Boost your cybersecurity resilience with NIST CSF and certification

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By Kristina Lechuga, Marketing and Social Media Specialist, HPE Education Services

Business decision-makers agree that protecting their companies against cyber attacks is a top priority. In fact, the 2023 Insight Intelligent Technology Report from IDC found that 56% of chief information officers consider hardening cybersecurity as one of their biggest challenges.

But with cyberattacks constantly evolving, keeping your infrastructure safe from malware, hackers and other cyber threats, even the most security-savvy company leaders can be left wondering, “How can I protect my business?"

The answer lies in two critical factors for achieving cybersecurity trust and resilience: the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) and the accompanying NIST Cybersecurity Professional certification.

Let’s explore how these two components play a pivotal role in giving your business the cybersecurity risk management boost it needs to thrive, and what it takes to become a certified NIST Cybersecurity Framework Professional.

Yes to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, no to the guesswork

Cybersecurity practitioners define your organization’s ability to safeguard information and protect business operations from malicious actors. But how do you ensure your organization is on the right track and following best practices? The answer is in the NIST CSF.

As in any area of IT practice, a comprehensive set of guidelines is critical to delivering effective outcomes. The NIST CSF provides a common language for building cybersecurity risk operations. It is designed to help you manage and mitigate cybersecurity risks by offering guidance on subjects including:

• Cyber risk governance
• Identification
• Detection
• Protection
• Response
• Recovery

These are essential strategies for organizations big and small to adopt to safeguard their systems, prevent disruptions, and meet regulatory obligations.

It’s important to note that the NIST CSF isn’t a certification, but rather a set of guidelines funneling into the NIST Cybersecurity Professional certification. More on that to come.

The certification part of the equation

Now you know what the NIST CSF is and why it matters. How do you translate that into verifiable knowledge into resume-worthy bragging rights? The answer lies in the NIST Cybersecurity Professional certification.

The NIST Cybersecurity Professional certification is a highly respected cybersecurity risk management credential based on the NIST CSF that shows expertise and competence in NIST CSF best practices. Obtaining this certification demonstrates knowledge in areas like risk management and incident reporting and equips practitioners with the skills needed to create a robust, well-functioning cybersecurity risk management program.

Bring an edge to your cybersecurity risk management program

The NIST Cybersecurity Professional certification brings inherent value to your organization from the moment you adopt the NIST CSF as a pillar in your cybersecurity strategy. Here are four reasons why:

1. Cybersecurity risk management is about creating a new business capability. Like any other business capability, cybersecurity risk management is a core business function far beyond surface-level technical capabilities. From the smallest companies to the biggest corporations, cybersecurity risk management is necessary to keep things business as usual. And in 2024, when nearly every industry has become tech-driven, the threat of ransomware, attacks, and other cybersecurity incidents is undeniable. A recent survey of IT decision-makers found that businesses had suffered an average of 46 attacks over the last year, leading to a 9% loss in their annual revenue. Is your business ready?
2. It reduce threats and avoids costly cybersecurity incidents and downtime. Not having the proper cybersecurity risk practices can be very costly. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of damage caused by cyberattacks globally is around $16.4 billion a day — or $190,000 a second. Can your organization afford to be a part of that?
3. A framework takes out the guesswork.There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Reputable organizations like NIST have already built the framework for you, so it only makes sense for your organization to use what’s tried and true. Besides, using an existing framework frees up time and people resources to focus on other business areas, creating a happier, better-functioning organization.
4. It all comes together: a step-by-step process to succeed. You’ve got a growing business, the right team, and now the right framework. Rather than fragmenting the process, the NIST CSF and corresponding certification create a step-by-step process for your organization to implement a cybersecurity risk management program.

A closing note on the value of certs

Certifications are all the rage, and the NIST Cybersecurity Professional certification is no exception. If you’re curious why, go back in time to when your were handed your diploma at your high school or college graduation ceremony. That piece of paper was a physical symbol of the culmination of all your hard work. But it was also a crucial proof-point to future employers that you’re capable of time management, knowledge building, teamwork, and problem-solving. Well, certifications are similar : they represent your expertise and dedication to your craft and serve as a proof point for your abilities.

Start your certification learning journey

With cybersecurity risk management being a core and mission-critical business capability, your cybersecurity education must come from a reputable, experienced training provider. HPE Education Services offers a world-class curriculum that covers cybersecurity awareness, cloud security, data protection, risk assessment, threat identification, and more.

Are you looking to get certification exam-ready? Start here with the NIST Cybersecurity Professional Foundation. This course teaches the fundamentals of what investments must be made to operationalize the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and its informative references to facilitate trusted, resilient, and auditable digital business outcomes.

You can choose from instructor-led training, virtual instructor-led training, or eLearning options based on your personal preference and learning style. We offer multiple courses, including Digital Business Risk Awareness, Foundation and Practitioner certification training.

Learn more about all our cybersecurity training offerings and discover more training and education services from HPE at hpe.com/ww/learn.

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Meet HPE Blogger Kristina Lechuga, Marketing and Social Media Specialist, HPE Education Services

Kristina is an HPE Education Services Marketing and Social Media Specialist with a love for all things creative. She particularly enjoys marketing because she gets to combine storytelling with analytics to create exciting content.

Kristina is an avid reader, painter, and music lover.

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