NIST CSF Compliance Software
NIST CSF: From Framework to Funded Program
Flow's risk register and controls align to NIST CSF 2.0's six functions — tracking your maturity, documenting your cybersecurity program, and producing the risk reports that get security budgets approved.
What is NIST CSF?
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is a voluntary framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that provides organizations with a common language and structured approach to managing cybersecurity risk. The 2024 release of NIST CSF 2.0 added a sixth function — Govern — reflecting the importance of cybersecurity governance at the board level. Unlike prescriptive compliance frameworks, NIST CSF is designed to be adapted to any organization's risk profile, making it a popular baseline for cybersecurity programs across industries.
Who needs NIST CSF?
NIST CSF is used by organizations of all sizes across all industries, but is particularly common in critical infrastructure, financial services, energy, healthcare, and federal contractors. It is required for federal agencies under Executive Order 13800 and is increasingly referenced in state-level cybersecurity regulations and cyber insurance underwriting.
How Flow automates NIST CSF compliance
From your first risk assessment to your audit report — powered by AI.
CSF 2.0 function alignment
Flow's risk register and controls align to all six NIST CSF 2.0 functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover — giving you structured coverage across your cybersecurity program.
Current and target maturity tiers
Flow captures your current implementation tier (Partial, Risk-Informed, Repeatable, Adaptive) against each subcategory and documents your target tier, creating a gap roadmap that justifies security investment.
Cybersecurity risk reporting
NIST CSF 2.0's Govern function requires communicating cybersecurity risk to leadership. Flow tracks your NIST CSF maturity and produces risk reports showing your top risks and progress against improvement targets.
Cross-framework alignment
Most organizations using NIST CSF also need SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA. Flow maps controls once and satisfies multiple frameworks simultaneously — so your NIST CSF work also advances your SOC 2 readiness.
Incident response and recovery tracking
The Respond and Recover functions require documented incident response plans and recovery procedures. Flow tracks plan currency, owner assignments, and tabletop exercise outcomes so your IR program stays operational.
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Frequently asked questions about NIST CSF
What is the difference between NIST CSF 1.1 and NIST CSF 2.0?
NIST CSF 2.0 (released February 2024) adds a sixth function — Govern — which covers organizational context, risk management strategy, supply chain risk, and roles and responsibilities. It also expands guidance for small and medium organizations, updates the Informative References, and introduces the concept of Community Profiles. Organizations on 1.1 should plan their transition to 2.0 with current implementation tier documentation as a baseline.
Is NIST CSF compliance mandatory?
NIST CSF is voluntary for most private sector organizations, but is mandatory for federal agencies and increasingly required by state cybersecurity regulations (such as New York's NYDFS Cybersecurity Regulation). It is also referenced in cyber insurance policies and federal contractor requirements. Many organizations adopt it as a best-practice baseline regardless of legal obligation.
How does NIST CSF relate to ISO 27001 and SOC 2?
NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 address overlapping areas of cybersecurity and information security, but serve different purposes. NIST CSF is a strategic risk management framework. ISO 27001 is a certifiable management system standard. SOC 2 is an external audit attestation for service organizations. Flow maps controls to all three simultaneously, so organizations pursuing multiple frameworks aren't duplicating effort.
What is a NIST CSF Profile?
A NIST CSF Profile is a customized alignment of the framework to your organization's business requirements, risk tolerance, and resources. It captures your current state (Current Profile) and desired outcome (Target Profile), with the gap between them forming your cybersecurity improvement roadmap. Flow structures and documents both profiles as part of your cybersecurity program.
How do we demonstrate NIST CSF compliance to regulators or customers?
Because NIST CSF is voluntary and non-certifiable, there is no formal NIST CSF certificate. Organizations typically demonstrate compliance through self-assessments, third-party assessments, or by referencing their CSF profile in security questionnaires and RFPs. Flow produces documented profiles, maturity assessments, and executive reports that serve as evidence of a structured cybersecurity program.
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