Cybersecurity frameworks are blueprints for security programs.
Typically developed by governmental organizations, industry groups, or international bodies, they take the guesswork out of developing defense strategies, providing organizations with standards, guidelines, and best practices to help them manage and reduce their cybersecurity risks.
While cybersecurity frameworks such as the Center for Internet Security Controls and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are not mandatory, they complement required compliance policies and can help harden an organization's cybersecurity defenses further.
It's important to choose the right cybersecurity framework for your organization's needs and implement it properly.
We spoke to some experts to get their top tips for implementing a cybersecurity framework.
If you're considering implementing a cybersecurity framework, you're likely questioning which one to choose.
The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a cybersecurity framework is your industry.
Some frameworks are tailored to specific industries: for example, publicly traded companies often use the COBIT framework to ensure SOX compliance, while the HITRUST framework can help healthcare organizations improve their cybersecurity defenses.
If you're unsure which framework best suits your organization's needs, Tom Huntington, VP of Technical Solutions at Fortra, suggests looking at what others in your industry are using.
Once you've established the best framework for your industry, you can look deeper into your organization's specific needs.
According to Leron Zinatullin, Board and Startup Advisor and CISO at Linkly, it's important to remember that no one cybersecurity framework is a silver bullet, that they all have pros and cons, and that some organizations may need to utilize multiple frameworks.
We touched on this earlier, but you'll need to apply more than one cybersecurity framework in some cases.
Once you have decided on your cybersecurity framework, you must implement it.
Our experts have identified a few common framework implementation mistakes so you can avoid them.
Amar Singh, CEO of Cyber Management Alliance Limited, argues that too many organizations see cybersecurity frameworks as a tick-box exercise, something that will satisfy the bare minimum cybersecurity requirements.
According to Singh, accomplishing only the bare minimum compromises the spirit of the framework.
Now that we've covered what to avoid when implementing a cybersecurity framework, we can look at some best practices.
Antonio Sanchez, Principal Evangelist at Fortra, suggests that organizations must tailor the framework to their specific needs and ensure they have a way to measure effectiveness.
All in all, it's clear that choosing and implementing a cybersecurity framework requires a methodical, measured, and well-thought-out approach.
Fortra is creating a simpler, stronger, and more straightforward future for cybersecurity by offering a portfolio of integrated and scalable solutions.
This Cyber News was published on www.tripwire.com. Publication date: Mon, 01 Jul 2024 09:13:06 +0000