NIST CSF Assessment
NIST Cybersecurity Framework maturity assessment and implementation roadmap.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework Assessment
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 — released in February 2024 — represents the most significant update to the CSF since its initial publication in 2014. The addition of the Govern function as a sixth core element elevates cybersecurity governance, risk management strategy, and supply chain risk to first-class status alongside the established Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover functions. The updated framework also provides substantially enhanced guidance on organisational context and measurement, making it the most comprehensive voluntary cybersecurity framework available for organisations of any size or sector.
Intelliroot's NIST CSF Assessment establishes your current cybersecurity maturity tier (Partial through Adaptive), identifies gaps between your current and target profiles, and produces a risk-informed implementation roadmap that prioritises improvements based on business criticality and threat likelihood. Our assessments also map CSF findings to related frameworks — ISO 27001, CIS Controls v8, and COBIT — enabling organisations to leverage a single assessment to address multiple compliance obligations simultaneously.
Why NIST CSF Is the Right Framework to Start With
Globally Recognised Across Sectors
NIST CSF is used by organisations in over 50 countries as the primary cybersecurity management framework. It is referenced in US Executive Orders on cybersecurity, adopted by critical infrastructure sectors globally, and increasingly required by enterprise customers as evidence of security programme maturity.
Provides a Common Language for Risk
NIST CSF provides a common vocabulary for discussing cybersecurity risk between technical teams, executive leadership, and board members. The function-based model (Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover) translates technical security posture into strategic risk terms that enable informed investment decisions.
Maps Directly to Other Compliance Frameworks
NIST CSF 2.0 includes an extensive online reference tool mapping CSF subcategories to ISO 27001:2022, CIS Controls v8, PCI DSS v4.0, COBIT 2019, and HIPAA Security Rule. An assessment against CSF provides immediate visibility into gaps across multiple compliance frameworks simultaneously.
Govern Function Elevates Cybersecurity Governance
NIST CSF 2.0's new Govern function — covering organisational context, risk management strategy, roles and responsibilities, and supply chain risk — directly addresses the governance gaps that lead to strategic misalignment between security investment and business risk appetite.
What the Assessment Covers
Govern & Identify Functions
- Cybersecurity governance structure and risk strategy
- Organisational context and stakeholder expectations
- Supply chain risk management
- Asset management and business environment mapping
- Risk assessment and improvement processes
Protect & Detect Functions
- Identity management and access control
- Awareness and training programme
- Data security and protective technology
- Continuous monitoring capabilities
- Adverse event and anomaly detection
Respond & Recover Functions
- Incident management and response planning
- Incident analysis and impact assessment
- Communication during and after incidents
- Recovery planning and execution
- Improvements from lessons learned
Profile & Tier Assessment
- Current profile documentation
- Target profile definition based on risk appetite
- Implementation tier determination (Partial to Adaptive)
- Gap analysis between current and target profiles
- Cross-framework mapping (ISO 27001, CIS Controls)
Our Assessment Approach
Organisational Context & Target Profile Definition
Engage executive leadership and the CISO to understand business context, critical assets, threat environment, and risk appetite. Define the target CSF profile — the desired cybersecurity outcomes — aligned to business objectives and regulatory obligations.
Current State Assessment
Systematically assess each CSF 2.0 subcategory through document review, technical interviews, and control observation. Produce the current profile — an evidence-based assessment of the organisation's current cybersecurity outcomes across all six functions.
Tier Determination & Gap Analysis
Determine the current implementation tier (Partial, Risk-Informed, Repeatable, or Adaptive) for each CSF function. Compare the current profile against the target profile to identify gaps, prioritised by business criticality and likelihood of threat exploitation.
Cross-Framework Mapping
Map CSF findings to ISO 27001:2022, CIS Controls v8, and other applicable frameworks to provide a consolidated view of compliance posture across multiple standards — enabling your team to prioritise improvements that satisfy multiple frameworks simultaneously.
Implementation Roadmap & Executive Briefing
Deliver a risk-informed implementation roadmap with prioritised initiatives, estimated effort, and projected tier improvements. Present findings to executive leadership with a board-ready cybersecurity risk summary and recommended investment priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deliverables
NIST CSF Current & Target Profile
Documented current state profile across all CSF 2.0 subcategories and a target profile aligned to your risk appetite — the foundation for gap analysis and implementation planning.
Implementation Tier Assessment
Tier determination for each CSF function with supporting rationale, maturity indicators, and recommended tier advancement activities.
Gap Analysis Report
Detailed gap analysis between current and target profiles, risk-prioritised by business criticality and threat likelihood, with cross-mapping to ISO 27001:2022 and CIS Controls v8.
Risk-Informed Implementation Roadmap
Phased cybersecurity improvement roadmap with prioritised initiatives, effort estimates, projected tier improvements, and recommended investment sequencing.
Board-Ready Executive Summary
Non-technical cybersecurity risk summary for executive leadership and board, presenting current maturity, key risks, and recommended strategic investments in accessible language.
Request a Security Assessment
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