Tuesday, February 2, 2021

The Basics of NIST Cybersecurity Framework

 



Have you ever come across the terms NIST Cybersecurity Framework? Do you know what it is? How is it applicable to your business?

NIST is the abbreviation for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework can assist companies of different sizes. It helps them get a good understanding, management, and reduction of cybersecurity risks to safeguard data and network.

All these are voluntary. It provides your business a clear outline of the best practices, which you can use to decide in what particular area you have to focus your money and time on to boost your company’s cybersecurity protection. Fortunately, you can count on IT services  Columbia SC providers to assist you with this.



There are five areas where the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can be used on.

  • Identify
  • Protect
  • Detect
  • Respond
  • Recover

Identify

  • With the help of experts in managed IT services Columbia SC, come up with a complete list of all the data, software, and equipment you use. Some examples are point of sale devices, tablets, smartphones, laptops, and desktops.
  • Clearly identify the responsibilities and the roles for vendors, staff, and everyone else with access to confidential data.
  • Determine the steps that you have to take in order to protect your company against cyberattacks and limit the damage it causes in case it happens.

Protect

  • To boost your computer security, you should have full control on the people who are allowed to log on to the network and use devices such as the computer.
  • You must use effective security software to protect all your data.
  • You must encrypt sensitive data, in transit and at rest.
  • You must conduct regular data backups.
  • You must regularly, if possible, automate, the software updates.
  • You must set formal policies about how to properly dispose old devices and electronic files properly.
  • You must set a regular training schedule for everyone who uses your computers, network, and devices. Talk about cybersecurity so your employees know their personal risks and the roles they play in the workplace. 

Detect

  • You have to keep track of your computers for any unauthorized access using software and hardware such as USB drives.
  • You must inspect your network for unauthorized connections or users.
  • Investigate all unusual activities by your staff or within your network.

Respond

  • You must set a plan in place on how to inform your clients, employees, and others involved whose data may be at risk.
  • You need a plan on how you can keep your business up and running.
  • You should create a plan on how to report the cyberattack to the authorities.
  • Know how to investigate as well as contain the cyberattack.
  • Your cybersecurity policy must be updated regularly. Create a plan that factors in all the takeaways from your experience.
  • You must prepare your company for any unexpected event such as calamities that may put your business and client data at risk.
  • Don’t forget to test all of your plans on a regular basis.

Recover

  • If your company suffered a cyberattack, you have to know how to help your business bounce back.
  • You must fix and restore the areas of the network or devices that were affected.
  • You must constantly keep your employees and clients up to date about your response to the attack and what steps are being taken to recover from it.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our team of IT experts assist you in protecting your company and your data against cybersecurity threats.


No comments:

Post a Comment