NIST - Glossary | CSRC (2024)

FAQs

Is NIST CSF repeatable? ›

Tier 3: The third tier is called repeatable, meaning that an organization has implemented NIST CSF standards company-wide and is able to repeatedly respond to cyber crises. Policy is consistently applied, and employees are informed of risks.

NIST maintains the National Checklist Repository, which is a publicly available resource that contains information on a variety of security configuration checklists for specific IT products or categories of IT products.

Become a NIST CSF 2.0 Lead Implementer. The Certified NIST CSF 2.0 LI certification certifies your ability to implement the formal structure, governance, and policy of a robust cybersecurity framework following internationally recognized and respected NIST best practices and standards.

Who Should Comply? Any company that does business with the United States government should comply with NIST. This includes agencies within the U.S. government, as well as businesses and individuals that the government may hire to perform work on projects.

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework has limitations in terms of risk management. One limitation is that it is a voluntary guideline and not mandated by any legal authority . Another limitation is that it does not provide guidance on how to carry out a cost-benefit analysis for cybersecurity investments .

NIST CSF is a high-level framework focused on risk management, while NIST SP 800-53 is a detailed set of security controls. 3. NIST CSF provides a comprehensive set of best practices for organizations to follow, while NIST SP 800-53 provides specific security controls that must be implemented.

The following are some well-known and commonly used security frameworks: NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 (NIST CSF 2): Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), version 2, released on February 26th, 2024, this framework provides guidelines for managing and improving cybersecurity risk.

The NIST certification cost depends on factors such as the size, the organization's complexity, and the assessment's scope. On average, companies spend between $5,000 and $20,000 for the audit and assessment process specific to the different NIST frameworks.

How long does it take to get NIST certified? ›

Generally, the process can take anywhere from a few months to over a year. Initial Assessment and Gap Analysis: This initial phase involves understanding the specific NIST standards applicable (such as NIST SP 800-171 or 800-53) and conducting a gap analysis to determine the current state of compliance.

How long is your NIST certificate valid? The short answer is: typically for one year, after which you need to get your unit re-certified and re-calibrated, if needed (re-calibration is included in the cost of re-certification).

NIST Technical Series publications are written by or for NIST. All NIST Technical Series publications are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to ensure continuing public access digital preservation. DOIs are deposited with the United States Government Publishing Office (GPO).

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) administers the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). NVLAP provides accreditation services through various laboratory accreditation programs (LAPs), which are established on the basis of requests and demonstrated need.

As a DoD contractor, you need to comply with NIST 800-171, not NIST 800-53. However, reviewing NIST 800-53 can be helpful in understanding your government agency clients and how they handle cybersecurity measures.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework overview

The core comprises five functions, which are subdivided into 22 categories (groups of cyber security outcomes) and 98 subcategories (security controls).

Consisting of 108 subcategories across 23 categories and five domains, implementing the NIST CSF is no cakewalk.

On February 26, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, the first major update to the NIST CSF in a decade.

Overview of the differences between NIST RMF and CSF

One key difference lies in their scopes and target audiences. The RMF is primarily targeted at federal agencies, whereas the CSF is designed for private industry and organizations in critical infrastructure sectors.