This cybersecurity framework is going to be tailored to SMEs in my country. Any suggestions please on how this framework can be evaluated as i don’t know how to go about achieving that at this stage as I’m studying abroad thank you
I recommend that you take one of the standard cyber security frameworks such as ISO 27001 or NIST, and customise it for SMEs. Cybersecurity is eventually about Risk Management; therefore, determining the threats, and the risk that it poses, especially with regards to business continuity and resilience thereof would be key determinants. It would also be worthwhile to look at the latest Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, if relevant to the SME.
One can't be spending so much, being an SME, but yet should be able to profitably run the organisation, with sufficient backup, either in digital form, or through manual processes to ensure both business continuity as well as Disaster Recovery.
Mp Anil Kumar Please when the framework has been customize to fit SME, how can it be tested or evaluated?
Let me put it this way:
The framework provides the broad guidelines and means to assess cybersecurity risks, identify security controls and implementation methodology to reduce the risk to acceptable levels for the business.
The framework is therefore the means to the evaluation of the cybersecurity posture and risks thereof. As the threats, vulnerabilities, risks and compliance requirements (in terms of Privacy laws such as GDPR, DPDP Act etc) are different for different businesses, the Framework cannot be a one-size-fit-all one, hence the need for customisation.
The principles of cybersecurity will remain the same, but the framework will have to be adopted to fit specific business requirements of the organisation. For example, the cybersecurity requirements of a facility manufacturing paper cups will be vastly different from that of a company that provides homecare medical services with remote monitoring of patient health parameters. So based on the type of business, you may have to look at additional standards such as HIPAA or PCIDSS.
In my opinion, cybersecurity starts from a broad based 'Policy', which then gets translated to 'Procedures' through a 'Risk Management' process. Compliance 'Audits' thereafter verify and ensure that the procedures (process) are followed correctly by all concerned. The Framework is simply a tool for this.
The Risk Management process itself is not a static one, but subject to constant revision based on either perceived (new) threats, identified shortcomings or fresh procedural/ compliance requirements.
Hope that clarifies.
To evaluate a cybersecurity framework for SMEs, you should first define the purpose of the framework and articulate specific practices. Use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of these practices. Assess the current state of the security program to establish a baseline. Measure the maturity of the cybersecurity program and compare it with industry standards. Perform a risk assessment to identify gaps in security measures and prioritize risks. Establish a risk management process based on this assessment. The goal is to enhance the organization’s cybersecurity posture, so the evaluation should focus on how well the framework achieves this goal.
Thank you Walter Baluja García Kalpa Kalhara Sampath for your answers
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