CSET is a desktop software package that will allow network administrators to assess currently deployed security strategies against a set of industry best practices and government standards to increase consistency on an organization’s cybersecurity posture. U.S. CERT has provided the following information on the CSET software toolkit:
***Overview ****Critical infrastructures are dependent on information technology systems and computer networks for essential operations. Particular emphasis is placed on the reliability and resiliency of the systems that comprise and interconnect these infrastructures. NCSD collaborates with partners from across public, private, and international communities to advance this goal by developing and implementing coordinated security measures to protect against cyber threats.The Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) product that assists organizations in protecting their key national cyber assets. It was developed under the direction of the DHS National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) by cybersecurity experts and with assistance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This tool provides users with a systematic and repeatable approach for assessing the security posture of their cyber systems and networks. It includes both high-level and detailed questions related to all industrial control and IT systems.CSET Assessment Fact Sheet
****Purpose ****CSET is a desktop software tool that guides users through a step-by-step process to assess their control system and information technology network security practices against recognized industry standards. The output from CSET is a prioritized list of recommendations for improving the cybersecurity posture of the organization’s enterprise and industrial control cyber systems. The tool derives the recommendations from a database of cybersecurity standards, guidelines, and practices. Each recommendation is linked to a set of actions that can be applied to enhance cybersecurity controls.****CSET has been designed for easy installation and use on a stand-alone laptop or workstation. It incorporates a variety of available standards from organizations such as National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and others. When the tool user selects one or more of the standards, CSET will open a set of questions to be answered. The answers to these questions will be compared against a selected security assurance level, and a detailed report will be generated to show areas for potential improvement. CSET provides an excellent means to perform a self-assessment of the security posture of your control system environment.****Key Benefits ***- CSET contributes to an organization’s risk management and decision-making process
- Raises awareness and facilitates discussion on cybersecurity within the organization
- Highlights vulnerabilities in the organization’s systems and provides recommendations on ways to address the vulnerability
- Identifies areas of strength and best practices being followed in the organization
- Provides a method to systematically compare and monitor improvement in the cyber systems
- Provides a common industry-wide tool for assessing cyber systems