Cybersecurity has long relied on manual assessments, periodic audits, and professional intuition to determine if safeguards are working as intended. These practices were once the only practical option available, but today, new tools and automation capabilities give us the opportunity to significantly improve how we validate and monitor cybersecurity safeguards. Organizations need timely, reliable insight into whether their cybersecurity controls are functioning properly—and they need to communicate that insight clearly to stakeholders at every level.
The 2025 CRF Business Intelligence Model was developed to address this exact need. It introduces a structured, repeatable approach to cybersecurity validation that transitions organizations from manual, unorganized assessments to continuous, data-driven intelligence.
The CRF Business Intelligence Model, especially when paired with the CRF Audit Framework delivers a practical path for transforming how cybersecurity safeguards are validated and communicated—equipping professionals to enhance operational resilience, streamline reporting, and drive strategic visibility at every level of the organization.
The Value of Business Intelligence in Cybersecurity
The implementation of cybersecurity safeguards is only part of the equation. The more significant challenge lies in validating them on an ongoing basis. Many cybersecurity teams still only rely on manual checks, spreadsheets, and internal attestations that are quickly outdated.
The CRF Business Intelligence Model changes this dynamic. It provides a seven-step methodology for integrating cybersecurity data from across your technology stack, centralizing it, and using it to generate metrics that are meaningful to both technical teams and executive stakeholders.
By automating data collection and aligning safeguards with technical tools and vendor systems, organizations can:
- Detect misconfigurations faster
- Reduce exposure time
- Provide real-time assurance of safeguard implementation
- Tailor cybersecurity reporting to different audiences
These are not just operational gains—they are strategic advantages.
A High-Level Overview of the new CRF Business Intelligence Model
The Business Intelligence Model framework follows seven progressive steps:
- Select Safeguards – Identify which cybersecurity safeguards your organization must implement, using structured frameworks such as the CRF Safeguards.
- Define Technical Tools – Map those safeguards to the technologies and processes that enforce them.
- Align Vendor Solutions – Associate specific commercial or open-source tools to your technical needs.
- Evaluate Data Access – Determine what data each tool can provide (e.g., API access, log exports, reports).
- Centralize Data – Consolidate and normalize cybersecurity data in a central repository such as a CMDB or GRC platform.
- Select Metrics – Choose appropriate KPIs and performance indicators for each stakeholder group.
- Report Intelligently – Deliver timely, relevant insights to executives, business leaders, and technical teams in formats they can act on.
Each of these steps builds a foundation for maturity and provides a framework that scales with your organization’s growth.
Why the CRF Business Intelligence Model Matters
For CISOs and cybersecurity leaders, the CRF Business Intelligence Model offers a more reliable and repeatable way to:
- Demonstrate the effectiveness of security investments
- Improve executive communication through actionable dashboards
- Respond quickly to audit requests and regulatory inquiries
- Continuously monitor and improve cybersecurity posture
It also empowers technical teams by reducing the burden of manual reporting and ensuring that data is used to inform decisions rather than just satisfy compliance checkboxes.
In an age where both regulators and boards of directors are demanding more transparency around cyber risk, the CRF Business Intelligence Model helps bridge the communication gap between technical implementation and strategic oversight.
Putting the CRF Business Intelligence Model Into Action
To dive deeper into the full model and see how it can apply to your organization, download the CRF-Business Intelligence Model – v2025 and check out the full library of free resources and tools available on our website under the Research tab.
As cybersecurity continues to evolve, so must the way we validate, monitor, and communicate it. The CRF-Business Intelligence Model is one step toward a more resilient, transparent, and effective cybersecurity future.