Summary:

Having models and frameworks for best practice cybersecurity is important for several compelling reasons:

1. Standardizing Security Practices: Cybersecurity models and frameworks provide standardized guidelines and practices. This standardization is crucial for maintaining a consistent and effective approach to securing information and networks across different organizations and industries.
2. Risk Management: These models help in identifying, assessing, and managing cybersecurity risks. By following established frameworks, organizations can systematically address potential vulnerabilities and threats, thereby reducing their risk exposure.
3. Compliance with Regulations: Many cybersecurity frameworks align with legal and regulatory requirements. Adhering to these models ensures that organizations comply with laws and regulations, avoiding legal penalties and reputational damage.
4. Improving Security Posture: Cybersecurity models provide structured approaches to enhancing an organization's security posture. They offer guidelines for implementing robust security measures, including the protection of data, applications, and networks.
5. Facilitating Communication and Collaboration: Having a common set of models and frameworks aids in communication and collaboration both within an organization and with external parties, such as vendors and partners. It ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding cybersecurity strategies and practices.
6. Resource Optimization: Cybersecurity models help in prioritizing and allocating resources effectively. They guide organizations in focusing their efforts and investments on the most critical areas, ensuring optimal use of resources.
7. Incident Response and Recovery: Frameworks often include protocols for responding to and recovering from cybersecurity incidents. Having these protocols in place is essential for minimizing the impact of security breaches and quickly restoring normal operations.
8. Continuous Improvement: Many cybersecurity models emphasize continuous monitoring and improvement. This approach ensures that security measures evolve in response to new threats and changing business environments.
9. Building Trust with Stakeholders: Implementing recognized cybersecurity best practices builds trust among stakeholders, including customers, investors, and partners. It demonstrates a commitment to protecting sensitive data and systems.
10. Benchmarking and Assessment: Cybersecurity frameworks provide benchmarks for assessing an organization’s security maturity. They offer a way to measure progress and identify areas for improvement.

In summary, models and frameworks for best practice cybersecurity are vital for standardizing security practices, managing risks, ensuring compliance, improving overall security posture, facilitating effective communication, optimizing resources, preparing for incidents, fostering continuous improvement, building stakeholder trust, and enabling benchmarking and self-assessment. These tools are essential for any organization seeking to protect itself from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Models:

NIST CYBERSECURITY FRAMEWORK

CISA - Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)

CISSP DOMAINS

ZERO TRUST FRAMEWORK

Cybersecurity Consulting

Tools:

Zero Trust Mapping Tool

IAM / PAM - NIST Zero Trust Mapping Tool

THE SVOT - Current States

THE AXE

Published Research:

Quotes:

“Cybersecurity needs to be resilient; less elevator, more escalator.” - Anonymous

"Identity and access management is at the heart of cybersecurity; it is critical to verify that people are who they say they are and that they have the appropriate access to systems and data." - Bruce Schneier

“Cybersecurity software is deeply embedded in the customer systems by design, interacting with areas such as the kernel of an operating system, which contains the core functions of a computer. Exchanges between the software and these functions are so complex, they are the computer science equivalent of brain surgery.” - Dave DeWalt