Nowadays, security has become a major concern of all companies and organizations that conduct their businesses through the internet. Establishing an online presence has become mandatory for any company that wants to catch people’s attention and expand their reach in the digital world we live in.
However, many companies still fail to implement proper cybersecurity measures because they overlook the importance of achieving compliance with general standards and security regulations. For that reason, we are going to discuss the importance of NIST compliance for businesses in a wide range of industries.
What Are the NIST Cybersecurity Standards
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a collection of security standards that aim to protect a company’s information system. Most simply put, this cybersecurity framework is a simple set of requirements that each business or government agency should meet in order to ensure online security. The framework was set by NIST, which stands for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an official federal agency of the US Department of Commerce.
Many businesses are not familiar with or compliant with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework because of the assumption that these standards are meant only for the large tech corporations. However, even small businesses should comply with the NIST framework because it can help them prevent and detect common cybersecurity threats. If your business receives or stores any customer information online, it most likely requires NIST Cybersecurity Framework compliance.
The framework offers specific guidelines that aim to protect information systems in a cost-effective manner. After all, it is always better to prevent a potential cyberattack than to suffer from its financial consequences. Besides, the NIST standards were carefully developed with other regulations kept in mind, such as FISMA or the Federal Information Security Management Act. Therefore, following the NIST guidelines will help you make your business compliant with other security regulations, decreasing the risk of potential cyberattacks.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework offers a flexible approach to cybersecurity, allowing you to protect your business’ infrastructure in time. It is important to follow the NIST standards if you want to ensure you are implementing the best practices when it comes to cybersecurity. The standards include recommended security controls, along with sets of practices that will secure your business and keep it safe from cyber criminals.
If your company or organization has an established online presence and deals with sensitive data such as customers’ information, you should think ahead and create a reliable security system before hackers take advantage of your business’ vulnerability. Complying with security standards such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework will also add to the credibility of your company, making customers and clients more comfortable and confident in doing business with you.
Conclusion
With the number of cyberattacks growing at a rapid rate, there is nothing left to do but protect our businesses from unwanted intruders. Unfortunately, cyber criminals are becoming better at what they do and they always find ways to exploit businesses, especially if you make it easy for them by neglecting cybersecurity standards. In order to secure your business and your clients, you must take a different approach when it comes to online security.
Following the NIST standards and complying with the framework of security regulations has become one of the top priorities in many industries nowadays. Therefore, if your competition is doing it, why would you want to be a step behind? No matter what industry your business is in, it is likely that it will be exposed to cybersecurity threats if you don’t start implementing better security practices. If you need assistance when it comes to NIST compliance, feel free to contact us at The Network Pro!
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