The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is one of the most widely trusted security standards in the world. While originally designed for large organizations, it has become a powerful tool for small and medium businesses (SMBs) seeking to strengthen cybersecurity.

Here is a breakdown of the NIST CSF in plain language.

The 5 Core Functions of NIST CSF

1. Identify

Determine what assets you have and what risks exist.
→ Our IT Consulting helps assess risks and infrastructure gaps.

2. Protect

Implement safeguards that keep your systems secure.
This includes:
✔ MFA
✔ encryption
✔ firewalls
✔ secure configurations
✔ training
→ Covered by Cybersecurity Services.

3. Detect

Find threats quickly before they cause damage.
→ See Monitoring Services for real-time alerts.

4. Respond

Have a plan to contain and mitigate cyber incidents.
Policies + procedures are essential.

5. Recover

Restore systems and data after an attack.
→ Included in Managed Services through backups and recovery plans.

Why SMBs Should Use NIST

✔ Provides a universal security baseline
✔ Helps meet insurance & compliance requirements
✔ Reduces breach risk
✔ Demonstrates due diligence
✔ Scales with your business

Final Thoughts

NIST CSF gives SMBs a roadmap to security maturity. You don’t need a large IT department—you just need the right partner.

👉 PBCLLC can help your organization adopt NIST standards:
https://www.pbcllc.com/schedule-a-time/