NIST AI Risk Management Framework: What You Need to Know

Aaron Walls

March 17, 2025 • 5 min read

AI systems are reshaping industries, but with great power comes great responsibility. The NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) emerged as a beacon in this space—guiding enterprises to adopt AI safely, ethically, and securely. At ZioSec, we don’t just follow frameworks—we align our offensive testing to them, ensuring that your AI systems aren’t just compliant in theory, but battle-tested in practice.

What is the AI RMF?

Published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the AI RMF provides a structured approach to managing risks throughout the AI lifecycle. It isn’t a rigid set of rules; rather, it’s a flexible framework meant to help organizations map, measure, manage, and govern the risks posed by AI systems. It’s about ensuring AI aligns with your organization’s goals without compromising on security or ethics.

Where ZioSec Fits In

While AI RMF sets the stage for what good governance looks like, it doesn’t tell you how to stress-test your AI. That’s where we come in. At ZioSec, we translate those high-level principles into real-world action. We take your AI systems—whether they’re single agents or sprawling multi-agent frameworks—and we attack them. We identify vulnerabilities, simulate real-world adversarial scenarios, and map those findings back to the AI RMF’s governance and risk pillars.

For example, the RMF’s emphasis on continuous monitoring? We help fulfill that by continuously probing your AI systems, adapting as they retrain and evolve. The focus on mapping and measuring risks? Our offensive testing provides the data you need to understand where your AI systems stand in the face of real threats.

Aligning Offensive Security with Governance

The AI RMF is about more than compliance—it’s about building trust in AI systems. But trust needs proof. Our approach aligns with the RMF’s core functions:

We map AI risk by identifying where systems are most exposed. We measure those risks through offensive testing, showing you what attackers could exploit. We manage those risks by providing actionable recommendations to remediate vulnerabilities. And we help govern the entire process, ensuring that your organization stays aligned with evolving standards.

AI RMF in the Real World

Whether you’re deploying AI in healthcare, finance, or critical infrastructure, the AI RMF gives you the blueprint for safe operations. But blueprints alone don’t build secure systems. You need tools and expertise to put them into action. ZioSec acts as that offensive check—ensuring your AI not only meets governance goals but survives real-world attacks.