The Purpose and Business Value of Hardening Guidelines

Enhancing SMB Security: The Business Value of Hardening Guidelines in NIST CSF

Discover the business value of hardening guidelines in the Identify and Protect stages of NIST CSF. Learn how CIS Control Baselines and NIST STIGs can enhance your SMB's security posture.

Introduction

In today's swiftly changing cybersecurity environment, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face the dual challenge of protecting their assets while maintaining operational efficiency. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) offers a comprehensive risk management approach. Specifically, the Identify and Protect stages within the NIST CSF provide a foundation for businesses to understand their security posture and implement effective measures to safeguard their assets. This blog explores the purpose and business value of hardening guidelines in these stages, with a focus on leveraging CIS Control Baselines and NIST Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs).