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NIST CSF 2.0 made practical: manage cyber risk, meet compliance, and align security with business outcomes, with clear steps from Current to Target.

TL;DR

• One language for security across C-Suite, IT and Ops
• Six functions to structure work: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover
• From Current → Target profile, then close the gap with measurable steps

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Introduction

Cyber risk is business risk. Fines, downtime, brand damage, especially when OT is involved. NIST CSF 2.0 gives you a practical model to align leadership, security, and operations.

Why it matters

• Win bigger deals. Many buyers require proof of security and compliance (e.g., ISO 27001). CSF helps you achieve it.
• Reduce regulatory stress. Map controls to NIS2, DORA and more—once, consistently.
• Run smoother. Clear roles, fewer hand-offs, faster MTTR. Less noise, more outcomes.

The six functions (at a glance)

• Govern. Set direction, ownership, KPIs, and risk appetite.
• Identify. Know assets, dependencies, obligations, and exposure.
• Protect. Access control, segmentation, hardening, training.
• Detect. Monitor, correlate, alert with context.
• Respond. Contain, analyze, communicate, and learn.
• Recover. Restore services fast and improve resilience.

How to implement (fast)

1. Current Profile. Where are you today? Tools, controls, processes, metrics.
2. Target Profile. What outcomes do you need? Compliance, KPIs, coverage.
3. Close the gap.
   • Prioritize high-impact fixes (privileged access, vuln mgmt, IR basics).
   • Execute in phases with milestones and owners.
   • Review quarterly. Adjust as threats and business change.

Common pitfalls

• Checklist thinking. CSF is a program, not a pass/fail.
• No governance. Without ownership and KPIs, nothing sticks.
• Over-engineering. Start simple. Improve with data.

Where we help

We use CSF 2.0 to structure strategy, operations, and tooling so your security is audit-ready and run-ready.

If you want a quick start: our 8-hour assessment gives you a Current/Target view and a plain-English roadmap.

Want the template or a walkthrough? info@datadefend.com