NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF 2.0)
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a voluntary, risk-based framework for managing cybersecurity risk. Originally developed for US critical infrastructure, CSF 2.0 broadens the scope to all organisations — and is increasingly adopted by Australian businesses with US supply chain relationships.
What Is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) was created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. First published in 2014 in response to Executive Order 13636, it was designed to help critical infrastructure organisations manage cybersecurity risk.
Version 2.0, released in February 2024, expanded the framework's scope to all organisations regardless of size, sector, or geography. It provides a common language for understanding, managing, and communicating cybersecurity risk — both internally and with external stakeholders.
Unlike ISO 27001, the NIST CSF is not a certifiable standard — there is no formal third-party audit or organisational certification. Instead, it serves as a flexible risk management framework that organisations can adopt and adapt to their specific needs. The framework itself is free to download from nist.gov.
The 6 Core Functions of NIST CSF 2.0
The framework organises cybersecurity activities into six high-level functions. Each function contains categories and subcategories that map to specific cybersecurity outcomes.
Govern (GV)
Establish and monitor the organisation's cybersecurity risk management strategy, expectations, and policy. New in CSF 2.0, this function covers governance, roles, supply chain risk, and oversight.
Identify (ID)
Understand the organisation's assets, business environment, risk assessment, and risk management strategy. Know what you need to protect before you protect it.
Protect (PR)
Implement safeguards to ensure delivery of critical services. Covers access control, awareness and training, data security, and protective technology.
Detect (DE)
Develop and implement activities to identify cybersecurity events in a timely manner. Includes anomaly detection, continuous monitoring, and detection processes.
Respond (RS)
Take action regarding detected cybersecurity incidents. Covers response planning, communications, analysis, mitigation, and improvements.
Recover (RC)
Maintain plans for resilience and restore capabilities impaired by cybersecurity incidents. Includes recovery planning, improvements, and communications.
Implementation Tiers
The NIST CSF defines four implementation tiers that describe the degree to which an organisation's cybersecurity risk management practices exhibit the characteristics defined in the framework. Tiers range from Partial (Tier 1) to Adaptive (Tier 4).
Tiers are not maturity levels — Tier 4 is not necessarily the target for every organisation. The appropriate tier depends on business objectives, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements.
NIST CSF vs ISO 27001
NIST CSF and ISO 27001 are the two most widely adopted cybersecurity frameworks globally. They serve different purposes and are often implemented together.
Many organisations implement both — using NIST CSF for risk-based program design and communication, and ISO 27001 for the certifiable management system that demonstrates compliance to customers and regulators.
NIST CSF in Australia
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is not mandated in Australia, but it is increasingly relevant to Australian organisations in several scenarios:
- US supply chain relationships — Australian subsidiaries of US companies, AUKUS supply chain partners, and organisations contracting with the US federal government are often expected to align with NIST standards.
- Complementary to the Essential Eight — The ASD Essential Eight covers a subset of technical controls that map to NIST CSF's Protect and Detect functions. Organisations using the Essential Eight can extend their cybersecurity program by adopting the broader NIST CSF governance, risk, and recovery functions.
- Multinational alignment — Organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions find NIST CSF useful as a common language for communicating cybersecurity posture alongside local standards like ISO 27001 and the ASD ISM.
Browse Essential Eight and ASD ISM controls on ControlStack to see how Australian frameworks complement the NIST CSF.
How to Get Started with NIST CSF
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework uses a Profile-based approach to implementation. Here's a practical starting point:
Create a Current Profile
Assess your organisation's existing cybersecurity activities against the CSF functions, categories, and subcategories. This establishes your baseline.
Define a Target Profile
Determine the desired cybersecurity outcomes based on business objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk appetite. Your target tier informs the depth of controls needed.
Conduct Gap Analysis
Compare current and target profiles to identify gaps. Prioritise based on risk, cost, and business impact.
Build an Action Plan
Develop a prioritised implementation plan addressing the highest-risk gaps first. Map actions to NIST SP 800-53 controls for detailed implementation guidance.
Implement and Monitor
Execute the plan, establish continuous monitoring, and review regularly. The CSF is designed for ongoing improvement, not a one-time exercise.
Want hands-on guidance? The PECB NIST Cybersecurity Lead Implementer course ($849 AUD) covers the full implementation lifecycle including NIST CSF, SP 800-53, RMF, and SP 800-171.
Key NIST Publications
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework sits within a broader ecosystem of NIST cybersecurity publications. Understanding how they relate helps you build a comprehensive cybersecurity program:
- NIST SP 800-12 — An Introduction to Information Security. Provides foundational concepts and terminology.
- NIST SP 800-53 — Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. The detailed catalogue of controls referenced by the CSF.
- NIST RMF — The Risk Management Framework. A structured process for integrating security, privacy, and supply chain risk management.
- NIST SP 800-171 — Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations. Critical for organisations handling US government data.
- NIST CSF — The Cybersecurity Framework itself. The high-level risk management framework that ties the other publications together.
The PECB NIST Cybersecurity Lead Implementer course covers all of these publications in a structured self-study format.
Resources
Continue building your cybersecurity knowledge:
- PECB NIST Cybersecurity Lead Implementer — Self-study covering NIST CSF, SP 800-53, RMF, and SP 800-171 ($849 AUD).
- ISO 27001 Certification Guide — The complementary certifiable standard for information security management systems.
- ISO 27001 Lead Implementer Course — Build and certify an ISMS alongside your NIST CSF program ($849 AUD).
- ControlStack Controls Library — Browse ISO 27001, Essential Eight, and ASD ISM controls with plain-English guidance.
- Free Resources — Download templates, checklists, and implementation guides.
- All Courses — Browse the full catalogue of PECB training options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and how it applies to Australian organisations.
Is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework mandatory?
The NIST CSF itself is voluntary. However, it is practically required for US federal government contractors, and Executive Order 13800 directs federal agencies to use it. Many private-sector organisations adopt it as best practice. In Australia, it is not mandated but is widely used by organisations with US business relationships.
What is new in NIST CSF 2.0?
CSF 2.0, released in February 2024, introduced the Govern function as a sixth core function (previously there were five). It broadens the target audience beyond critical infrastructure to all organisations, adds supply chain risk management guidance, and provides more detailed implementation examples. The Govern function covers risk management strategy, roles, policies, and oversight.
How does NIST CSF compare to the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight is the Australian Signals Directorate's set of eight baseline mitigation strategies focused on technical controls. NIST CSF is a broader risk management framework covering governance, identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery. They are complementary — the Essential Eight addresses a subset of the controls that NIST CSF's Protect and Detect functions cover. Browse both at ControlStack.
Can I get certified in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
There is no formal organisational certification for NIST CSF (unlike ISO 27001). However, you can earn a professional credential through the PECB Certified NIST Cybersecurity Lead Implementer course, which validates your ability to design and manage cybersecurity programs aligned with NIST standards.
How does NIST CSF relate to NIST SP 800-53?
NIST SP 800-53 provides a detailed catalogue of security and privacy controls, while the NIST CSF provides a high-level risk management framework. The CSF references SP 800-53 controls as implementation guidance — think of the CSF as the "what to achieve" and SP 800-53 as the "how to achieve it." The PECB NIST Cybersecurity Lead Implementer course covers both.
Ready to master the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
The PECB NIST Cybersecurity Lead Implementer course covers the full suite of NIST cybersecurity publications — from CSF and SP 800-53 through to RMF and SP 800-171.