10 Cybersecurity Frameworks You Must Know In 2023 !
What are cybersecurity frameworks?
Cybersecurity frameworks are a set of guidelines, best practices, and controls that organizations can use to manage cybersecurity risks and threats.These frameworks give organisations a formal way of detecting, evaluating, and mitigating cybersecurity threats and aid in the development of a robust cybersecurity posture.
There are a variety of cybersecurity frameworks available, each with a special purpose and set of specifications. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 27001, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework are a few of the most well-known cybersecurity frameworks.
Importance of cybersecurity frameworks?
Frameworks for cyber security are crucial for a number of reasons.
First off, they offer a thorough and consistent method for handling threats and hazards related to cybersecurity. These frameworks give organisations a defined set of rules, best practises, and controls to use for identifying, evaluating, and mitigating risks. This makes sure that businesses, regardless of their size, sector, or location, have a clear and consistent strategy for dealing with cybersecurity risks.
Second, a lot of cybersecurity frameworks are produced in response to legal specifications. Organisations can satisfy regulatory requirements, avoid fines and penalties, and show due diligence by adhering to these frameworks. This is especially crucial for sectors like healthcare, banking, and government that deal with sensitive data.
Thirdly, risk management inside organisations may be enhanced with the use of cybersecurity frameworks. They may support businesses in identifying and prioritising cybersecurity issues as well as putting in place the necessary safeguards to mitigate such risks. This can lessen the risk and severity of cyberattacks and make sure that businesses are ready to respond to any potential cybersecurity crises.
Fourth, adhering to cybersecurity guidelines can assist businesses in developing a solid cybersecurity posture. In addition to protecting sensitive information and vital systems and infrastructure, this can assist to boost consumer trust. An organization’s reputation, financial situation, and operational effect of cyberattacks can be lessened with a solid cybersecurity posture.
Protect Your Organization Like a Pro: The Top 10 Cybersecurity Frameworks
1.NIST Cybersecurity Framework (National Institute of Standards and Technology.)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a federal organisation of the United States Department of Commerce, created the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, a cybersecurity framework that is well known and frequently used. The framework offers a collection of optional best practises, standards, and guidelines to assist organisations in managing and lowering their cybersecurity risks.
The five basic operations of Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover form the foundation of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. These features offer a methodical and structured approach to managing cybersecurity risks and are made to assist businesses in creating, implementing, and continually enhancing their cybersecurity strategies.
The 2023 NIST Cybersecurity Framework has been updated to version 1.1, which includes the addition of a new core function called “Govern”.The addition of a new core function named “Govern” in version 1.1 is the primary distinction between the old and new iterations of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Version 1.0 only featured the following five basic features: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
Organisational governance is essential for controlling cybersecurity risk, as shown by the new core function Govern. It deals with the necessity for businesses to comprehend their cybersecurity risks, create and maintain an efficient cybersecurity risk management strategy, and establish a governance structure. This involves making sure that cybersecurity operations are in line with organisational needs and that personal information and civil liberties are safeguarded.
2.ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management Systems
Information Security Management System (ISMS) criteria are outlined in the cybersecurity framework ISO/IEC 27001. An ISMS is a methodical strategy for handling critical enterprise data in a secure manner.
Organisations can establish, implement, maintain, and continuously enhance their ISMS using the framework provided by ISO 27001. The framework includes a wide range of topics, such as management commitment, security controls, and risk assessment.
The requirements and the code of practise are the two primary components of the standard. The requirements section outlines the prerequisites for an ISMS, while the code of practise offers instructions for putting the standard into practise.
3.PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is referred to as PCI DSS. It is a collection of security guidelines created by the payment card industry to aid businesses that process credit and debit card payments in preventing payment card fraud.
To protect the security of cardholder data, organisations must adhere to the PCI DSS’s technological and operational criteria. Network security, access controls, encryption, and physical security are only a few of the security measures that are covered by the standard.
All businesses that accept credit cards, including merchants, processors, acquirers, and service providers, are subject to PCI DSS. These organisations must adhere to the standard, and failure to do so may result in hefty fines and other penalties.Payment card data is protected by PCI DSS from theft and misuse.
4.HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is known as HIPAA. Protected health information (PHI), often known as sensitive health information, is subject to federal law in the United States.
Healthcare providers, health plans, and clearinghouses that transfer or store PHI electronically are subject to HIPAA regulations. The law establishes requirements for the privacy, security, and accessibility of PHI and mandates that businesses put in place administrative, physical, and technical protections to keep it safe.
The HIPAA Security Rule establishes rules for access restrictions, encryption, audit logging, and incident response in order to ensure the security of electronic PHI. The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes criteria for warnings of privacy practises, gives individuals access to and control over their PHI, and places limitations on use and disclosure of PHI.
5.GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
General Data Protection Regulation is referred to as GDPR. The European Union (EU) has put in place a policy to bolster data protection laws and give people more control over their personal data.
Regardless of where the organisation is situated, GDPR applies to all organisations that handle personal data of EU citizens. Any information that can be used to identify a specific person, including name, address, email, phone number, and even IP address, is considered personal data.
Prior to collecting, processing, or storing a person’s personal data, an organisation is required by GDPR to obtain that person’s express consent. In order to guarantee the security of this data and prevent unauthorised access, disclosure, or alteration, they must also put adequate technical and organisational measures in place.
