NIST RMF – Risk Management Framework (SP 800-37 Rev. 2)

Website: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/risk-management
Direct link to RMF: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-37/rev-2/final
Control Overlays: https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/risk-management/sp800-53-controls/overlay-repository
List of all publications related to RMF: https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/risk-management/publications

NIST RMF (National Institute of Standards and Technology Risk Management Framework) is a comprehensive framework for managing cybersecurity risk for federal agencies and organizations. It provides a structured approach to managing security and privacy risks in information systems and helps organizations align their security efforts with business goals and objectives.

Three of the most useful takeaways from the NIST RMF are:

1. Risk-based approach: The NIST RMF is a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, which means that organizations identify and manage risks to their information systems based on the potential impact to the organization’s mission or business operations. This approach helps organizations to prioritize their security efforts and resources on the most critical assets and systems, reducing the overall risk to the organization.
2. Comprehensive framework: The NIST RMF provides a comprehensive framework for managing cybersecurity risk, covering all aspects of the risk management process from risk identification to continuous monitoring. The framework also includes guidance on how to implement security controls and assess their effectiveness, which helps organizations to ensure that their security measures are robust and effective.
3. Flexibility and scalability: The NIST RMF is a flexible and scalable framework that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different organizations and information systems. The framework allows organizations to tailor their security measures to their unique risks and environments, while still adhering to a common set of cybersecurity best practices. Additionally, the framework can be applied to information systems of any size or complexity, making it a useful tool for organizations of all types and sizes.

NIST offers several control overlays, which are additional guidance specific to an industry or area, such as ICS or Email systems that can jumpstart your efforts.

The RMF process consists of six steps, including:

1. Categorization: Identify and document the information system and its environment of operation, and assess the security requirements for the system.
2. Selection: Select the appropriate set of security controls to protect the system based on the risk assessment and categorization.
3. Implementation: Implement the selected security controls in the information system.
4. Assessment: Assess the effectiveness of the security controls in the information system to determine whether the controls are implemented correctly, operating as intended, and producing the desired outcome.
5. Authorization: Make a risk-based decision to authorize the system to operate based on the assessment of the security controls.
6. Continuous monitoring: Continuously monitor the security controls and the security status of the information system to ensure that the system remains secure over time.

The NIST RMF is widely used by federal agencies in the United States and is recognized as a best practice for managing cybersecurity risk. The framework is also used by many private sector organizations and international governments as a guide for managing their own cybersecurity risks.