Cybersecurity Frameworks: A Beginner Guide to NIST CSF and ISO 2700X
How To Approach The World of Cybersecurity Frameworks
How to Approach the World of Cybersecurity Frameworks
Introduction
We all agree that the protection of information assets and managing cybersecurity risks are critical to the success and survival of any organization. As a result, cybersecurity frameworks and standards have become increasingly important to help organizations manage their cybersecurity risks effectively.
Two popular frameworks in this area are the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and the ISO 2700X family. While they share common elements and goals, they also have fundamental differences in their approach and focus. I’d like to provide to you a comprehensive guide to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 2700X family, examining their similarities, differences to create a robust approach to managing cybersecurity risks.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework was developed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in response to the increasing frequency and severity of cybersecurity incidents in the public and private sectors. The framework is intended to provide a common language and approach to managing cybersecurity risks and strengthening cybersecurity posture. The NIST CSF consists of three main components:
Framework Core
The Framework Core consists of five functions — Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover — that provide a structure for organizing and managing cybersecurity activities.
Identify: The Identify function focuses on understanding the organization’s systems, assets, data, and capabilities to manage cybersecurity risks effectively. This includes identifying and prioritizing assets, assessing the organization’s cybersecurity risk posture, and developing a risk management strategy.
Protect: The Protect function focuses on implementing cybersecurity safeguards to protect assets, data, and systems from cybersecurity threats. This includes developing and implementing security policies and procedures, managing access controls, and maintaining awareness of emerging cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
Detect: The Detect function focuses on identifying and detecting cybersecurity incidents as soon as possible to minimize their impact. This includes implementing and using cybersecurity monitoring systems, establishing incident response procedures, and conducting regular vulnerability scans and penetration testing.
Respond: The Respond function focuses on responding to cybersecurity incidents promptly and effectively. This includes implementing an incident response plan, identifying the source and scope of the incident, and containing the damage caused by the incident.
Recover: The Recover function focuses on restoring the organization’s operations and systems to normal after a cybersecurity incident. This includes restoring data and systems from backups, conducting post-incident assessments, and updating policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Implementation Tiers
The Implementation Tiers provide a way for organizations to assess their cybersecurity risk management practices and determine how they align with the Framework Core functions. The Implementation Tiers range from Partial (Tier 1) to Adaptive (Tier 4) and are designed to help organizations prioritize their cybersecurity activities based on their level of cybersecurity risk exposure and organizational goals.
Framework Profiles
The Framework Profiles enable organizations to tailor their cybersecurity risk management approach to meet their specific business needs, risk tolerances, and regulatory requirements. The Framework Profiles provide a way for organizations to identify and prioritize their cybersecurity activities based on their unique risk management priorities.
ISO 2700X Family Overview
The ISO 2700X family consists of several international standards that provide a framework for managing information security risks and protecting information assets. The family includes ISO 27001, which provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS), and ISO 27002, which provides guidelines and best practices for implementing and maintaining information security controls within an organization.
ISO 27001
focuses on the management of information security risks by providing a systematic approach to establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an ISMS. The standard requires organizations to identify and prioritize their information assets, assess and manage information security risks, and implement appropriate controls to protect their information assets. The standard also emphasizes the importance of ongoing monitoring and review to ensure the ISMS remains effective.
ISO 27002
provides guidelines and best practices for implementing and maintaining information security controls within an organization. The standard covers a range of topics, including access control, cryptography, physical security, network security, and incident management. ISO 27002 can be used in conjunction with ISO 27001 to create a comprehensive information security program. The standard also emphasizes the importance of regular reviews and audits to ensure that the information security controls remain effective and up-to-date. It provides guidance on incident management and how to respond to security incidents and breaches effectively.
ISO 27003
provides guidance on the implementation of an ISMS, including the planning and implementation of the ISMS, as well as ongoing monitoring and review. The standard provides a structured approach to implementing an ISMS based on ISO 27001, helping organizations to establish a solid foundation for managing information security risks.
ISO 27005
provides guidelines for conducting information security risk assessments. It provides a structured approach to identifying, analyzing, and evaluating information security risks, which can help organizations identify and prioritize risks and develop effective risk management strategies.
Overall, the ISO 2700X family provides a comprehensive framework for managing information security risks and protecting information assets. It emphasizes the importance of risk management, the need to identify and prioritize assets, and the importance of implementing appropriate controls to protect those assets. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in the standards, organizations can create a robust information security management system that aligns with international best practices and standards. Additionally, implementing ISO 2700X can help organizations comply with regulatory requirements and demonstrate to stakeholders their commitment to information security.
Wrap-up
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and the ISO 2700X family are both frameworks for managing information security and cybersecurity risks, and they share many similarities in terms of their goals and focus.
The NIST CSF is a voluntary framework that provides a flexible approach to managing and reducing cybersecurity risk. It consists of three main components: the Framework Core, Implementation Tiers, and Framework Profiles. The Framework Core includes five functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover, which are similar to the controls outlined in the ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 standards.
The ISO 2700X family, on the other hand, includes several international standards that provide a framework for managing information security risks and protecting information assets. The family includes ISO 27001, which provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS), and ISO 27002, which provides guidelines and best practices for implementing and maintaining information security controls within an organization.
While the NIST CSF and ISO 2700X family have different structures and approaches, they both aim to help organizations manage information security risks effectively. They share many common elements, including the importance of risk management, the need to identify and prioritize assets, and the importance of implementing appropriate controls to protect those assets. Both frameworks also emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring and review to ensure that the implemented controls remain effective. Organizations can use the frameworks together to create a comprehensive approach to managing information security and cybersecurity risks.
About Tobias Faiss
Tobias is a Senior Engineering Manager, focusing on applied Leadership, Analytics and Cyber Resilience. He has a track record of 18+ year in managing software-projects, -services and -teams in the United States, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. He currently leads several multinational teams in Germany, India, Singapore and Vietnam. Also, he is the founder of the delta2 edventures project where its mission is to educate students, IT professionals and executives to build a digital connected, secure and reliable world and provides training for individuals.
Tobias’ latest book is ‘The Art of IT-Management: How to Successfully Lead Your Company Into the Digital Future’. You can also contact him on his personal website tobiasfaiss.com