NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) Explained

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is a tool to boost cyber defences for UK organisations. Here's what you need to know:

• Created by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre
• Helps manage cyber risks and protect critical services
• Useful for businesses, especially those in critical infrastructure
• Aligns with UK Government Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2030

Key points:

1. Purpose: Check and improve cyber security
2. Structure: 4 objectives, 14 principles, 39 outcomes
3. Users: Public sector, healthcare, critical infrastructure, private businesses
4. Process: Self-assessment, gap analysis, action planning, implementation

Main objectives:

1. Managing security risk
2. Protecting against cyber attacks
3. Detecting cyber security events
4. Minimising impact of incidents

The CAF is not a one-off task but an ongoing process to strengthen cyber resilience.

What is the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework?

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is a tool from the UK's National Cyber Security Centre. It helps organisations check and boost their cyber security. It's especially useful for businesses that are part of the UK's critical infrastructure, like energy, transport, and healthcare.

CAF Purpose

The CAF does three main things:

1. Gives a clear way to handle cyber risks
2. Helps you check your current cyber security
3. Shows you how to improve your cyber defences

You can use it to check yourself, or regulators can use it to assess you.

Main Parts

The CAF has four big goals:

1. Managing Security Risk: This is about how you run things and handle risks.
2. Protecting Against Cyber Attack: This covers the defences you put in place.
3. Detecting Cyber Security Events: This is about spotting problems quickly.
4. Minimising Impact of Cyber Security Incidents: This deals with how you respond and recover.

These goals break down into 14 principles and 39 outcomes. Each outcome gets a rating: Not Achieved, Partially Achieved, or Achieved.

The CAF also has 443 Indicators of Good Practice (IGPs) that spell out what you need to do.

"The CAF was originally meant to help keep network and information systems secure for essential functions." - Sakif Zafar, Senior Cyber Security Consultant at Littlefish

To use the CAF well:

1. Check yourself against the CAF goals
2. Find the gaps in your security
3. Make a plan to fix the weak spots

Who Should Use the CAF?

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) helps organisations assess and improve their cybersecurity. It's not just for Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) anymore.

Who uses the CAF?

• Public sector organisations
• Healthcare providers (NHS Digital uses it for all services)
• Critical infrastructure operators (energy, transport, water)
• Private sector businesses (all sizes)
• Regulators (to assess organisations)

CAF in Estates and Facilities Management

Estates and facilities managers, pay attention. The CAF matters to you because:

• It helps protect your physical assets and infrastructure
• It addresses risks in operational technology (OT) systems
• It can help with regulatory compliance
• It covers supply chain security (crucial in your field)

Want to start using the CAF? Here's how:

1. Learn the framework's basics

2. Do a self-assessment

3. Find and fix weak spots

4. Get expert help if needed

How Does the CAF Work?

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) helps organisations boost their cyber resilience. Here's how it's set up and used:

Framework Layout

The CAF has four main objectives:

1. Managing security risk
2. Protecting against cyber-attack
3. Detecting cyber security events
4. Minimising the impact of cyber security incidents

Each objective includes principles, outcomes, and Indicators of Good Practice (IGPs). These IGPs guide assessors in evaluating an organisation's cyber security.

IGPs are meant to inform expert judgement, not serve as a rigid checklist. They're important examples to consider, but they're not an exhaustive list and may not apply exactly to every organisation.

Assessment Steps

1. Self-Assessment

Organisations check their current cyber security against the CAF's objectives. This shows what's working and what's not.

2. Gap Analysis

They compare their practices to the CAF's ideal state. This highlights areas for improvement.

3. Action Plan

They create a plan to fix the gaps, focusing on high-impact, doable actions.

4. Implementation and Review

They put the plan into action and keep checking their progress. The CAF isn't a one-off task - it's an ongoing process.

For each assessment question, organisations pick one of three options:

• Not achieved
• Partially achieved
• Achieved

The NCSC website shows ideal IGP scores for benchmarking.

