As Florida municipalities approach the January 1, 2025 deadline for implementing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), it's crucial to prioritize a phased, actionable approach that addresses both immediate vulnerabilities and long-term resilience. Many municipalities face unique challenges with limited resources and legacy systems, but the NIST standards offer a flexible, scalable way to improve security posture incrementally.
The first step is conducting a risk assessment to understand potential threats and vulnerabilities within the current infrastructure. Begin by identifying and focusing on the core NIST functions that matter most right now - like 'Identify,' 'Protect' and 'Detect' - to match your current operations and budget.
For example, you might start with a simple step: map out your critical systems and data to establish a baseline. Identify all the critical assets within an organization, understanding how they interact, and document their normal operations to create a point of reference. This one move can go a long way in reducing disruptions and keeping your most important assets safe from everyday threats.
Another effective strategy is to partner with regional IT councils, private sector experts, and other municipalities to exchange insights, best practices, and resources. Training city staff on basic cybersecurity awareness can make a huge difference in preventing breaches, as most attacks exploit simple vulnerabilities.
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