What is NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0: An Overview

Organizations have become a major target of modern cyberattacks. Even after spending on modern security tools and futuristic technologies organizations need to face security gaps, compliance issues, and a lack of structured risk management. Due to this weak defense mechanism of organizations,  attackers can easily take advantage of targets through phishing, social engineering, and ransomware attacks.

To protect from these modern threats, there is a need to adopt a modern cybersecurity framework such as NIST CSF 2.0 which focuses on strengthening cybersecurity posture by providing structured guidelines through which organizations can identify, manage, and mitigate cyberthreats. It also highlights the importance of providing security awareness training to the employees for making them ready to deal with scenarios of real cyberattacks.

In this blog, we will be discussing NIST CSF 2.0, its components, and working which can be helpful in strengthening the security posture of the organization.

What is NIST CSF 2.0?

The full form of NIST CSF 2.0 is the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework 2.0. This framework provides guidance to government agencies, industries, and various organizations to reduce cybersecurity risks. It helps organizations to assess, prioritize, and communicate about cyber risks and apply prevention strategies to reduce them.

This framework focuses on implementing best practices which helps enhance an organization’s information security structure and manage cybersecurity risks. It focuses on identifying the organization’s current security structure, vulnerabilities, and issues, and finding out priorities which help to strengthen the cybersecurity posture. By using NIST CSF 2.0 it helps people to enhance, and learn about the selection of specific outcomes to reduce security risks and strengthen defense mechanisms.

What’s New in NIST CSF 2.0 from other frameworks

The NIST CSF 2.0  provides significant changes in managing and mitigating cybersecurity risks. Following are the changes mentioned below:-

Focus on enhancing clarity and usability.

The enhancement in this version has been made to provide clarity and make it accessible to a wider range of audiences. The framework delivers clear language for easy understanding, and improvement in guidance and provides an interactive structure which organizations can easily implement for strengthening security posture.

Guidance on new technologies and advancements

The updates in the framework focus on new technologies and advancements. With the era of futuristic technologies such as AI and Machine Learning, the framework focuses on the role of these technologies and the challenges which arise in managing these technologies.

Scope Expansion 

The scope of NIST CSF 2.0 focuses beyond the traditional cybersecurity framework. It aims to integrate privacy and supply chain risk management which reflects enhanced digital security.

Updation in Categories and Subcategories

New categories and subcategories have been added to ensure best practices and be ready against modern cyber threats. By using these new categories, it helps to fulfill modern security needs and be future-ready.

Emphasis on Cyber Resilience

NIST CSF 2.0 urges organizations to anticipate, withstand, recover, and adapt to modern cyberattacks by strengthening defense systems to reduce disruptions and minimize the effects of system compromises.

6 Functions of NIST CSF 2.0 Framework 

The NIST CSF framework has 6 core functions which help organizations to strengthen their security posture.  The following are functions mentioned below:-

Govern

It is a comprehensive addition to the framework which highlights the importance of governance in properly managing cybersecurity risks. The aim is to establish and maintain the governance structure in such a way that it minimizes security risks and fulfills the necessary rules and regulations.

Govern function has 6 categories:-

• Organizational Context (GV.OC)

• Risk Management Strategy (GV.RM)

• Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities (GV.RR)

• Policy (GV.PO)

• Oversight (GV.OV)

• Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (GV.SC)

Identify

The identification function helps in understanding the business context and focuses on resources supporting critical functions and their related security risks. It helps organizations prioritize efforts in a consistent manner to support business needs and implement risk management strategies. 

The 3 categories of identifying functions are mentioned below:- 

• Asset Management (ID.AM)

• Risk Assessment (ID.RA)

• Improvement (ID.IM)

Protect

Protect highlights measures which are responsible for ensuring the delivery of critical infrastructure services. The protection function also involves access control, awareness and training, necessary data security, and following of information protection process with its proper maintenance.

The 5 categories of Protect functions are mentioned below:-

• Identity Management, Authentication, and Access Control (PR.AA)

• Awareness and Training (PR.AT)

• Data Security (PR.DS)

• Platform Security (PR.PS)

• Technology Infrastructure Resilience (PR.IR)

Detect

Detect involves developing and implementing necessary activities for identifying the occurrence of security events which could be factors of negative impact on the organization.

The categories of detection function are mentioned below:-

• Continuous Monitoring (DE.CM)
• Adverse Event Analysis (DE.AE)

Respond 

This function involves activities for detecting cybersecurity incidents. For complete improvement, it involves incidence response planning, communications, analysis, and applying necessary mitigation strategies.

The 4 categories of response functions are mentioned below:- 

• Incident Management (RS.MA)

• Incident Analysis (RS.AN)

• Incident Response Reporting and Communication (RS.CO)

• Incident Mitigation (RS.MI)

Recover 

The recovery function helps in the identification of necessary activities to maintain plans for resilience and restore any capabilities or services that were impaired due to security incidents.

The 2 categories of recovery function are mentioned below:- 

• Incident Recovery Plan Execution (RC.RP)
• Incident Recovery Communication (RC.CO)

NIST CSF 2.0 Framework Table

Function	Category	Category Identifier
Govern (GV)	Organizational Context	GV.OC
	Risk Management Strategy	GV.RM
	Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management	GV.SC
	Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities	GV.RR
	Policies, Processes, and Procedures	GV.PO
	Oversight	GV.OV
Identify (ID)	Asset Management	ID.AM
	Risk Assessment	ID.RA
	Improvement	ID.IM
Protect (PR)	Identity Management, Authentication, and Access Control	PR.AA
	Awareness and Training	PR.AT
	Data Security	PR.DS
	Platform Security	PR.PS
	Technology Infrastructure Resilience	PR.IR
Detect (DE)	Continuous Monitoring	DE.CM
	Adverse Event Analysis	DE.AE
Respond (RS)	Incident Management	RS.MA
	Incident Analysis	RS.AN
	Incident Response Reporting and Communication	RS.CO
	Incident Mitigation	RS.MI
Recover (RC)	Incident Recovery Plan Execution	RC.RP
	Incident Recovery Communication	RC.CO

Roadmap for Organizations for Implementing NIST CSF 2.0

• Assessment of  Current Posture 

Organizations need to conduct a gap analysis to identify strengths and make improvements to align with NIST CSF 2.0.

• Setting Necessary Priorities

There is a need to evaluate security risks, align security with business objectives, and ensure regulatory compliances are met according to necessary standards.

• Action Plan 

For implementation there is a need to develop an action plan which defines the goals, allocates necessary resources, and the proper timeline for completion.

• Changes Implementation 

For better change implementation there is a need to address high-priority risks, engage stakeholders, and provide training for smooth adoption.

• Monitoring and Review 

Continuous tracking of threats and reassessing framework alignment will help to be ready against upcoming threats.

• Establish a Security Culture 

Organizations need to foster a culture of security awareness training and implement practices to reduce cyberattacks.

Following necessary steps and implementation strategies could help organizations to be future-ready and train employees on modern security standards for enhancing identification and response capability against evolving cyber threats.

Frequently Asked Questions