As companies shift towards digital technologies, the protection of critical data and systems will always be an issue.
Cyberattacks will become more common and dangerous in the next two years, costing the world economy $10.5 trillion annually.
To mitigate security risks, organizations need to assess, monitor, and refine their techniques.
That’s when cybersecurity frameworks enter the frame.
In this article, we’ll discuss what are cybersecurity frameworks and how they can help a company improve their security status.
What are Cybersecurity Frameworks: Dealing With Cyber Risks
In this landscape where digital transformation is prevalent, cybersecurity frameworks are the solution to bypass security threats.
There is no denying the fact that some IT trends.
For instance, cloud computing adoption for various purposes, network complexity, remote work policies, and connected devices and sensors in everything from phones to homes.
While these IT trends have helped businesses and people make headway, they have made the IT infrastructure vulnerable.
Basically, to evaluate, enhance, and maintain their security posture, companies can use cybersecurity frameworks to have a set of criteria for compliance with the regulations.
What Are Cybersecurity Frameworks (Answered)
With cybersecurity frameworks, it is simpler to specify the procedures and actions businesses should take to evaluate, track, and reduce cybersecurity threats.
Even though companies have a choice to use cybersecurity frameworks, it doesn’t mean they can operate seamlessly without the frameworks.
Cybersecurity is mandatory as businesses in different sectors store vast amounts of data online on numerous devices, including computers.
Regardless of financial data or customer personal information, even the smallest amount of information is deemed sensitive.
Moreover, unauthorized access can lead to financial and other losses.
Companies looking for a straightforward solution can use a powerful firewall or antivirus to secure a limited amount of data online.
However, businesses that handle a lot of data no longer have the choice to rely on basic protections or IT securing consulting to keep cybercriminals at bay.
Why Should Companies Use Cybersecurity Frameworks?
To develop a comprehensive cyber security program, businesses require strong cybersecurity frameworks for managing their cyber risks.
Without cybersecurity frameworks, people or organizations are vulnerable to online dangers, where hackers can access networks, mobile devices, and personal computers to steal valuable data.
It can cause disruption at work, and the business may even shut down.
If we look at the terminology, cybersecurity frameworks refer to a group of documents that show best practices, conventions, and procedures for addressing cybersecurity threats.
The use of cybersecurity frameworks lessens the company’s exposure to security flaws that encourage online thefts.
Chief Parts of Cybersecurity Frameworks
Here are the three primary components of the cybersecurity frameworks.
- Framework Core: It oversees the existing risk management procedures and cybersecurity framework and gives guidelines to monitor and lessen cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
- Implementation Tiers: helps assess the degree of comprehensiveness the programs need, risk appetite, and comprehension of managing cybersecurity risk.
- Means of Communication: It is also widely used to communicate budget, priority of goals, and the level of risk the business can withstand.
- Framework Profiles: The main purpose of organizational profiles is to find and align needs, goals, and resources to improve cybersecurity.
Another common term used when the components are discussed is the CIS controls or CIS Critical Security Controls.
These are a collection of extremely thorough frameworks for cyber defence operations that offer specific instructions on how to stop the most menacing cyber threats.
Advantages of Cybersecurity Frameworks
Existing frameworks can be modified and tailored to fit a company’s needs, or companies can internally build a framework.
However, it is best to use ready-made cybersecurity frameworks that meet certain compliance criteria.
Cybersecurity frameworks enhance security and boost customer confidence by ensuring that businesses follow the proper security processes.
Customers can tell that a company has a strong security program when it has a well-known security framework.
Four benefits of cybersecurity frameworks are given below:
- Address Challenges: utilizes extensive industry experience and knowledge to address security concerns.
- Systematic Approach: outlines a strategy for safeguarding infrastructure, information systems, and data.
- Team Guidance: provides direction to speed up IT teams’ work process of handling cyber hazards.
- Simplifies Compliance: cybersecurity frameworks have all the provisions required to satisfy particular compliance needs; compliance becomes unexacting.
