Comparison between NIST SP 800-53 and ASD Essential 8
Overview
NIST SP 800-53 is a security standard from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that outlines security controls for federal information systems and organizations. The ASD Essential 8 is a security framework from the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) that provides organizations with eight essential mitigation strategies to defend against cyber threats. Both frameworks provide guidance on security best practices, but NIST SP 800-53 is more comprehensive and covers a wider range of topics. The ASD Essential 8 focuses on the most important security measures and provides a more streamlined approach to security.
Contents
What is NIST SP 800-53?
NIST SP 800-53 is a security control catalog developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It provides organizations with a comprehensive set of security controls and guidelines to help them protect their information systems and data. The catalog is organized into 18 families of security controls and is divided into three categories: Basic, Hybrid, and Derived. Each family contains multiple security controls, which are further divided into three levels of assurance: Low, Moderate, and High. The security controls are designed to help organizations protect their systems and data from a variety of threats, including unauthorized access, malicious software, data loss, and system outages. Additionally, NIST SP 800-53 provides guidance on how to implement the security controls, as well as how to assess their effectiveness. The catalog is designed to be used by organizations of all sizes and in all industries, from small businesses to large government agencies.
What is ASD Essential 8?
The ASD Essential 8 is a set of mitigation strategies developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to help organizations protect their information and systems from cyber threats. The Essential 8 consists of eight core security controls which, when implemented together, can reduce an organization's risk of a cyber attack. These include: 1. Application whitelisting: preventing applications from running unless they have been approved. 2. Patching applications: keeping applications up-to-date with the latest security patches. 3. Patching operating systems: keeping operating systems up-to-date with the latest security patches. 4. Restricting administrative privileges: limiting the number of users with administrator privileges. 5. Configuring Microsoft Office macro settings: preventing malicious macros from running. 6. Configuring user application hardening: preventing malicious code from running. 7. Multi-factor authentication: requiring users to provide multiple forms of authentication. 8. Implementing daily backups: ensuring data can be recovered quickly in the event of an attack. The Essential 8 is designed to be implemented in a layered approach, with each control building on the previous one to provide a comprehensive security posture. It is important for organizations to assess their security posture and determine which of the Essential 8 controls are most appropriate for their environment.
A Comparison Between NIST SP 800-53 and ASD Essential 8
1. Both frameworks provide guidance on how to secure systems and data.
2. Both frameworks are designed to reduce the risk of data breaches, malicious attacks, and other security incidents.
3. Both frameworks emphasize the importance of implementing security controls to protect systems and data.
4. Both frameworks provide guidance on how to identify and respond to security threats.
5. Both frameworks recommend the use of encryption to protect sensitive data.
6. Both frameworks recommend the use of strong authentication methods to protect user accounts.
7. Both frameworks recommend the use of monitoring and logging tools to detect and respond to security incidents.
8. Both frameworks recommend the use of regular security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities.
The Key Differences Between NIST SP 800-53 and ASD Essential 8
1. NIST SP 800-53 is a set of security and privacy controls for federal information systems, while ASD Essential 8 is a set of security controls for Australian government entities.
2. NIST SP 800-53 is more comprehensive, with over 800 controls, while ASD Essential 8 only has eight essential security controls.
3. NIST SP 800-53 is focused on protecting federal information systems, while ASD Essential 8 is focused on protecting Australian government entities.
4. NIST SP 800-53 is a framework for risk management, while ASD Essential 8 is a set of best practices for security.
5. NIST SP 800-53 is updated regularly, while ASD Essential 8 is updated less frequently.