In this lesson, we will learn
about the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Cybersecurity Framework, or NIST CSF.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework was developed
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
or NIST, to help organizations manage
and reduce cybersecurity risk.
The framework is designed to be flexible across industries,
providing a structured approach to managing
and recovering from cyber events.
In this structured approach,
the NIST Cybersecurity Framework organizes
cybersecurity activities into five core functions,
identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover.
Let's learn about the five core functions
of the NIST Cybersecurity framework
and how to apply them as an organization.
First in the identify function,
asset management software, such as SolarWinds or Lansweeper,
is used to map out critical systems, hardware and data.
Additionally, risk assessment platforms like RSA Archer
or RiskLens are used to identify potential vulnerabilities
and assess risks.
These tools support the identity functions goal
of understanding and managing risk
to critical assets and data.
Second, in the protect function,
organizations rely on firewalls
like the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance or Palo Alto,
along with the encryption tools,
such as BitLocker or VeraCrypt,
and the identity and access management solutions, like Okta,
to control access and safeguard sensitive data.
These tools ensure proper access controls,
and protection measures are in place
to prevent unauthorized access to systems.
Third, in the detect function,
businesses use intrusion detection systems, like Snort,
and security information and event management,
or SIEM solutions like Splunk to continuously monitor
their networks for suspicious activity or potential threats,
helping them quickly spot any signs of a breach.
Fourth, in the respond function,
platforms like IBM Resilient or CrowdStrike
are used to contain security incidents,
investigate the root cause,
and ensure the right personnel are notified
to handle the situation effectively.
Fifth and finally, in the recover function,
organizations rely on backup and recovery tools,
such as Veeam or Acronis, to restore lost data and services
after a security incident, while also analyzing the event
to strengthen their defenses
and improve resilience for future incidents.
Now, let's learn how a fictitious healthcare provider,
GreenTeaCare,
could apply the NIST cybersecurity framework.
GreenTeaCare would start by identifying
all critical systems that store patient data
by using asset management tools
and assessing risks with platforms like RSA Archer.
Next, they would protect this data by setting up firewalls,
encrypting patient records,
and controlling access with identity
and access management tools to ensure
that only authorized staff can access sensitive information.
GreenTeaCare IT would then detect
any suspicious activities by monitoring network traffic
with SIEM tools.
If a breach occurs, they would respond
by activating their incident response plan,
using platforms like CrowdStrike to isolate affected systems
and investigate the incident.
Finally, they would recover by restoring systems
with backup tools
and applying lessons learned from the event
to strengthen their security for the future.
So remember, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework was developed
to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risk.
The framework is flexible
and adaptable to various industries,
offering a structured approach to managing
and recovering from cyber incidents.
It organizes cybersecurity efforts into five core functions,
identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover.
These functions work together
to help organizations assess their risks,
implement protective measures, detect threats,
respond to incidents, and recover from any damage.
By following the NIST Cybersecurity Framework,
organizations can improve
their overall cybersecurity posture
and better safeguard their critical assets.