Now that we know what are cybersecurity frameworks and what makes them so important, let’s look at their types.
Classification of Cybersecurity Frameworks Based on Their Functions
The well-known types of cybersecurity frameworks are:
1. Control Frameworks
A control framework offers risk management, guarantees the accuracy of financial reporting, and encourages adherence to relevant laws and regulations.
Organizations can improve their overall governance, risk management, and internal control processes by implementing a control framework.
The internal control frameworks companies use to prioritize the execution of security controls:
COBIT
COSO
ISO 31000
Example
A software development company using the control framework will manage risks, ensure accurate financial reporting, and promote compliance with rules.
2. Program Frameworks
These types of cybersecurity frameworks concentrate on the creation and administration of cybersecurity programs.
These frameworks offer recommendations and best practices for creating, putting into action, and managing a cybersecurity plan customized to a company’s requirements.
Risk assessment, policy creation, awareness raising, training, incident response planning, and continuous monitoring and improvement are the main functions.
Example
A company implementing the program frameworks evaluates its security program’s present state. That helps to create a thorough security program that is effective against all possible threats.
With this program, company executives and the security team can be on the same page by communicating the important aspects of the plan.
3. Risk Frameworks
The purpose of the risk framework is to recognize, assess, and reduce risk. These types of cybersecurity frameworks set priorities for necessary actions.
You must be thinking about all the cybersecurity frameworks that aim to reduce cyber risks and what makes them different.
Well, the target audiences and preferences of all cybersecurity frameworks are distinctive.
Example
A company using the risk framework can discover pertinent information and evaluate and prioritize risks.
Due to that, it acts swiftly and effectively to minimize and address emergent risks and safeguard the assets.
List of Cybersecurity Frameworks: Top 5 Picks
All of these cybersecurity frameworks have been around for quite some time to help professionals organize information.
Implementing one of the frameworks from the cybersecurity frameworks list can help a company gain the confidence of their partners, clientele, and stakeholders.
1. ISO/IEC 27000
Among the first standards groups is ISO.
With members from 165 countries, this non-governmental organization was established in 1947.
Numerous security standards are among the many technologies for which ISO establishes benchmarks.
Although there are numerous standards in the ISO/IEC 27000, ISO 27001 provides the framework for creating an information security management system (ISMS).
The criteria of ISO 27001 cover the creation, implementation, upkeep, and continuous improvement of an Information Security Management System (ISMS).
It considers the demands, goals, security requirements, procedures, scale, and structure of a company.
The standards in the ISO 27000 series address a wide range of information security-related topics.
Some of them are written below:
- ISO 27018: Discusses cloud computing
- ISO 27031: Shares instructions for IT disaster recovery plans.
- ISO 27037: Is related to digital proof attainment and protection are covered.
- ISO 27040: Deals with security in storage.
- ISO 27799: Takes care of information security in the healthcare sector. It is crucial for businesses that must comply with HIPAA.
2. NIST
NIST is another recognized name among the cybersecurity compliance frameworks.
The US presidential order that caused it was intended to strengthen security against both external and internal threats.
Originally, the purpose of it was to safeguard vital infrastructure.
Several cybersecurity operations are the core aims of this framework. These fundamentals are identify, defend, detect, respond, and recover.
The framework offers a practical and structured way to recognize assets and dangers that must be protected.
It outlines the steps the company must take to safeguard these assets, including risk identification, threat mitigation, and asset recovery in the case of a security incident.
Functions of NIST
The creation of the NIST cybersecurity framework was to help defend vital infrastructure like power plants and dams against cyberattacks.
Today, any business can use it as an efficient cybersecurity framework.
The structure is rather broad. Its most simple document is around 40 pages long.
To implement this, companies need thousands of work hours and hundreds of pages of processes, controls, and documentation.
Let’s talk about the five main purposes of the framework.
Identify
The Identify function creates the foundation for further cybersecurity-related actions your business takes.
Framework’s success depends on knowing what is there, what risks are associated with those settings, and how it relates to your business objectives.
