NIST CSF: Overview of Tiers

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is a framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help organizations manage and reduce their cybersecurity risks. The framework is divided into five core functions: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. In addition to these core functions, the CSF also includes four levels or “tiers” that provide guidance on how organizations can implement the framework and improve their security posture.

The first tier, “Partial,” indicates that an organization is just starting to implement the CSF and has basic controls in place. At this level, an organization may have some security controls in place, but they are not well-defined or consistently applied.

The second tier, “Risk Informed,” indicates that an organization has a more comprehensive understanding of its risks and has implemented a broader range of security controls. At this level, an organization has a clear understanding of its assets, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts of a cyber attack, and has implemented controls to mitigate those risks.

The third tier, “Repeatable,” indicates that an organization has a mature security program and has established processes for implementing and maintaining security controls. At this level, an organization has well-defined policies and procedures for implementing and maintaining security controls, and regularly reviews and updates those controls to keep up with changing threats and technologies.

The fourth tier, “Adaptive,” indicates that an organization has a highly advanced security program and is continuously adapting and improving its security posture. At this level, an organization regularly assesses its security posture and makes adjustments as needed to keep up with changing threats and technologies.

Overall, the CSF tiers provide a helpful framework for organizations looking to improve their cybersecurity posture. By moving from the Partial tier to the Adaptive tier, organizations can improve their security posture and reduce their risk of a successful cyber attack. This helps protect their assets and sensitive data, and ensures that they can continue to operate even in the face of a cyber attack.