An Overview of NIST CSF Maturity Levels

A reactionary approach to cybersecurity can lead to devastating results, like a patient who only visits the hospital once life-threatening symptoms appear. This attitude was one reason for the data breaches that hit T-Mobile at least nine times between 2017 and 2023.

To prevent this scenario, cybersecurity maturity is essential. NIST CSF maturity levels are a dependable standard for making improvements.

What Are NIST CSF Maturity Levels?

Cybersecurity maturity refers to how robust your organization’s defenses are against cyber threats. The higher your maturity level, the more secure sensitive data and systems are. NIST is a cybersecurity framework that adapts to any industry and businesses of any size.

The NIST CSF framework measures program maturity in four tiers:

• Tier 1 — Partial: Basic data security with minimal risk management or mitigation, usually inadequate
• Tier 2 — Risk-Informed: Structured cybersecurity policies and some risk awareness, but poor implementation 
• Tier 3 — Repeatable: Standardized risk management and data security processes in place
• Tier 4 — Adaptive: Advanced cybersecurity with proactive, dynamic, and continuously evolving risk assessments and mitigation

The NIST CSF includes password guidelines and access control standards, but it emphasizes implementation, from vendor assessments to network monitoring.

What Does Each NIST Maturity Level Mean?

With the NIST CSF, cybersecurity maturity levels are called tiers. These tiers are used to evaluate the effectiveness of your current safeguards, set objectives for improvement, and measure implementation.

Tier 1 — Partial

An organization at CSF Tier 1 doesn’t have an organized cybersecurity program in place. Instead, risk management happens sporadically and abruptly:

• Different departments have their own approach to handling risks, and they don’t share risk data.
• There’s no formal program for risk assessments.
• Company cybersecurity initiatives only last a short time before being discarded or replaced.
• The organization only pays attention to data security after an emergency happens (e.g., data breach, ransomware attack, or internal theft).
• The company doesn’t evaluate vendors or software tools for security risks.

This NIST maturity level paints the picture of an organization that isn’t prepared for cyberattacks.

Tier 2 — Risk-Informed

At CSF Tier 2, organizations have a basic risk framework. The company understands how to identify and prioritize risks, and even has data security policies in place.

So, what’s missing? At this maturity level, companies are still having trouble following through. Policies exist on paper, but executives and employees aren’t implementing them consistently or uniformly.

For example, the organization may have a process for vetting supply-chain partners. But in practice, managers follow their gut, and there is no system for auditing vendor relationships.

Tier 3 — Repeatable

At CSF Tier 3, organizations have a standardized system for identifying, managing, and mitigating risks. Risk assessments happen regularly, and appropriate cybersecurity controls are implemented at every level.

Not only are employees required to follow robust information security processes, but there are also auditing systems for ongoing compliance monitoring. Roles and responsibilities are assigned to capable professionals who consistently follow through.

Tier 4 — Adaptive

The highest level of NIST CSF maturity means that organizations have successfully implemented a risk-aware approach in all areas of business. This cybersecurity framework is proactive instead of reactive:

• Cybersecurity risks and financial risks receive the same weight when making decisions and setting objectives.
• Risk data is tracked, reported, and shared between all parts of the organization.
• All business units follow the same cohesive risk framework.
• Decision-makers keep up with data security best practices and adjust policies and processes as needed.
• The organization regularly audits controls and makes improvements.
• Networks and data systems use continuous or real-time monitoring technology.

Going from NIST CSF maturity level 3 to level 4 requires having adaptable controls that evolve quickly as emergent threats or regulatory changes appear. 

How Do You Determine the NIST CSF Maturity Level of Your Organization?

NIST levels are closely related to organizational profiles for IT, data processing, information security, employee behavior, and vendor management. Risk management also plays a critical role in NIST compliance.

NIST maturity assessments are based on the six pillars of cybersecurity risk management:

1. Governance: Creating, assigning, implementing, evaluating, and improving risk management policies
2. Identification: Carrying out risk assessments to accurately identify and prioritize system vulnerabilities and attack surfaces
3. Protection: Implementing effective controls for risk awareness, platform security, authentication, access control, and cybersecurity resilience
4. Detection: Using network monitoring and other technology to detect suspicious or harmful activity quickly
5. Response: Creating incident response plans and authorized reporting channels, and deploying threat mitigation actions immediately
6. Recovery: Designing recovery plans for critical data and IT infrastructure, and following through in the event of a data breach or disaster

Instead of looking at a long checklist of required controls and yes/no compliance, NIST maturity levels focus on how well your organization’s current systems and processes meet these six pillars.

Are CMMC and NIST Maturity Levels the Same?

NIST CSF isn’t the only cybersecurity framework with maturity tiers. Government contractors must use Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.

CMMC views maturity in terms of security controls for handling Controlled Unclassified Information. Levels range from Foundational to Expert, but each one implements access control, authentication, network scanning, and similar data security practices.

On the other hand, lower maturity ratings in NIST CSF are often inadequate for modern threats. The framework strongly encourages making continual progress toward higher tiers.

How Can You Improve Your Cybersecurity Maturity With NIST CSF?

Cybersecurity maturity encompasses your organization’s policies, controls, technology, and real-world practices. The level of data security needed can vary depending on the complexity of your operations and the type of sensitive data you handle. But regardless of the size of your business, you receive benefits by continually progressing toward a higher maturity rating.

Automated workflows, risk management software, and compliance tracking technology can help you gradually improve your cybersecurity program and boost implementation rates. These technology platforms deliver accurate data about your current cybersecurity maturity level.

Streamlined Compliance for NIST CSF Maturity Levels

Cybersecurity maturity is complex. Your organization must ensure that risk management programs line up with operational realities and budget priorities.

Compyl’s comprehensive compliance monitoring tools help you balance cost-effective processes with effective risk mitigation. Discover state-of-the-art NIST compliance solutions that simplify the process of achieving NIST CSF maturity levels. Map security objectives and track compliance progress in real-time.