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Cybersecurity frameworks

What is CyberSecurity framework?

A cybersecurity frameworks describes guidelines, and standards/plan designed for cybersecurity and it's associated risk management. The frameworks intent is to reduce an organization's exposure to exploits and vulnerabilities that cyber-criminals may use.

NIST's Cybersecurity Framework is widely recognized, but there are other cybersecurity frameworks and standards that organizations may tailor and use. Below is a comparison of some of these frameworks, along with their common vs differentiating factors.

Common Factors: Most of the frameworks share a common area of focus which includes risk management, protection of digital assets, data security and aligning cybersecurity with organizational goals. Framework provides a structured approach for enhancing cybersecurity, and can be tailored to an organization's needs and risk apetite.

Differentiating Factors: The differences between the frameworks lie in the specific industry focus, level of prescriptiveness, and methodologies used. Some, like the NIST Framework and ISO/IEC 27001, are widely applicable across industries, while others, like HITRUST and CIS Controls, are more industry-specific. COBIT focuses on governance, while FAIR provides a unique quantitative risk analysis approach.

Framework / Standard URL Common Factors Differentiating Factors Example
NIST Cybersecurity Framework NIST Cybersecurity Framework - Risk-based approach - Core functions (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover) - Tiered maturity model - Highly adaptable for various industries - Broadly recognized and used globally A manufacturing company uses NIST's framework to identify critical assets and vulnerabilities and develop a response plan for a potential cyberattack.
CIS Controls (Center for Internet Security) CIS Controls - Prioritized cybersecurity best practices - Focus on reducing the attack surface - Mapped to other frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001) - More prescriptive in terms of specific controls - Targets specific security improvements A financial institution may implement CIS Controls to reduce its attack impact by applying specific controls e.g. network segmentation and privilege management(role based access).
ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management System) ISO/IEC 27001 - Comprehensive information security management system - Risk management-based approach - Internationally recognized - Highly structured and process-oriented A global IT services company seeks ISO 27001 certification to establish a comprehensive information security management system and to meet international security standards to gain projects/recogniation.
COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) COBIT - Governance framework for IT and cybersecurity - Aligns IT and business goals - Process improvement model - Strong focus on governance and control objectives - Tailored specially for IT management and governance A large corporation may use COBIT to ensure IT and business alignment by establishing governance practices and a maturity model for IT processes.
HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) HITRUST CSF - Healthcare-specific framework - Aligns with HIPAA and other healthcare regulations - Comprehensive controls for PHI protection - Specifically designed for the healthcare industry - Requires HITRUST certification A hospital may adopt HITRUST CSF to comply with HIPAA's security requirements and safeguard electronic health records (EHRs) effectively.
CIS RAM (Center for Internet Security Risk Assessment Method) CIS RAM - Risk assessment methodology - Aligns with CIS Controls - Provides guidelines for identifying and mitigating security risks - Focused on risk assessment and mitigation - Works well in conjunction with other frameworks A financial institution may use CIS RAM to perform a risk assessment on its digital banking platform and then applies CIS Controls to mitigate identified risks.
FAIR (Factor Analysis of Information Risk) FAIR Institute - Quantitative risk analysis methodology - Focus on understanding and managing information risk - Business-focused risk assessment - Unique for its quantitative risk analysis approach - Tailored for organizations looking for deep risk analysis A cybersecurity consulting firm may use FAIR to conduct a quantitative risk analysis for a financial client to assess the potential financial impact of a data breach accurately.
OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) OWASP - Focus on web application security - Provides a Top Ten list of critical web application security risks - Offers tools and resources for developers and security professionals - Specialized in web application security - Primarily for developers and security professionals in the context of web application development A software development company may follow OWASP guidelines to identify and mitigate common web application security risks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), during application development.

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