Emerging Threat
How to Manage Emerging Supply Chain Threats
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) is a widely adopted approach for improving organizational cyber resilience. Developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the framework helps businesses of all sizes manage cybersecurity risks more effectively and strengthen their security posture, regardless of their industry or regulatory environment.
Essentially, the NIST CSF provides a structured yet flexible approach to fundamental cybersecurity tasks (including threat and attack identification, system protection, and reacting to breaches). Its clear, function-based structure makes it especially valuable to companies looking to align technical goals with broader risk management and compliance strategies.
Cybersecurity engineers developed the framework in response to the ever-increasing number of threats to critical infrastructure. Following a rise in cyberattacks on key national services, Executive Order 13636 was issued in 2013 to improve cybersecurity across U.S. industries. This directive led to the creation of the original NIST CSF in 2014. Rather than imposing rigid new rules, the goal was to provide practical guidance that any organization could adopt and implement.
The result was a framework that focused on real-world risk reduction and scalable application. In particular, one that was developed with both public and private sector stakeholders in mind, to ensure that it could address the needs of different industries, maturity levels, and threat environments.
The NIST CSF is structured around three main elements: functions, categories, and subcategories. Together, they provide a common language for managing cybersecurity risks.
For instance, access control is a category failing within the Protect function, the subcategories of which include setting up user authentication protocols, managing permissions, and monitoring account activity.
The layered nature of the framework makes it just as useful for strategic discussions at the executive level and day-to-day planning by IT and security teams.
Each function within the NIST CSF plays a key role in building a continuous cycle of risk management:
1. Identify
Organizations must understand which assets, data, and operations are critical to maintaining business continuity.
Example: A hospital maps its digital systems to determine which platforms are vital for patient care.
2. Protect
Implementing safeguards to secure systems and limit the impact of incidents.
Example: A financial services firm that uses encryption and access management to protect sensitive client information.
3. Detect
Developing frameworks and deploying tools and practices to quickly and accurately identify cybersecurity breaches.
Example: A manufacturer utilizes automated alerts to identify and flag unauthorized network activity.
4. Respond
Taking timely and coordinated action once a threat is identified.
Example: A logistics provider follows a playbook to isolate a ransomware infection and communicate with affected partners.
5. Recover
Restoring systems and services after an incident and strengthening defenses for the future.
Example: A retailer tests backup systems quarterly to ensure they can restore operations after an outage.
These functions work together as a dynamic cycle, and as threats continually evolve and change, organizations must constantly move through this cycle.
Rather than replacing existing standards, the NIST CSF is designed to complement them. The fact that the framework is compatible with numerous global standards makes it ideal for unifying cybersecurity efforts.
It maps directly to:
Organizations often use the NIST CSF as a translation layer, helping them to map internal controls and external compliance requirements to its categories and subcategories. This creates a centralized view of compliance efforts, highlighting areas of over- or under-investment.
Risk, audit, and compliance teams benefit from this harmonization. It simplifies reporting, helps avoid duplication of effort, and importantly, improves communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
The framework introduces four implementation tiers to help organizations understand the maturity and consistency of their cybersecurity approach:
These tiers are designed to help organizations select goals that are appropriate to their size, industry, and risk tolerance. For instance, a national utility may aim for Tier 4 across the board. On the other hand, a mid-size retailer may prioritize Tier 3 in customer data protection but operate at Tier 2 elsewhere.
Organizations can use the NIST CSF to create or refine their cybersecurity risk management posture. The process includes six key steps:
Identify the systems, data, and operations that are most essential to your organization. Engage stakeholders from across the business to ensure alignment between security and operational objectives.
Use the framework’s categories and subcategories to assess existing policies, controls, and risk responses. This reveals which areas are mature and which need improvement.
Analyze threats, vulnerabilities, and business impact to understand where your organization is most exposed. Utilize tools such as threat modeling, interviews, and security testing to inform this process.
Establish a clear picture of what effective cybersecurity looks like for your organization. This profile should reflect your strategic goals, compliance requirements, and risk appetite.
Compare your current state with your target profile. Identify areas of misalignment, then prioritize remediation efforts based on risk level, cost, and feasibility.
Develop a roadmap with clear milestones, ownership assignments, and tracking metrics. Monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed in response to operational or threat changes.
Organizations that view this as a cyclical, ongoing process are well-positioned to adapt to evolving risks and maintain long-term resilience.
The NIST CSF provides value beyond cybersecurity teams. It enables:
By aligning technical activities with strategic objectives, it becomes easier to secure funding, demonstrate value, and mitigate risk across the enterprise.
The framework is flexible enough to support organizations of all sizes across every primary industry. Whether you are a small startup managing customer data or a multinational enterprise securing complex supply chains, the NIST CSF provides a structured approach to understanding and enhancing your security posture.
Many organizations begin by applying the CSF to a single department or risk area, then expand as capabilities mature. This makes it especially useful for companies navigating growth, new regulations, or recent incidents.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a starting point, not a one-size-fits-all solution. You don’t need to overhaul your entire program to begin. Many organizations start small, perhaps with a self-assessment using publicly available NIST guidance, to get a baseline view of their cybersecurity posture.
From there, some consult the official NIST documentation for a deeper understanding, while others enlist cybersecurity experts to tailor the framework to their specific risks, goals, and industry requirements.
What matters most is taking that first step. Whether you’re addressing regulatory gaps, improving resilience, or aligning stakeholders around a shared framework, the NIST CSF provides a practical and adaptable foundation to build upon.
What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
The NIST CSF is a voluntary framework developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. It provides a structured approach for organizations to manage and reduce cybersecurity risk across five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
Is the NIST CSF mandatory?
No. The NIST CSF is voluntary. However, many organizations adopt it as a best practice, and some industries use it to demonstrate cybersecurity maturity to regulators, partners, or insurers.
Can small businesses use the NIST CSF?
Yes. The framework is scalable and can be adapted to fit the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Many start with a basic self-assessment and expand their use of the framework over time.
Does the NIST CSF help with regulatory compliance?
While it’s not a compliance checklist, the NIST CSF maps to several regulatory and industry standards. It can help streamline efforts to meet requirements such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, or GDPR by providing a structured approach to risk management.
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