NIST Privacy Framework

The NIST Privacy Framework (officially: A Tool for Improving Privacy Through Enterprise Risk Management) was published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology on January 16, 2020. It is a voluntary, technology-neutral tool that helps organizations identify, assess, and address privacy risks as part of enterprise risk management.

• Three Parts: Core, Profiles, and Implementation Tiers structure the framework.
• Five Functions in Core: Identify-P, Govern-P, Control-P, Communicate-P, Protect-P.
• Complementary to NIST CSF: Supplements the Cybersecurity Framework with privacy-specific aspects.
• Voluntary and Flexible: Adaptable to any organization size, sector, and legal jurisdiction.

The NIST Privacy Framework emerged from the recognition that the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF, 2014) addresses security risks but leaves privacy risks – which do not necessarily result from security breaches – unaddressed. NIST launched a public consultation process in September 2018 with workshops, Requests for Information, and public comment rounds. Numerous comments from government, industry, research, and civil society were incorporated. Version 1.0 was published on January 16, 2020. The framework mirrors the structure of the CSF but uses privacy-specific terminology and acknowledges that privacy risks can arise from legitimate data processing activities – not just security incidents. On April 14, 2025, NIST published the Initial Public Draft (IPD) of Privacy Framework 1.1, which aligns with CSF 2.0 and enhances usability.

The NIST Privacy Framework is designed for all organization types – public and private, small and large, across all sectors. It is jurisdiction-independent but was developed primarily for the US context. It is suitable for:

• Organizations that process personal data and want to manage privacy risks.
• Government agencies building or improving privacy programs.
• Organizations seeking to demonstrate compliance with US privacy laws (CCPA, COPPA, HIPAA, etc.).
• International organizations seeking a recognized framework for their global privacy program.

• Identify-P: Identify data processing activities and their privacy risks (data flow inventory, risk assessment).
• Govern-P: Establish governance structures – policies, processes, accountability, privacy risk appetite.
• Control-P: Implement measures to control data processing from the individual's perspective – consent, withdrawal, access to own data.
• Communicate-P: Transparency with individuals and other stakeholders about data processing practices.
• Protect-P: Privacy through technical and organizational measures – Privacy by Design, data security.
• Profile: Define current and target privacy posture and identify gaps.
• Implementation Tiers: Assess maturity of privacy risk management (Tier 1–4).

1 correction:
- Incorrect date for public consultation launch
1 update:
- Missing development: NIST Privacy Framework 1.1 IPD (April 2025)
2 clarifications.