Why You Need the CIS Control Framework for Effective Cyber Defense

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) is a non-profit organization that helps the public and private sectors improve their cybersecurity resilience and maturity. The organization aims to help small, medium, and large organizations defend themselves against cyber threats and create an unbreakable cyber defense. CIS plays a crucial role in improving cybersecurity readiness across organizations by providing frameworks like CIS Controls and supporting initiatives such as ISACs.

The CIS has four program divisions to strengthen cyber defenses and fortify global internet security. These compliance programs benefit businesses of all sizes and industries.

The latest update to the CIS Controls, version 8.1, was released in October 2023. CIS Controls version 8.1 offers backward compatibility with older versions, allowing organizations to map existing controls to the updated set. Organizations can use CIS Controls to align with other frameworks, such as NIST CSF and regulatory standards, supporting a unified approach to operationalizing security strategies. CIS Controls version 8.1 emphasizes the importance of security management in cloud and hybrid environments.

What Is The Importance of the CIS (Center for Internet Security) Framework?

The CIS developed its configuration policy benchmarks (CPB), essential instructions that help organizations improve their cybersecurity and create compliance programs. Leading organizations, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a US federal agency, recommend CIS and NIST protocols and frameworks to organizations. The CIS framework was developed by an international consortium of experts, including government, academic, and industry leaders.

CIS provides numerous protocols, known as CIS controls. The CIS board periodically reviews and updates these controls to create CIS controls for effective cyber defense.

CIS regulations provide detailed guidance and standards for securing various software, ports, protocols, and services. The benchmark set by CIS emphasizes proper security configuration for all authorized software and hardware on laptops, workstations, servers, and mobile devices, as default configurations are often insecure and can be exploited by attackers.

Most data protection regulation includes the requirement for the organization to have an incident response infrastructure in place in preparation for an inevitable attack. Shareholders also expect brand protection through reputation management and proactive management of security incidents.

What are the Goals of the CIS Critical Security Controls?

The primary goal of CIS benchmarks is to minimize the risk of cyberattacks. The controls protect sensitive information and valuable data from compromise by end-user devices, wireless client systems, and vulnerable network services. The benchmarks help security teams strengthen the confidentiality of information on your networks, devices, and software.

CIS critical security controls do not interfere with your company’s policies or interrupt the standard procedure of your company’s operations and policies. The CIS controls help mitigate risks related to unauthorized software, web browser protections, and mishandling sensitive data. They also assist organizations in identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of exploitation by attackers.

How to Get Started with the Basic CIS Controls?

We all want to protect our businesses or organizations from common attacks. It can be frustrating not knowing where to start. Implementing the basic CIS’s top 20 critical security controls for effective cyber defense reduces the risk of cyberattacks by 85%. CIS controls 20 practices, which help organizations improve their maintenance, monitoring, and analysis of risk and security. For beginners, the CIS critical security controls is a practical starting point.

Conducting a gap assessment helps organizations compare their current security posture against CIS Controls to identify weaknesses. As part of the initial steps, it is crucial to maintain a comprehensive software inventory to ensure all software assets are accounted for and managed, reducing vulnerabilities.

Best Practices for Implementing CIS to Ensure Secure Configuration

Businesses and organizations with undefined security protocols are at high risk of cyberattacks. However, they can follow the CIS’s top 20 protocols to protect their cybersecurity interest. When managing and assessing relationships with third-party service providers, it is crucial to evaluate service providers for potential vulnerabilities and supply chain risks to ensure the security of internal platforms and data. Aligning businesses that are confused about implementing the 20 protocols is simple. They can easily follow the protocols for implementing the basic controls in 3 simple steps.

After establishing access controls and audit log management, it is important to properly manage service accounts to prevent unauthorized access and privilege escalation. Additionally, robust user accounts management—including account lifecycle management and strong authentication measures such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Privileged Access Management (PAM)—is essential to enhance security.

Identify Your Area Of Need

Before implementing any model, we must first identify the area of need. Implementing in the wrong place is not fruitful. You also need to analyze your company’s security environment and ensure a secure configuration. This includes the types of hardware and software you are using and how they are connected. It is crucial to identify and secure access points within your network infrastructure to prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches. Additionally, assessing and securing wireless local area networks is essential to address the security risks associated with wireless connections and to maintain robust network protection. You also have to consider the access granted within your organization.

Prioritize The Areas Of Implementation

Your organization's digital structure has many blind spots. Some areas have more threats than others. You have to identify the high-risk ones and start implementing the CIS models first. Learn more about risk management in the digital age.

