The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updated its popular Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) to version 2.0 to help organizations reduce cybersecurity risks. NIST hardening standards refer to the guidelines and best practices for specific configuration settings and controls to mitigate vulnerabilities.
NIST SP 800-53 and NIST SP 800-171 are key publications from NIST that provide cybersecurity guidelines. NIST SP 800-53 outlines a comprehensive set of security and privacy controls for federal information systems, while NIST SP 800-171 focuses on protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations. Together, these frameworks help organizations implement robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance with federal standards.
Implementing NIST SP 800-53 and SP 800-171 standards is challenging due to their complexity and the resources required for full implementation, especially for organizations lacking cybersecurity expertise. Continuous monitoring and auditing add to the burden, as compliance demands ongoing updates and extensive documentation. Customizing the standards to fit specific organizational environments while ensuring they remain auditable is difficult, and there may be internal resistance if the new controls are perceived as disruptive to existing workflows.
CalCom Hardening Suite (CHS) automates NIST hardening standards, offering a valuable tool that simplifies and streamlines the process of implementing and maintaining the NIST security framework. This centralized platform assesses system compliance with NIST standards, identifies gaps, and automates the implementation of recommended security configurations.
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CHS automates the learning and evaluation of systems, identifying vulnerabilities and suggesting appropriate remediation actions to align with NIST standards. By automating these processes, CHS reduces the need for manual intervention, ensuring a more efficient and accurate approach to system hardening.
Leveraging CHS allows organizations to effectively streamline the hardening process, minimize human errors, and maintain a strong security posture in line with NIST hardening standards. This leads to improved compliance and a more secure overall environment.
