Building a Secure AI Program with the NIST AI RMF

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries. From healthcare diagnostics and financial services to education and manufacturing, AI is being leveraged to enhance efficiency and inform decision-making. To address these challenges, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF). 

These new advances come with new risks, including biased algorithms, insecure data handling, a lack of transparency, and vulnerabilities in AI-driven systems. The AI RMF provides a practical structure to help organizations design, develop, and deploy AI responsibly. By adopting this framework, businesses can enhance security, increase trust, and ensure compliance as AI adoption continues to expand.

The Four Core Functions of the AI RMF

Govern
Establish policies, culture, and accountability to ensure AI is managed responsibly. Governance emphasizes leadership roles, oversight, and continuous improvement.

Map
Identify AI risks by documenting system use, data sources, potential harms, and stakeholder impacts. Mapping ensures risks are understood before deployment.

Measure
Evaluate and test AI systems to confirm they meet defined performance, trustworthiness, and security goals. Measurement includes checks for fairness, robustness, and transparency.

Manage
Prioritize and mitigate risks across the AI lifecycle. Management includes remediation, adjusting models or datasets, and integrating oversight into enterprise risk programs.

Together, these four functions form the foundation of a secure AI program. They enable organizations to address risks consistently while building systems that are explainable, trustworthy, and reliable.

Why the AI RMF Matters

The AI RMF offers organizations a structured approach to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. It ensures trustworthy AI practices that are explainable and auditable. It helps organizations prepare for regulatory oversight around responsible AI. It reduces risks such as bias, privacy violations, or misuse of data. It creates a competitive advantage by building customer and stakeholder confidence in AI deployments.

How Topgallant Partners Helps

At Topgallant Partners, we help organizations align with the AI RMF and build a Secure AI Program.

Our services include:

• Developing governance policies and accountability structures

• Mapping system risks, potential harms, and impacts

• Measuring AI models through fairness, transparency, and security validation

• Managing AI risk by embedding controls into broader cybersecurity and compliance programs

Our structured approach ensures compliance with the AI RMF while strengthening resilience and trust in AI technologies.

Connecting AI RMF to the NIST CSF

Just as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) guides organizations in managing cyber risk, the AI RMF focuses on risks unique to artificial intelligence. These frameworks complement each other: CSF provides the foundation for identifying and protecting assets, while AI RMF extends risk management to AI systems themselves. For more detail, see the official NIST AI RMF 1.0 Resource.

To learn how Topgallant Partners supports AI risk management, you can visit our Cybersecurity Services page.

Looking Ahead

This is the third edition of our monthly Cybersecurity Insights Newsletter. In November, we will focus on Supply Chain Risk Management and explain how to protect against third-party vulnerabilities.

If your organization is adopting AI, now is the time to implement the NIST AI RMF 1.0. By applying governance, mapping risks, measuring system performance, and managing outcomes, you can build a secure and trustworthy AI program. Contact Topgallant Partners to learn how we can help you effectively implement the AI RMF. Visit us at www.topgallant-partners.com to get started.