurity risk. It enables vital decisions about risk management steps via different levels in an organization, from the implementation team, process, and mid-levels to executives.

The guidelines in the NIST CSF originate from several best practices from sources like security documents, publications, and cybersecurity organizations. Some examples of which are COBIT 5, ISO 27001, etc.

The NIST CSF 2.0 is the latest release, an update to the NIST CSF 1.0. Its primary purpose was to beef up cybersecurity protocols and practices.

How Does It Differ From the Previous Version?

NIST CSF 1.0 was categorized into 5 principal functionalities, namely:

• Identify

• Protect

• Detect

• Respond

• Recover

On the other hand, NIST CSF 2.0 comes with a sixth category: Govern. Although it’s just a single addition, this has profound implications for organizations implementing this new framework based on the new descriptions of the six functions. 

Implementing NIST CSF 2.0 in 5 Steps

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1. Assess Your Present Cybersecurity Protocols

The first step in the 2.0 implementation process involves scrutinizing your present cybersecurity practices. You will have to take a look at the various existing procedures, policies, and tech solutions in use. You must account for everything and the role every asset plays or will play in the new framework. 

A detailed assessment will give you a clear idea of the firm’s baseline and cybersecurity posture. This clarifies and helps you see the possible vulnerabilities that require improvement. 

The reason this first step is so crucial is that it functions as the foundation for the next four steps. Get this wrong, and everything else falls apart, which will open up your organization to major cyber threats. 

2. Spots Gaps NIST 1.1 Gaps Using NIST 2.0 Updates

A fundamental objective to keep in mind throughout the entire process is to ensure the smoothest possible transition from NIST 1.1 to NIST 2.0. Consequently, you need to pinpoint the differences between the previous and current cybersecurity frameworks. After understanding the difference, you must go a step further and identify the gaps in the old version of CSF that the new version exposes. Mind you, NIST 2.0 brings several new and significant changes, like a broader scope and more attention to governance. Fishing out these differences will ensure you build the right implementation strategy. 

3. Set up Governance Policies

As we already discussed, the new NIST 2.0 introduces an additional governance component to the previous framework. This heightened emphasis on governance should play a key role in your implementation strategy. Executing clear governance guidelines and processes is crucial to maintaining compliance throughout your cybersecurity framework. 

This helps you explicate the roles and functions within your company to ensure that cybersecurity policies are ingrained into your culture. As a result, governance becomes an underlying aspect of your daily processes, management, and IT infrastructure. In addition, you can trace it down to the minute details like the individual devices and ensure they’re aligned with the right governance and security documentation. 

4. Prioritize Risk Analysis and Mitigation

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NIST 2.0 throws more light on the need for risk assessment and risk mitigation in every aspect of cybersecurity, particularly in the lowest levels of your organization. These are the very areas most organizations are likely to overlook. Complying with 2.0 means ensuring these processes at all levels are prioritized. 

However, this isn’t a one-and-done implementation step.

Instead, you have to frequently undertake comprehensive risk assessments to find potential vulnerabilities and threats. Once identified, your governing strategies will ensure you mitigate their immediate and long-term impact on infrastructure, effectively protecting your company’s digital assets. 

5. Encourage a Cybersecurity Culture

Your entire implementation initiative will fall flat if the rest of the team isn’t on board with your cybersecurity goals. Therefore, you need to cultivate the right culture if you wish to achieve prolonged successful NIST 2.0 implementation. In case you’re wondering what the right culture is, the answer is simple: a culture built on cybersecurity awareness and training. 

All your employees should understand and wholeheartedly accept cybersecurity best practices. Your workforce should receive the education it requires about the latest cybersecurity practices and understand the specific roles they play in the grand scheme of safeguarding the digital environment of your organization as a whole. 

Conclusion

Transitioning from 1.0 to NIST CSF 2.0 can prove complex, especially if you aren’t sure where to begin. With these steps, you have a simple and practical approach and a roadmap to guide you along the way. Better still, you can partner with a reliable and trusted cybersecurity expert like ComplianceForge.