Protect
It serves as a barrier to guarantee the delivery of necessary foundational services. It supports the capacity to reduce the impact of a probable cybersecurity threat.
Detect
The detect function requires the development and execution of the procedures to identify the existence of a cybersecurity event. It allows quick identification of cybersecurity incidents.
Respond
The Response function carries out response planning, analysis, and mitigation operations to ensure that the cybersecurity plan is continually improving.
Recover
It quickly resumes normal operations after a cybersecurity incident, lessening its impact.
The following are some examples of outcomes for the Core function of this framework: Communications, Improvements, and Recovery Planning.
3. Center for Internet Security
CIS is a framework for safeguarding businesses from cybersecurity risks through a partnership of experts.
It consists of 20 controls that are updated on a regular basis by specialists to stay current and aware of cybersecurity concerns.
For firms that prefer moving gradually towards the change, CIS works effectively.
Three parts can define the process. Initially, they go over the basics. Next, they go on to foundational, and lastly, they move to the organizational.
If you’re looking for a framework that can function in tandem with other industry-specific compliance standards like NIST and HIPAA, CIS is an amazing choice from the list of cybersecurity frameworks.
Function CIS Controls
Here are the functions of CIS controls:
Integrated Intelligence Center
To help generate complete coordinated security intelligence, it encourages interactions between government and business sector institutions.
The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center
It seeks to give state, local, territorial, and tribal governments better overall cyber security.
It accomplishes this goal by encouraging cooperation and information exchange between members, the US Department of Homeland Security, and partners in the commercial sector.
The Security Benchmarks
It develops and disseminates consensus-based standards aimed at enhancing the confidentiality and security of systems linked to the Internet and guaranteeing the integrity of both public and private Internet-based activities and transactions.
The Trusted Purchasing Alliance
It provides affordable cybersecurity standards and frameworks to both public and commercial sectors.
4. Service Organization Controls
SOC2 is one of the most difficult-to-implement cybersecurity frameworks because of its comprehensive nature.
After completing a SOC2 audit, which may take a year, auditors provide a report testifying to the cyber security posture of the vendors.
For third-party risk management strategies, it is an important tool.
Benefits of SOC 2
Unlike other cybersecurity frameworks, SOC 2 works on different models for each business.
- Security: the website audit improves the overall security.
- Overlaps with Other Frameworks: Companies can use it with ISO 27001 and HIPAA.
- Competitive Edge: businesses can establish themselves as security-conscious to build a reputation.
- Avoid Financial Damage: compliance with this framework can prevent monetary damages by protecting it from data theft.
5. General Data Protection
If a company wants to operate in the European Union or if the processing of data happens there, it is necessary to comply with their services with this framework.
This counts as the best cybersecurity framework for small and mid-sized businesses.
GDPR has stringent security and privacy programs built to secure the data of people living in the EEA(European Economic Area) and EU (European Union).
Benefits of GDPR
- Quick Incident Response Plan: within 72 hours, companies can conclude a response plan with the help of this framework.
- Vulnerability Management: the company can take steps to strengthen its application, endpoint, and network security.
- Gain Customer Confidence: the end users start thinking of you as a good custodian of data.
FAQs
Does NIST cover cybersecurity risk management’s cost and cost-effectiveness?
Yes. The framework can be used by an organization to identify the tasks that get the best return on investment.
What are cybersecurity frameworks that companies implement?
An efficient way to manage internet security is through adapting the standardized practices called cybersecurity frameworks.
Who are the cybersecurity frameworks intended for?
All sizes, industries, and stages of development of organizations can use the cybersecurity frameworks.
In Conclusion
Implementing one of the cybersecurity frameworks demonstrates the company’s seriousness towards the protection of sensitive information.
Also, a cyber attack can tarnish the company’s reputation, and the downtime costs a lot of money.
So, every business should become certified compliant with the given guidelines.
Adopting these cybersecurity frameworks takes time and effort. To make it worthwhile, you can reach out to professional services like Q4 Gems.
