Security Framework
A security framework assessment should never be treated as a task where you simply “check the box” every year. As cybercrime, cyber risk, and customer requirements increase, together with the fines and the potential long-term reputational damage that can be done by a breach of your enterprise—or worse, the theft of your confidential or regulated data (PII/ePHI)—you need to be confident you are implementing the right security controls for your needs.
RITC Cybersecurity’s strategy and tactics are based on the belief that if you are secure, you will be compliant; if you only focus on compliance, you may not be secure. This philosophy and the hard lessons learned over time are shared with your team throughout the security framework implementation and gap analysis, resulting in your team gaining a deeper understanding of how to implement security controls designed to protect your company, users, and data.
Whether you are looking to strengthen cybersecurity measures, reduce risk, or implement a security framework for the first time—such as NIST, CIS, CMMC, or ISO—RITC Cybersecurity’s team will provide your team with guidance on implementing the framework and will help you define the appropriate controls for your environment. RITC Cybersecurity will assess the gaps in your IT environment’s controls, be they administrative, technical, or procedural, and help you design controls to secure your environment and mitigate risk. After an initial assessment, we will build a roadmap for framework alignment, complete with quarterly, monthly, and annual tasks to ensure continued compliance.
Once a framework is implemented, you will be able to establish a cybersecurity baseline for future assessments. Implementing a cybersecurity framework like NIST, CIS, or ISO will give you a guide for creating and maintaining a proactive cybersecurity program and controls for your organization. Our goal is to maximize the capabilities of the technologies and team you already own to minimize cost, time, and downtime.
RITC Specializes in the Following Security Frameworks:
• CIS v7 and 8
• NIST CSF
• NIST SP 800-171, NIST 800-53, and CMMC 2.0
• ISO 27001
RITC practices a time-tested approach to coach and enable your team for the future, well beyond the completion of your initial security framework assessment. With the information collected during our initial assessment, not only will we empower your team for the future, but we will also define a roadmap to remediate your gaps, design security controls, and operationalize future evidence gathering for audit or assessment requirements, enabling you to improve your enterprise’s cybersecurity posture and eliminate risk.
Our team of industry experts develops and matures strong cybersecurity programs aligned to NIST, CMMC, CIS, or ISO by creating a risk-based cybersecurity approach that leverages our experience and principles from being CRISC-certified professionals by ISACA, allowing organizations to grow with purpose and peace of mind.
Our team utilizes the technologies and personnel you already have and won’t recommend new technologies unless requested. In short, we aren’t going to try to sell you the latest and greatest tool that claims to solve all your cybersecurity problems.
RITC Cybersecurity helps by providing you with a roadmap broken down into activities by month and quarter, which will help you maintain a strong security posture and eliminate risk. When you follow the roadmap and engage with RITC Cybersecurity, you will be ready for the challenges presented by today’s complicated cybersecurity landscape. These requirements often seem like sales killers, but if you are prepared, they can be turned into assets to help you win deals and grow your company.
A Security Framework Assessment typically generates the following deliverables:
• Executive summary of your cybersecurity posture based on our analysis
• Detailed reporting of the status of your current security posture and controls
• RITC will provide a Letter of Attestation (LOA) for use with your current clients and prospects
• RITC will define a plan and provide recommendations custom-tailored to your needs
Assessment and Compliance Roadmap
At RITC Cybersecurity, we conduct comprehensive assessments for our clients operating environment to evaluate its alignment with the security controls outlined in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) including CSF 2.0, 800-53, and 800-171 or Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls (CIS CSC) or simply CIS v8. Our assessment is based on a thorough review of technical systems, documentation, and interviews with key personnel to identify security gaps and areas for improvement.
This evaluation represents a point-in-time assessment, providing insights into the current cybersecurity posture of your business. Our recommendations, including prioritized activities and timelines, are based on the inherent risks identified during the assessment. As business operations, regulations, and infrastructure evolve, ongoing reassessments are essential to address new threats and ensure security controls remain effective and aligned with your security framework. Our team remains a trusted partner in helping businesses strengthen its cybersecurity posture and adapt to an ever-changing threat landscape.
It is the objective of our clients to operationally maintain a secure framework-compliant environment of computing technologies that support the business.
NIST CSF
Aligning with NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 is crucial for strengthening your organization's cybersecurity resilience. This updated version emphasizes governance, supply chain risk management, and continuous improvement. Before implementing NIST CSF 2.0, organizations must assess their current security posture, identifying gaps and potential risks.
A structured approach involves conducting risk assessments, gap analyses, and maturity evaluations to map existing security measures to NIST CSF's core functions—Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Partnering with cybersecurity experts ensures that your organization effectively integrates the framework into its operations, enhancing risk management and regulatory compliance.
CIS v8
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls v8 provides a prioritized set of actions to improve an organization’s security defenses. These controls are categorized into three implementation groups (IG1, IG2, IG3) based on an organization's size, resources, and cybersecurity maturity.
Achieving CIS v8 compliance requires organizations to evaluate their current security controls, identify missing safeguards, and implement the essential CIS safeguards. The first six controls are considered foundational and focus on asset management, secure configurations, and continuous monitoring. Implementing CIS v8 effectively enhances threat detection, incident response, and overall cyber hygiene.
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is the internationally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
To comply with ISO 27001, organizations must assess their security posture, conduct risk assessments, and establish policies aligned with the standard's controls. A well-defined ISMS framework ensures compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations while fostering a culture of continuous improvement in cybersecurity. Partnering with experts can help organizations streamline the certification process, from risk management to documentation and employee awareness training.
CMMC
Meeting CMMC audit requirement’s demands time, planning, and effort from every department in your organization. Before starting a CMMC audit organizations need to take the time to understanding their current cybersecurity posture. Knowing your cybersecurity posture involves identifying potential vulnerabilities, risks, and areas that need improvement.
You need to engage a trusted third party to perform cybersecurity risk assessments, self-assessment questionnaires, and gap analyses to properly prepare for a CMMC audit. RITC Cybersecurity will help you understand your current cybersecurity posture and define a roadmap for aligning with the CMMC audit requirements. This may involve implementing technical controls, develop and define your cybersecurity policies, as well as begin comprehensive security awareness training.