The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a set of voluntary guidelines, standards, and best practices developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risks. It provides a flexible and cost-effective approach that organizations of any size or sector can use to identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats. The framework is organized into five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. By using this framework, organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture, ensure compliance with regulations, and better communicate about risk both internally and externally. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is widely adopted across industries and is recognized as a benchmark for effective cybersecurity management.