CAF Main Goals

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) boosts cyber resilience. It focuses on four key areas:

Security Risk Management

CAF helps set up structures to handle security risks:

• Governance framework
• Risk assessment
• Asset inventory
• Supply chain security

Cyber Attack Protection

CAF guides organisations to:

• Create clear policies
• Control access
• Build strong networks
• Train staff

Spotting Cyber Events

CAF emphasises:

• Ongoing system monitoring
• Looking for security breaches
• Checking security measures

Reducing Cyber Incident Impact

CAF advises:

• Solid response plans
• Learning from past incidents

CAF isn't one-size-fits-all. It's flexible, letting organisations tailor their approach.

CAF Core Principles

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is built on four key principles. These principles help organisations boost their cyber resilience.

Risk Management and Oversight

This principle is all about managing cyber security risks effectively. Here's what organisations need to do:

• Set up clear structures for managing security risks
• Regularly assess and update risk management processes
• Keep decision-makers in the loop about key findings

The NCSC says dynamic risk assessments are crucial. Update them when big changes happen, like getting new systems or when cyber threats shift.

Asset and Supply Chain Protection

This principle focuses on protecting assets and securing the supply chain. It involves:

• Keeping an up-to-date list of critical assets
• Managing risks in complex supply chains
• Protecting assets throughout their lifecycle

Access Control

Access control is key to keeping unauthorised users out. The CAF guides organisations to:

• Use strong authentication
• Regularly review and update access rights
• Carefully manage user identities and permissions

Data and System Protection

This principle is about safeguarding data and systems. It includes:

• Creating clear security policies
• Implementing measures to stop cyber attacks
• Ensuring networks and systems can bounce back from issues

Here's a real-world example:

"NHS Digital recently assured all their services against the CAF framework."

This shows that even big, complex organisations can use CAF principles to up their cyber security game.

Here's a quick summary of the CAF core principles:

Advantages of Using the CAF

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) packs a punch for organisations aiming to beef up their cyber defences and stay on the right side of the law.

Tougher Cybersecurity

With the CAF, you're not just playing defence - you're building a fortress:

• It's like a roadmap for your cyber journey
• Spots the weak links in your armour
• Gives you a game plan to patch those holes

Follow the CAF, and you'll be a tougher target for cyber baddies. And it's not just for IT - it's got your OT systems covered too.

Keeping the Law Happy

The CAF isn't just about security - it's your ticket to staying compliant:

• It's in sync with the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018
• Shows the regulators you're serious about cybersecurity
• Gives everyone a common language for measuring cyber strength

"The CAF was developed by the National Cyber Security Centre to support the implementation of the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018."

Stick with the CAF, and you'll keep the legal eagles off your back.

Handling Risks Like a Pro

The CAF turns you into a cyber risk management ninja:

• Gets you thinking big picture about governance and risk
• Helps you spot, size up, and squash security risks
• Keeps your risk game fresh with regular updates

The CAF is all about cyber resilience - keeping your critical functions running, even when cyber storms hit.

Difficulties in Using the CAF

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is great, but it's not always easy to use. Here are the main hurdles:

Limited Resources

Many firms just don't have enough to work with:

• Not enough money for new tools or experts
• IT teams are spread thin
• Daily tasks push CAF work aside

Complex Requirements

The CAF can be a lot to handle:

• It's full of tech talk
• Covers both IT and OT systems
• Keeps changing to match new threats

Internal Pushback

Getting everyone on board is tough:

• Staff might see it as extra work
• If bosses don't care, nothing happens
• Departments don't want to share or change

Getting Started with the CAF

Implementing the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's how to kick things off:

First Steps

1. Read up: Dive into the NCSC's CAF docs. It'll give you the lay of the land.
2. Check yourself: Use the CAF to size up your current cyber defences. Where are the weak spots?
3. Plan it out: Make a to-do list based on what you found. What needs fixing first?
4. Get the bosses on board: Show the higher-ups what you've found and what you want to do. You'll need their backing.
5. Build your A-team: Pick your CAF champions. Who's going to make this happen?

