The National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) is a federal agency that advances measurement science, standards, and technology to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness. NIST develops guidelines and best practices to help organizations secure their digital assets, with a strong focus on cybersecurity.
One of NIST’s best practices is the Cybersecurity Framework (the "Framework"). This Framework is important because it offers a clear and structured approach to enhancing cybersecurity, protecting against emerging threats, and meeting industry standards. In this blog, we'll discuss how the Framework helps you strengthen your cybersecurity, and show how TDXchange, our Managed File Transfer (“MFT”) solution, supports its implementation to improve your organization's security posture.
Key Aspects of the Cybersecurity Framework
1. The Core Functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover
The Framework organizes its recommendations into five core functions:
Identify: Understand your organization’s environment and manage cybersecurity risks.
Protect: Implement safeguards to ensure the delivery of critical infrastructure services.
Detect: Develop and implement activities to identify cybersecurity events.
Respond: Take action regarding detected cybersecurity events.
Recover: Maintain plans for resilience and restore capabilities impaired by cybersecurity events.
TDXchange supports these functions, as explained below:
Identify: TDXchange provides complete visibility into data transfers with audit logs and detailed reporting. For instance, a financial institution can track and analyze file transfer activities, identify misconfigurations, and correct them, all of which helps to understand the cybersecurity landscape.
Protect: TDXchange uses industry-standard encryption like AES-256 for data protection, both in-transit and at-rest. It supports secure protocols such as HTTPS, SFTP, FTPS, AS2, and AFTP, which adds an extra layer of security. Additionally, its authentication features and access controls protect against unauthorized data access.
Detect: Visibility is the cornerstone of effective decision-making in any organization. TDXchange’s file tracking, monitoring, and alerting features offer essential visibility. For example, if a file transfer is delayed or not received on time, the system alerts users and therefore helps detect issues quickly and ensure smooth operations.
Respond: TDXchange’s real-time alerting tools notify your IT team of security incidents. If a suspicious file transfer is detected, the system provides detailed information about the transfer, thereby enabling a prompt investigation and response.
Recover: TDXchange ensures business continuity with backup and recovery features. If a file transfer fails due to an outage, TDXchange can automatically restore the last successful transfer and resume from that point. These capabilities support the “Recover” function by minimizing downtime and maintaining data integrity.
2. Detailed Risk Management Process
The Framework emphasizes a risk-based approach: “Organizations should use a risk-based approach to prioritize cybersecurity activities. This involves understanding the potential impact of risks and making informed decisions on mitigating those risks.” NIST therefore encourages you to focus on risks based on their potential impact.
TDXchange helps organizations assess and manage risks with customizable security settings and risk assessment reports. For instance, TDXchange can enforce specific security measures like encryption and access controls based on your compliance requirements. Risk assessment reports identify vulnerabilities and recommend actions to address them, which helps to maintain regulatory compliance and align with the Framework’s risk-based approach.
3. Improving Communication and Documentation
The Framework also highlights the importance of clear communication and documentation of security practices. TDXchange supports this with its user-friendly interface and detailed reporting capabilities. The platform’s documentation and audit trails ensure transparency and effective communication regarding data security.
Conclusion
NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework offers a valuable guide for managing cybersecurity risks. By integrating TDXchange into your security strategy, you can effectively address the Framework’s core functions and updates, and thereby enhance your organization’s security and resilience against evolving threats.
If you have questions about how TDXchange can help with NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework, contact us at info@btrade.com. We’re here to assist you in understanding these requirements and strengthening your data security strategy.