NIST Cybersecurity

Audit Plan for NIST Cybersecurity Framework Implementation

NIST has defined following 6 functions in its updated Cybersecurity framework that was published in Q1 of 2024. We at SAS Advisors specialize in assessing or migrating to NIST cybersecurity framework.

Auditing NIST CSF (Cybersecurity Framework) is essential for several reasons –

1. Improved Security Posture: Ensures organization’s cybersecurity measures are effective and up-to-date against current threats.
2. Regulatory Compliance: Helps organizations comply with various laws and regulations, which often require adherence to cybersecurity best practices.
3. Risk Management: Identifies potential vulnerabilities and risks, allowing for proactive mitigation before they can be exploited by attackers.
4. Continuous Improvement: Regular audits provide insights into areas needing improvement and help track progress over time.
5. Stakeholder Confidence: Demonstrates to customers, partners, and investors that the organization is committed to maintaining a robust cybersecurity posture.
6. Incident Response Readiness: Ensures the organization has efficient processes in place to respond to and recover from security incidents swiftly.

In short, auditing NIST CSF helps a company maintain a strong, adaptive, and resilient cybersecurity framework, ultimately protecting its assets and reputation. 

1. Identify

• Objective: Assess the organization’s ability to identify cybersecurity risks and assets.
• Risks: Incomplete asset inventory, lack of risk assessment processes, outdated threat intelligence.
• Key Controls: Asset management, risk assessment, threat intelligence.

2. Protect

• Objective: Evaluate the measures in place to protect critical infrastructure and data.
• Risks: Inadequate access controls, insufficient data encryption, lack of security training.
• Key Controls: Access control, data protection, security training and awareness.

3. Detect

• Objective: Determine the effectiveness of the organization’s detection capabilities.
• Risks: Ineffective monitoring tools, delayed incident detection, lack of anomaly detection.
• Key Controls: Anomaly and event detection, continuous monitoring, security information and event management (SIEM).

4. Respond

• Objective: Assess the organization’s response plan and incident management capabilities.
• Risks: Slow incident response, lack of communication during incidents, insufficient recovery procedures.
• Key Controls: Response planning, communication, analysis, mitigation, improvements.

5. Recover

• Objective: Evaluate the organization’s ability to recover from cybersecurity incidents.
• Risks: Inadequate backup processes, slow recovery times, lack of post-incident review.
• Key Controls: Recovery planning, improvements, communications, and analysis.

6. Govern

• Objective: Assess the governance and policy framework supporting cybersecurity efforts.
• Risks: Inconsistent policy enforcement, lack of executive support, insufficient resource allocation.
• Key Controls: Risk management strategy, resource management, governance, policy development.

Audit Steps –

• Preparation: Define the scope and objectives of the audit, gather relevant documentation, and schedule interviews with key personnel.
• Assessment: Conduct interviews, review documentation, and perform on-site inspections to evaluate the implementation of the NIST Framework.
• Testing: Test the effectiveness of controls through simulations, vulnerability scans, and penetration tests.
• Reporting: Compile findings, identify gaps, and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Follow-Up: Schedule follow-up audits to ensure that recommendations have been implemented and to monitor ongoing compliance.

Connect with SAS Advisors to discuss your cybersecurity framework and your ambitions in this age of increasing cybersecurity threats. We have helped many clients and can share our success stories with you.