Overview of the 5 pillars of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. NIST stands for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It is a physical sciences laboratory and a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote and maintain measurement standards to ensure consistency and accuracy in various fields, including science, engineering, and technology. NIST's work encompasses a wide range of activities, including the development and dissemination of standards and guidelines, research in areas such as metrology (the science of measurement), cybersecurity, materials science, and more. NIST is well-known for its role in developing and maintaining standards and guidelines for a wide variety of applications, including those related to technology and information security. Their publications, such as the NIST Special Publication series, provide valuable guidance on topics like data encryption, computer security, and data privacy. NIST's work is important for both industry and government, as it helps ensure that measurements and technologies are accurate and reliable, which in turn supports innovation, safety, and commerce.