NIST CSF 2.0 Is No Longer Just for Critical Infrastructure. Map Your Microsoft 365 Stack to It.
TL;DR
- As of August 2023, NIST has released the 2.0 draft of its Cybersecurity Framework, the framework organizations have used to reduce cybersecurity risk since its initial publication in 2014.
- The major scope change in CSF 2.0 is that the framework now explicitly targets all organizations, not just critical infrastructure.
- Mapping Microsoft 365 security recommendations to CSF 2.0 turns the framework from an abstract checklist into trackable controls across Entra ID, Teams, Exchange, Intune, SharePoint, OneDrive, Defender, and Purview.
- Every mapped control should carry its licensing requirements, because knowing what a tenant can implement is half the assessment.
Since its initial publication in 2014, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework has been the common language organizations use to reduce cybersecurity risk, and many organizations told NIST that CSF 1.1 was still doing that job well. As of August 2023, the 2.0 draft of the framework (opens in new tab) is out, and its headline change is scope: CSF 2.0 is explicitly written for all organizations, not just critical infrastructure.
That scope change matters for anyone managing Microsoft 365 environments. A framework aimed at every organization needs an answer to the obvious next question: which Microsoft 365 settings satisfy which CSF outcomes? Mapping the two together is exactly the work behind a new enablement guide that pairs Microsoft security controls with the 2.0 framework.
What a working CSF 2.0 mapping for Microsoft 365 looks like
The guide packages the mapping with the operational tooling around it:
- NIST CSF 2.0 self-scoring assessment. See where you stand today on cybersecurity posture across the NIST CSF framework.
- Multi-tenant and single-tenant Power BI templates. Track scores, posture, and implementation of Microsoft security recommendations across one environment or across all of your customers.
- Microsoft 365 security mappings to NIST CSF 2.0. Security recommendations mapped to the framework, for tracking implementation across Entra ID, Teams, Exchange, Intune, SharePoint, OneDrive, Defender, and Purview.
- Licensing requirements. Every Microsoft 365 security recommendation includes its licensing considerations, so you know what each tenant can actually implement.
- Expert enablement content. Each control ships with configuration steps plus policy definitions, PowerShell scripts, and YouTube tutorial videos.
- 40+ end-user notification templates. Crafted for clarity, so security communication keeps pace with the controls you roll out.
- Project charter templates. Ready-made scopes of work, such as implementing MFA or moving to a modern documentation solution.
- Operational maturity matrix. Assess, refine, and elevate your security posture over time.
- MITRE ATT&CK framework mapping. Align defenses with real-world threat scenarios.
The NIST 2.0 matrix:
The Power BI template:
And the format each security recommendation follows, Intune included:
How to get the guide
The guide is available for purchase at $199 USD as a one-time purchase, with regular updates sent to the email address used at checkout. After purchase, an automated email delivers a download link for all of the content, and payments run through Stripe as a secure payment gateway.
Buy the NIST CSF 2.0 with Microsoft 365 guide (opens in new tab)
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change in NIST CSF 2.0?
Scope. The framework's stated audience expands from critical infrastructure to all organizations, formalizing how CSF 1.1 was already being used: many organizations told NIST it remained an effective framework for addressing cybersecurity risk well outside its original audience.
What does the T-Minus NIST CSF 2.0 enablement guide include?
A self-scoring assessment, single-tenant and multi-tenant Power BI templates, Microsoft 365 security mappings with licensing requirements, configuration steps with PowerShell scripts and video tutorials, 40+ end-user notification templates, project charter templates, an operational maturity matrix, and MITRE ATT&CK mappings. It is a one-time $199 purchase with ongoing updates.
Framework mapping without the spreadsheet maintenance
CloudCapsule assesses 250+ Microsoft 365 controls per tenant in about 60 seconds and maps the results to the frameworks your clients and insurers ask about, with the evidence attached.
Run a free scan
Written by
Nick Ross
CEO · Microsoft MVP · Founder, T-Minus 365
Nick is not just a CEO, he's a respected thought leader and influencer in the MSP space. Tens of thousands of MSPs learn through his YouTube channel, T-Minus365. Nick has been honored as a three-time Microsoft MVP for his educational content; his expertise and influence are the backbone of our mission, ensuring that you are in the best hands when it comes to security.
Nick joined Pax8 in 2017, where he would ultimately oversee product management for PSA and Microsoft integrations. Following his tenure at Pax8, Nick has continued to demonstrate his leadership prowess as an executive at various MSPs, culminating in his most recent role at Sourcepass.
Nick holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Florida State University, as well as a Minor Degree in Entrepreneurship. In his free time, Nick is an avid hiker, reader, and fitness-junkie.
