In the past ten years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) unveiled its Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 1.0. Originating from a 2013 Executive Order, NIST was given the responsibility to craft a voluntary cybersecurity framework that could assist organizations in handling cyber threats, offering guidance rooted in established standards and top-notch methodologies. Initially designed for Critical infrastructure, the 2018 version 1.1 was adapted for any entity keen on addressing cybersecurity risk management.
CSF stands out as a valuable instrument for organizations seeking to assess and boost their security status. This framework aids security stakeholders in comprehending and evaluating their existing security measures, structuring and prioritizing actions to mitigate risks, and enhancing communication within and beyond organizations by using a shared language. It consists of a comprehensive set of recommendations, best practices, and guidelines, segmented into five essential functions: Recognize, Safeguard, Detect, React, and Restore. Each function encompasses numerous categories and subcategories, notably:
- Recognize – Realize which assets require protection.
- Safeguard – Enforce measures to certify assets are adequately secured.
- Detect – Establish mechanisms to unearth attacks or vulnerabilities.
- React – Formulate detailed strategies for informing affected individuals about data breaches, recent incidents endangering data, and routinely assess response plans to diminish the impact of attacks.
- Restore – Set up procedures to rebound post-attack.
(Interested in learning more about the 5 steps of CSF 1.1? Obtain our NIST CSF checklist here!)
Enhancements in CSF 2.0, Prioritizing Perpetual Growth
In February 2024, NIST introduced CSF 2.0. The primary objective of this fresh edition is to make CSF more adaptable and foster wider acceptance across various organizations. Organizations stepping into the world of CSF for the first time should leverage this updated version, while existing users can continue with the current version but should keep an eye on transitioning to 2.0 in the near future.
2.0 brings about several alterations; among other advancements, it introduces “Govern” as a foundational step, as stated by ISC.2.org, “the governance aspect of CSF underscores the fact that cybersecurity is a significant source of enterprise risk that senior leaders need to factor in alongside others such as finance and reputation. The main goals are to integrate cybersecurity with broader enterprise risk management, roles and responsibilities, policy and oversight within organizations, as well as improving the communication of cybersecurity risk to the management.”
It also broadens its scope, becomes more transparent and user-friendly, and most importantly (relevant for this article anyhow), strongly emphasizes on emerging threats and firmly focuses on a continual and proactive strategy towards cybersecurity through the addition of the Improvement Category in the Identify Function. Embracing an ongoing approach urges organizations to evaluate, reevaluate, and subsequently refine cybersecurity practices periodically. This empowers organizations to react promptly and with enhanced precision to incidents for minimal impact.
CSF and CTEM – A Winning Combination
Presently, numerous practical frameworks and tools are fashioned to operate within the overarching CSF guidelines. For instance, the Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) seamlessly complements CSF. Unveiled by Gartner in 2022, the CTEM framework marks a significant shift in how organizations manage the exposure to threats. While CSF provides a broad framework for recognizing, evaluating, and managing cyber challenges, CTEM emphasizes the continuous scrutiny and evaluation of dangers to the organization’s security stance – the very risks that constitute the challenge itself.
The core functions of CSF harmonize effectively with the CTEM approach, encompassing the identification and prioritization of threats, evaluating the organization’s susceptibility to those threats, and incessantly monitoring for indicators of compromise. Embracing CTEM allows cybersecurity leaders to substantially elevate their organization’s adherence to NIST CSF.
Prior to CTEM, intermittent vulnerability assessments and penetration testing were deemed the gold standard for threat exposure management. Nonetheless, the crux of the issue lay in the fact that these methods merely provided a glimpse of the security posture – one that often became outdated before it could evenThe analysis has been conducted.
CTEM aims to revolutionize the current situation. The program outlines methods to gain continuous insights into the organization’s attack surface, identifying and neutralizing vulnerabilities and exposures proactively before attackers can exploit them. Implementing CTEM programs incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as exposure assessment, security validation, automated security validation, attack surface management, and risk prioritization. This synchronization perfectly complements NIST CSF 1.1 and delivers tangible advantages across all five core CSF functions:
- Recognize – CTEM requires organizations to meticulously recognize and catalog assets, systems, and data. This process often uncovers unidentified or forgotten assets that pose security threats. This increased visibility is crucial for establishing a robust foundation for cybersecurity management, as described in the Recognize function of the NIST CSF.
- Safeguard – CTEM programs preemptively detect vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before they can be exploited. CTEM assesses risks based on their potential impact and likelihood of exploitation. This allows organizations to address the most critical vulnerabilities promptly. Additionally, CTEM-guided attack path simulations aid organizations in decreasing the risk of compromise. These measures significantly influence the Safeguard function of the CSF program.
- Spot – Continuous monitoring of the external attack surface, as mandated by CTEM, impacts the CSF’s Spot function by providing early alerts of potential threats. By recognizing changes in the attack surface, such as new vulnerabilities or exposed services, CTEM enables organizations to rapidly detect and respond to potential attacks before they cause harm.
- React – In the event of a security incident, the risk prioritization requirements defined by CTEM assist organizations in prioritizing responses, ensuring critical incidents are handled first. Furthermore, the attack path modeling mandated by CTEM helps organizations comprehend how attackers might have infiltrated their systems. This affects the CSF React function by empowering organizations to take targeted measures to control and eliminate the threat.
- Restore – The continuous monitoring and risk prioritization enforced by CTEM play a vital role in the CSF Restore function. CTEM enables organizations to quickly pinpoint and rectify vulnerabilities, reducing the impact of security incidents and hastening the recovery process. Additionally, attack path modeling aids organizations in identifying and resolving deficiencies in their recovery processes.
The Verdict
The collaboration between the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) program is a solid partnership aimed at shielding organizations against cyber threats. CSF furnishes a thorough road map for managing cybersecurity risks, while CTEM presents a dynamic and data-focused method for detecting and mitigating threats.
The harmony between CSF and CTEM is prominently displayed in how CTEM’s emphasis on ongoing monitoring and threat evaluation seamlessly integrates with CSF’s fundamental functions. By embracing CTEM, organizations significantly bolster their adherence to the CSF – concurrently gaining valuable insights into their attack surface and proactively addressing vulnerabilities.
About Author
