Take control of your security strategy with the NIST Framework

Most organisations now have a range of security measures in place. Firewalls, monitoring tools, multi-factor authentication, or perhaps a SOC service have become the norm. Yet, for many, these measures have evolved organically, often in response to incidents, audits, or compliance demands. The result? A fragmented landscape with limited cohesion. Fortunately, the NIST Framework provides important guidance for creating structure.

Security is all too often a patchwork of isolated tools, processes, and suppliers. The real question now isn’t whether you have things in place, but how well those elements are aligned.

Are there any vulnerabilities? Overlapping controls? Or perhaps some crucial gaps? These are vital considerations, because cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern. It affects the entire business, from policy and procurement to compliance and governance.

What’s more, new regulations such as NIS2 and DORA make having a clear and structured approach more urgent than ever.

“The NIST functions provide a logical and coherent framework, helping you gain a clear overview of your security posture.”

Bringing structure to your security approach

The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Cybersecurity Framework is designed to help you introduce much-needed structure. The model is built around five core functions:

Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover

Together, these functions provide a logical and coherent framework, helping you gain a clear overview of your security posture – highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.

One of the greatest benefits is the shared language the Framework offers. By mapping controls to recognisable functions, it becomes easier to prioritise risks, demonstrate compliance, and justify investments to the board or auditors.

Start with insight: establish your baseline

A baseline assessment is often the best place to start. This isn’t about conducting an audit, but rather taking a practical snapshot: what’s already in place, where do systems align, and where are the gaps or overlaps? It’s a simple truth: “you cannot protect what you cannot see”, so a thorough security inventory is essential.

This initial insight allows you to take a step-by-step, evidence-based approach to improvement.

Sometimes, a deeper dive is needed through technical analysis, penetration testing, or red teaming. This is done to test the strength of your systems and response capabilities, and to prevent your security approach from becoming a patchwork.

Gain clarity and control with NIST

Cybersecurity isn’t a one-off project, it’s an ongoing process. By organising your measures and assigning responsibilities following the NIST model, you bring clarity and direction to your security efforts.

This way, you build a security strategy that is robust, demonstrable, and adaptable to evolving risks, threats, and legislation.

Want to learn more about building a secure IT environment using NIST?

Download our whitepaper, ‘NIST & Zero Trust, foundations for cyber resilience’, and discover how structure and insight can deliver a truly secure IT landscape.