Estates & Facilities

If you're in estates and facilities, the CAF is a big deal. Estates & Facilities has some UK-specific goodies for you:

These tools are gold for tackling the cyber risks in things like smart buildings and IoT gadgets.

Common Questions about the CAF

FAQs

What's the CAF?

It's the UK's NCSC guide for assessing and boosting cyber security. Mainly for critical infrastructure, but any org can use it.

Who's it for?

• UK Critical National Infrastructure orgs
• Those under cyber regulations
• Any org wanting to manage cyber risks

What's in it?

Four main objectives:

1. Managing Security Risk
2. Protecting Against Cyber Attack
3. Detecting Cyber Security Events
4. Minimising Impact of Cyber Security Incidents

How does it work?

39 assessments based on Indicators of Good Practice. Self-assess or get external help.

Is it just ticking boxes?

Nope. It's about real improvement, not just ticking boxes.

How to start?

1. Read NCSC's CAF docs
2. Check your current defences
3. Plan based on findings
4. Get management on board
5. Pick your CAF team

IT and OT?

Yep, both.

How often to use it?

No fixed schedule, but regular checks are smart. Cyber threats change fast.

Is it law?

For some sectors, yes. It backs the NIS Regulations 2018. Check with your regulator.

What's cyber resilience?

NCSC says:

"An organisation's ability to maintain the correct operation of its essential functions, even in the presence of adverse cyber events."

It's about keeping critical stuff running, no matter what cyber threats throw at you.

Conclusion

The NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is a game-changer for boosting cyber defences. Here's the lowdown:

It's all about managing risks, protecting against attacks, spotting cyber events, and minimizing incident impact. The CAF isn't picky - it works for both IT and OT systems. And it's not just ticking boxes; it's about real improvements.

For some sectors, using the CAF isn't optional - it's the law. It backs up the NIS Regulations 2018. And while there's no strict schedule, frequent checks are smart. Cyber threats don't wait around.

In estates and facilities management? The CAF is your new best friend. It'll help you:

• Spot your weak points
• Beef up your security
• Stay on the right side of the law
• Toughen up your cyber resilience

Here's a wake-up call: In 2024, half of UK businesses and a third of charities got hit by cyber attacks. That's why tools like the CAF are crucial.

Ready to dive in? Here's your game plan:

1. Get your hands on the NCSC's CAF docs
2. Take a hard look at your current defences
3. Make a plan based on what you find
4. Get the big bosses on board
5. Pick your CAF dream team

Don't wait. The cyber world isn't getting any safer. Time to step up your game with the CAF.

FAQs

What is CAF strategy?

CAF strategy is about beefing up your cyber defences using the NCSC's Cyber Assessment Framework. It's not about cloud stuff - it's all about making your digital fortress stronger.

Here's what a solid CAF strategy does:

• Finds the chinks in your cyber armour
• Creates a battle plan to patch those weak spots
• Gets the big bosses to back your cyber crusade
• Assembles your A-team to make it all happen

What is the CAF risk model?

The CAF risk model is the NCSC's secret sauce for managing cyber risks. It's like a cyber-risk treasure map:

• X marks the spot where your risks are hiding
• Tells you if you're dealing with a molehill or a mountain
• Gives you the tools to tackle those risks head-on

The NCSC puts it this way:

"The CAF provides a systematic and comprehensive approach for assessing the extent to which cyber risks to essential functions are being managed by the organisation responsible for them."

In other words? It's your early warning system for cyber troubles. Spot 'em early, squash 'em fast.

Related posts

• Security Policy Development: 10-Step Guide
• 10 PAM Best Practices for Facilities Managers 2024
• 5 Best Practices for BIM Data Security
• 10 Remote Monitoring Questions for Facilities Answered