CyberGlossary

Compliance & Frameworks

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Also known as: NIST CSF, Cybersecurity Framework

Definition

A voluntary risk-based framework published by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology that organizes cybersecurity outcomes into six core functions.

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) is a widely adopted, voluntary set of guidelines first issued in 2014 and substantially updated to version 2.0 in 2024. It organizes cybersecurity outcomes into six core functions — Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover — each broken into categories and subcategories that reference established controls (NIST SP 800-53, ISO/IEC 27001, CIS Controls). The framework is sector-neutral and intended for organizations of any size to assess current state, define a target profile, and prioritize improvements. Although developed in the United States, it is used globally and frequently mapped against regional regulations.

Examples

  • A hospital using CSF 2.0 to benchmark its cybersecurity programme against peers.
  • A vendor mapping its product capabilities to the Protect and Detect functions.

Related terms