Control mapping is the act of combining two or more regulatory categories or sets of business criteria to create a plan that is tailored to your specific objectives. While the CMMC security and NIST CSF measures provide information security policies, whatever controls you use and how you use them are dependent on your specific business context. Your risk tolerance, the complexity of your IT infrastructure, and your sector are all critical considerations to consider.
There are several instances of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework available. While it’s always a brilliant idea to study what other companies in your industry are doing, no two data security settings are alike. As a result, mapping the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is something you’ll have to undertake on your own, ideally with a trained consultant and specialist in the field.
What are the controls in the NIST CSF?
It’s crucial to start at the beginning when discussing how NIST CSF regulations function. The five core function domains at the top of the architecture are Recognize, Safeguard, Diagnose, Respond, and Recover. These operation domains are then divided into groups, with a total of 23 categories. Then there are the subcategories, which number 108 in all. There are helpful references and controls for each of the subcategories. These are intended to be practical advice for companies searching for more detailed answers to their data security and compliance issues.
Because there are hundreds of available controls, matching them to your specific needs might be difficult. Furthermore, the controls are usually somewhat sophisticated, including specialized network interfaces and software platforms. A server operating Red Hat Enterprise Linux, for instance, will have quite different controls than one using Windows or Unix. The alignment of measures to the targeted business objectives specified in the framework’s categories and subcategories is what the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is all about.
Examples of NIST Cybersecurity Framework mapping
You must first correctly examine your current environment before you can begin adopting NIST CSF controls. This will aid in identifying and prioritizing areas that require improvement.
As an example, consider the framework’s Protect function area. One of the six categories in this role is Data Security. Control mapping in this scenario should refer to a complete disc encryption solution. The encryption option to choose would, however, be determined by the gadget and OS in question. Local hard drives, for instance, may be encoded using the operating system’s native encryption mechanism, but portable media may require a separate approach to maintain cross-platform compatibility.
What are the benefits of mapping security and compliance safeguards?
Control mapping aims to use strategy to solve business-specific objectives and ensure that nothing vital is missed. It enables businesses to integrate their safety and compliance needs across applicable rules and standards like the NIST CSF. Mapping controls can also give a comprehensive insight into your security environment while preparing for a security and compliance assessment. For example, firms planning to acquire their Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC regulation) will find this incredibly valuable.
Finally, control mapping provides enterprises with a unified and appropriate approach to ensuring they satisfy the NIST Cybersecurity Framework’s essential business goals. To get started, hire a professional security and compliance consultant who can walk you through each step and function area of the framework and provide advice and solutions that are suited to your company’s specific needs and features.