Build Your Security Program on NIST CSF
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework gives every organization - from startups to enterprises - a common language and risk-based approach to building, communicating, and improving their cybersecurity posture.
Why the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Is the Universal Starting Point
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is the most widely adopted cybersecurity framework in the United States - used by organizations across every industry, from critical infrastructure operators to mid-market SaaS companies. Unlike compliance mandates that prescribe specific controls, CSF is a voluntary, risk-based framework built around five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
CSF 2.0, released in 2024, added a sixth function - Govern - placing organizational governance, risk management, and supply chain oversight at the center of the framework. The update also expanded CSF's explicit applicability beyond critical infrastructure to all organizations regardless of size, sector, or current maturity level, and introduced Implementation Examples that make it easier to apply abstract requirements to real-world contexts.
Dark Rock uses NIST CSF as a starting framework for nearly every new security engagement. It provides a maturity baseline, a gap analysis structure, and a communication tool that boards and executives understand. Whether you're building a security program from scratch or benchmarking a mature program, CSF provides the structure to do it systematically.
Our Approach
Current Profile
We assess your current cybersecurity posture against the CSF Core Functions and Categories, producing a Current Profile that documents your actual control implementation across Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. This is your honest baseline.
Target Profile & Gap Analysis
Based on your business objectives, risk tolerance, and regulatory obligations, we define a Target Profile - the maturity level you need to achieve. The gap between Current and Target Profile becomes your prioritized remediation roadmap, organized by function and business impact.
Implementation
We implement controls across all five (or six, in CSF 2.0) functions - from asset management and identity programs to detection engineering and incident response playbooks. Every implementation is mapped back to your Target Profile and documented for stakeholder reporting.
Continuous Improvement
NIST CSF is designed for continuous improvement, not one-time compliance. We build governance structures, metrics, and review cadences that let you track progress over time, communicate posture to executives and boards, and adapt your Target Profile as your business evolves.
What You Get
- CSF Current Profile with maturity ratings across all Core Categories
- Target Profile aligned to business risk tolerance and regulatory context
- Prioritized gap analysis and remediation roadmap
- Governance and risk management program documentation
- Asset inventory and risk assessment aligned to CSF Identify function
- Security program implementation across all CSF Core Functions
- Executive dashboard and board-level reporting templates
- CSF-aligned security metrics and continuous improvement framework
0
Core Functions in NIST CSF 2.0 - Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover - providing a complete lifecycle view of cybersecurity risk management.
