As the world became more connected with the internet and more digitalized, a dire need for uniformity in the cybersecurity realm was felt by IT firms and legal authorities alike. Hence, the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) was established in 1901. The non-regulatory government agency became one of the leading authorities when it came to developing standards concerning cybersecurity.
NIST brings out publications consisting of compliance standards to be followed by organizations, particularly IT firms. However, small IT businesses may not have the resources to ensure NIST compliance, which is where white label managed IT service providers come into play.
In today’s article, we’ll see a brief introduction to NIST standards, how they can help protect your clients’ data and what would happen if your IT firm did not adhere to them.
Opening Note
Compliance with NIST standards involves organizations following cybersecurity guidelines to keep up with the changes in the technology landscape. Maintaining compliance is essential for protecting your business as well as all the stakeholders.
NIST compliance by your IT business ensures
- Protection against cyber threats like malware and ransomware
- Reduction in the impact of a data breach
- Trustworthy market reputation with your clients
- Avoidance of legal troubles after a security breach
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Every cybersecurity standard set by NIST is based on the best practices in the industry, and the government recommends that all IT businesses comply with them consistently. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is the most widely used among its various standards.
It encapsulates all the various ways in which the data handled by your IT team must be protected to safeguard your clients’ private data.
The outline has five steps as follows:
- Identify – The first step is identifying the systems that need protection, such as those handling clients’ personal data.
- Protect – Next comes the implementation part. The IT specialists use hardware, software, and tools to prevent malicious actors from gaining access to private data.
- Detect – This step involves unearthing security incidents if and when they occur by monitoring the network 24/7. A white label MSP offers constant support compared to an in-house IT team.
- Respond – The fourth phase of the framework is responsible for creating a structured plan to respond to threats. This involves utilizing security measures and software to mitigate the risk caused by the security incident.
- Recover – If the worst-case scenario does happen, recovering the data asap is critical. A quick recovery can be achieved with the help of backups, disaster recovery solutions, and cloud-based infrastructure, minimizing downtime.
Risks of Non-compliance
The consequences of not adhering to compliance standards can be severe. Here are some risks that your IT firm should not take:
- Tainted reputation – No client will entrust their sensitive data to an IT business with incompetent data security measures.
- Loss of clients – If you’re not complying with NIST standards, businesses will stop choosing you as their preferred MSP.
- Hefty lawsuits – If the investigation after a data breach reveals negligence, you could face heavy fines or even criminal charges.
Trust an Expert for NIST Compliance
Citing the above reasons, it is advised that you work with a renowned white label MSP to save your IT company from non-compliance with NIST standards.
Single Point of Contact is a White Label Managed Security Service Provider that provides a wide range of cybersecurity technologies and services. Our job is to keep your clients’ networks safe and secure by resolving potential security threats. With regular security monitoring and protection against cyber-attacks, we seek to help your clients attain peace of mind. Contact us today to discover more about how we can help protect your network from cyber-attacks.
