At TREBRON IT & Cybersecurity, we see too many IT teams take a scattered approach to cybersecurity without a plan in place. It often results in wasted time, wasted money, purchased solutions that aren’t used and a lack of support for cybersecurity throughout the organization. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of a cybersecurity framework, the reasons to adopt a framework and how our team can help reduce your risk of malicious attacks and breaches.

What is a Cybersecurity Framework?

In order to manage its cybersecurity risk, an organization should follow a collection of best practices – also known as a cybersecurity framework. The goal of a framework is to identify any areas within a company that are most vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks, malicious events and data breaches, and then implement procedures, policies and other methods to reduce those risks. Combined with effective security products, including those with artificial intelligence, and experienced personnel, the right cybersecurity framework can be an effective tool for preventing cyber attacks.

One of the best known cybersecurity frameworks is set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which has five main functions: identify, protect, detect, respond and recover. Released in 2014 to build an approach to secure critical infrastructure, Version 1.0 was developed using input from more than 3,000 industry, academia and government cybersecurity stakeholders. We recommend NIST to our customers because it is proven, straightforward and can be tailored to meet any organization’s needs. What’s more, it provides an organized way for organizations of all sizes to identify weaknesses in their cyber defense and protect their assets should a cyberattack occur via risk detection, threat response and asset recovery. 

In order to identify weaknesses, we offer a risk assessment that helps organizations develop a plan to come into alignment with this NIST framework. This assessment reviews and documents your current practices, evaluates your risks, compares your current infrastructure with NIST and identify areas where there is room for improvement. We can then work with you to develop a plan to bring your organization into compliance with the NIST standards.

Why Should You Adopt a Cybersecurity Framework?

By following a strategic, well-thought out plan to protect a company’s infrastructure, data and information systems, IT security leaders can better manage the risk of cyber attacks, data breaches and other malicious activities.

Of course, implementing a cybersecurity framework will improve your organization’s security posture, but other benefits include:

• More efficient budgeting for security.
  Starting with an assessment enables you to plan for future spending based on a risk-based priority.
• More effective communication with other stakeholders within your organization.
  Introducing a proven cybersecurity framework enables everyone to be on the same page with the current state, the ideal future state and the path to get there.
• Ultimately, a framework will result in less time spent on cybersecurity — and more sleep!

We understand that businesses are becoming more vulnerable to cyber attacks. That’s why we aim to help organizations understand their current infrastructure as well as areas in which they could improve to better protect themselves, their data and their information systems. Regardless of the size of your operation, we can provide you with a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment to help you follow correct security procedures and bring you into compliance with the NIST framework.

How Can You Adopt a Cybersecurity Framework?

There are several ways to approach implementing a cybersecurity framework. Though the first step is determining which is the right framework for your organization, there are several pre-existing, proven options available, including NIST, CIS, COBIT or ISO, to name a few. Building your own is always an option as well.

Before jumping into implementation of your selected cybersecurity framework, it is important to understand where your organization currently stands in relation to the standards set forth by it. Regardless of the industry in which you operate or the size of your organization, an evaluation, questionnaire and assessment are ideal for comparing your current infrastructure to the cybersecurity framework.

Once the assessment is completed, the real work begins by mapping out the plan, budget and stakeholders necessary for successful adoption. It’s critical to keep in mind, and set the expectation, that this is an iterative process that takes place over time.

One approach is to partner with a knowledgeable cybersecurity company that has been through this process before. TREBRON is a cybersecurity service who can provide outside perspective and experience to ensure the process is a smooth one.

Ready to Learn More?

At TREBRON, we believe that the NIST framework is the best way to protect your organization. If you would like to arrange for an evaluation to determine whether your cybersecurity framework is in alignment with NIST standards, contact our team today. We can provide a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment that will review your infrastructure and recommend the best security solution for your specific needs. We look forward to hearing from you!