Non-compliance with GDPR can result in significant fines and penalties, and organizations that fail to comply with the regulation may also suffer reputational damage. GDPR is designed to protect individuals’ privacy rights and to ensure that organizations that process personal data do so in a transparent and responsible manner.
6.CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls)
The Centre for Internet Security, sometimes known as CIS, is a nonprofit organisation that offers a range of materials and services to assist businesses in strengthening their cybersecurity posture.
In order to secure various technologies, such as operating systems, databases, and applications, CIS develops and promotes best practises, recommendations, and benchmarks. These best practises are founded on practical knowledge, industry norms, and real-world experiences.
The CIS Controls, a prioritised list of steps that organisations can take to increase their cybersecurity readiness and responsiveness, are another set of cybersecurity controls that CIS offers. It is simple for organisations to apply these controls and integrate their cybersecurity efforts with industry best practises because they are mapped to a variety of frameworks, including NIST, ISO, and PCI DSS.Additionally,.
CIS offers a variety of cybersecurity tools and services, such as the CIS-CAT Pro software tool, which helps organizations assess and manage their cybersecurity risk, and the Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence service, which provides real-time threat intelligence to help organizations detect and respond to cyber threats.
7.COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies)
An efficient framework for managing and governing information and technology assets is called COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology). It offers a thorough framework for operational control, management, and governance of IT resources, applications, and infrastructure. Worldwide organisations employ COBIT, which was developed by ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association).
The goal of COBIT is to develop a standardised set of rules that will assist organisations in matching their IT plans with their corporate goals. This is achieved by giving IT governance, management, and operational control a uniform language and framework.
8.MITRE ATT&CK (MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge)
A knowledge base and methodology called MITRE ATT&CK helps people comprehend the tactics and behaviour utilised by attackers during a cyber-attack. It is a knowledge repository on adversary tactics and procedures that is open to everyone and is based on actual observations of cyberattacks.
There are strategies, methods, and sub-techniques in the ATT&CK framework. Techniques are the specific means through which an attacker uses their tactics to carry out their high-level aims. Sub-techniques are more specific approaches that can be employed in conjunction with a main technique to accomplish a goal.
Initial Access, Execution, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, Defence Evasion, Credential Access, Discovery, Lateral Movement, Collection, Exfiltration, and Impact are just a few of the types of tactics and procedures included in the framework.
9.Cyber Kill Chain
The stages of a cyber attack are described by the Cyber Kill Chain framework. In order to help organisations better identify and defend against advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other complex cyberattacks, Lockheed Martin originally introduced it in 2011.
There are seven steps in the framework:
1.Reconnaissance: The attacker gathers information about the target system, including vulnerabilities and potential targets.
2.Weaponization: The attacker creates or acquires an exploit, malware or other weapon to use against the target system.
3.Delivery: The attacker delivers the weapon to the target system, often through phishing emails, social engineering or other tactics.
4.Exploitation: The weapon is used to exploit a vulnerability in the target system.
5.Installation: The attacker establishes a foothold in the target system by installing backdoors or other means of persistence.
6.Command and Control: The attacker establishes communication channels with the compromised system in order to control it and steal data.
7.Actions on Objectives: The attacker achieves their ultimate goals, which may include exfiltrating data, destroying data, or other malicious actions.
Organisations can utilise the Cyber Kill Chain concept to discover and counteract potential attack vectors as well as comprehend the course of a successful attack. It has also served as the foundation for the creation of security-related technology and solutions.
10.The Unified Kill Chain
A cybersecurity framework called the Unified Kill Chain (UKC) is used to explain the steps an attacker must take in order to successfully infiltrate a target system. The UKC was developed and improved to fit the contemporary threat scenario. It is based on the conventional “kill chain” concept.
The UKC consists of seven stages, which are as follows:
1.Reconnaissance: The attacker gathers information about the target system, including vulnerabilities and potential targets.
2.Weaponization: The attacker creates or acquires an exploit, malware or other weapon to use against the target system.
3.Delivery: The attacker delivers the weapon to the target system, often through phishing emails, social engineering or other tactics.
4.Exploitation: The weapon is used to exploit a vulnerability in the target system.
5.Installation: The attacker establishes a foothold in the target system by installing backdoors or other means of persistence.
6.Command and Control: The attacker establishes communication channels with the compromised system in order to control it and steal data.
7.Actions on Objectives: The attacker achieves their ultimate goals, which may include exfiltrating data, destroying data, or other malicious actions.
Organisations can take action to stop or find assaults at each level of the UKC by understanding the stages. Implementing security measures like firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems is one way to do this. Another is to train staff members to spot suspicious activity and report it.
In end, cybersecurity frameworks offer a based and systematic method to managing cybersecurity dangers and protective corporations’ touchy facts and assets. They offer guidelines, first-class practices, and controls that could assist businesses save you, hit upon, reply to, and recover from cyber assaults. Implementing these frameworks can assist groups make sure compliance with guidelines, lessen the chance and impact of cyber assaults, and enhance their usual cybersecurity posture. Therefore, it is particularly endorsed that organizations recollect adopting and imposing one or more of these frameworks to help them manipulate cybersecurity risks and defend their commercial enterprise operations
