How can you harmonize cybersecurity standards and frameworks across regions and countries?

1 Understand the differences

The first step to harmonize cybersecurity standards and frameworks is to understand the differences between them. There are many cybersecurity standards and frameworks available, such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, COBIT, and GDPR. Each of them has its own scope, objectives, structure, language, and requirements. Some of them are more general and flexible, while others are more specific and prescriptive. Some of them are more focused on compliance, while others are more focused on performance. Some of them are mandatory, while others are voluntary. You need to compare and contrast the cybersecurity standards and frameworks that apply to your organization and identify the similarities and differences between them.

2 Choose a common baseline

The next step to harmonize cybersecurity standards and frameworks is to choose a common baseline that can serve as a foundation for your cybersecurity program. A common baseline is a set of minimum requirements or expectations that you need to meet or exceed to ensure a consistent level of cybersecurity across your organization. A common baseline can help you reduce complexity, confusion, and duplication, and increase efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency. You can choose a common baseline from an existing cybersecurity standard or framework, or you can create your own by combining elements from different sources. For example, you can use the NIST CSF as a common baseline, or you can create your own by mapping the ISO/IEC 27001 controls to the CIS Controls.

3 Align your goals and metrics

The third step to harmonize cybersecurity standards and frameworks is to align your goals and metrics with your common baseline. Goals and metrics are essential for measuring and improving your cybersecurity performance and maturity. However, different cybersecurity standards and frameworks may have different goals and metrics, or use different terms and definitions for them. This can make it difficult to compare and communicate your results and progress across your organization. To avoid this, you need to align your goals and metrics with your common baseline, and use a common terminology and methodology for defining and reporting them. For example, you can use the COBIT goals cascade to align your cybersecurity goals and metrics with your business goals and metrics, and use the NIST CSF implementation tiers to measure and report your cybersecurity maturity.

4 Adapt to the context

The fourth step to harmonize cybersecurity standards and frameworks is to adapt to the context of each region and country where you operate. Even if you have a common baseline, goals, and metrics, you still need to consider the specific legal, regulatory, cultural, and economic factors that may affect your cybersecurity program in different regions and countries. These factors may require you to adjust or supplement your common baseline, goals, and metrics, to comply with local laws and regulations, to respect local customs and values, or to address local threats and opportunities. You need to be aware of these factors and monitor them regularly, and make the necessary changes to your cybersecurity program accordingly. For example, you may need to add or modify some controls or processes to comply with the GDPR in the European Union, or to respect the data sovereignty of some countries.

5 Collaborate and communicate

The fifth step to harmonize cybersecurity standards and frameworks is to collaborate and communicate with your internal and external stakeholders. Harmonizing cybersecurity standards and frameworks is not a one-time or one-person task. It requires ongoing coordination and cooperation among your various business units, functions, teams, and individuals, as well as your customers, partners, suppliers, regulators, and auditors. You need to establish clear roles and responsibilities, processes and procedures, tools and platforms, and feedback mechanisms for harmonizing cybersecurity standards and frameworks across your organization. You also need to communicate effectively and frequently with your stakeholders, to inform them of your common baseline, goals, and metrics, to explain the rationale and benefits of harmonizing cybersecurity standards and frameworks, to solicit their input and feedback, and to address their concerns and questions.