Implementation

Implementation is executing the measures you have taken to apply them to the needed areas. It is not limited to performing the actions; it also includes continuous monitoring and reviewing the related security measures. To prevent attackers from attempting to install unauthorized software, organizations should enforce strict controls over software installation and management. As part of the implementation process, organizations should ensure that only authorized software is installed on enterprise assets to reduce the risk of unapproved or malicious applications introducing vulnerabilities. Additionally, it is crucial to control access to sensitive data and resources within application software to prevent security breaches. To implement the CIS Controls, organizations should first assess their current security posture and create a governance framework to prioritize controls based on risks.

CIS Implementation Strategies

CIS implementation strategies encompass best practices for cybersecurity and will guide your organization toward a more robust, mature security posture. Organizations must establish secure configurations for all enterprise devices and software to minimize vulnerabilities. Attackers often attempt to gain unauthorized access by exploiting misconfigurations or vulnerabilities in network infrastructure and application software; proper implementation of CIS strategies helps prevent such breaches. Maintaining an accurate inventory of authorized and unauthorized enterprise assets is crucial for managing the attack surface. Organizations should also implement comprehensive audit log management to help detect, understand, and recover from potential attacks. Data protection measures should include encryption, access controls, and proper disposal protocols to safeguard sensitive information.

Implementing a security awareness and training program is essential to educate employees about cybersecurity risks and best practices.

Organizations must manage and assess relationships with third-party service providers to ensure they protect critical IT platforms and sensitive data.

Asset Management: Building a Strong Foundation for CIS Controls

Asset management is the cornerstone of the CIS critical security controls, providing the foundation for effective cyber defenses. The first CIS control, “Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets,” highlights the necessity to know precisely what devices, software, and systems are connected to your organization’s network. By maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date inventory of all enterprise assets, organizations can ensure that only authorized devices and software are present, significantly reducing the risk of cyber threats and data breaches.

A robust asset management program goes beyond simple inventory. It incorporates continuous vulnerability management, access control management, and secure configuration of all network devices, operating systems, and software assets. This means regularly updating operating systems, applying security patches, and configuring devices to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities or gaining unauthorized access. Secure configurations are especially important for network infrastructure and end user devices, as misconfigurations are a common entry point for cyber threats.

Security awareness is another critical aspect of asset management under the CIS controls. All personnel, especially those with administrative privileges, should receive ongoing training on identifying suspicious activity, following secure coding practices, and adhering to software configuration standards. By fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, organizations empower their teams to recognize and respond to potential security incidents before they escalate.

The CIS controls also recommend implementing wireless access control, audit logs, and network monitoring as part of a comprehensive asset management strategy. Monitoring network traffic and maintaining detailed audit logs enable organizations to quickly detect and respond to security incidents, while incident response infrastructure ensures that any threats are contained and remediated efficiently. These proactive measures are vital for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining effective cyber defense in the face of evolving cyber threats.

To implement the CIS controls effectively, organizations should begin with a thorough inventory of all enterprise assets, including hardware, software, and network devices. This inventory forms the basis for identifying security risks, enforcing only authorized devices and software, and applying secure configurations. Prioritizing security awareness and training—particularly for those managing critical security controls—further strengthens the organization’s ability to prevent and respond to security incidents.

What are the CIS Top 20 Controls?

The CIS top 20 is a set of 20 controls to improve the security of your data and defend it from cyberattacks. You can read a breakdown of the CIS top 20 controls here. 

Update: The guidelines consist of 18 (originally 20) key actions, called critical security controls (CSC), that organizations should implement to block or mitigate known attacks.

CIS controls cover crucial areas like access control management, incident response management, network infrastructure management, continuous vulnerability management, application software security, and more to safeguard sensitive data and mitigate against

What Are The Advantages Of CIS Over Other Frameworks?

The CIS framework is simpler to understand and implement than the NIST CSF. Other frameworks, like NIST, are federal compliance structures that are more complex in their implementation and scope. Frameworks like ISO 27001 are more suited for large enterprises and corporations. 

The CIS critical security controls educate you on the risks and consequences of cyber attacks, then provide a step-by-step guide to improving network monitoring, incident response, data recovery capabilities, and service provider management. 

What is the Difference Between CIS and NIST?

There is no reason to replace other frameworks with the CIS security model. Models like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) can complement the CIS frameworks. Other frameworks, like ISO 27001 and NERC CIP, are reliable and widely used security standards. 

CIS vs. NIST

NIST is a United States Federal non-regulatory department responsible for helping businesses of all sizes protect themselves from cyberattacks and protect their data. CIS is a non-profit organization with similar goals to NIST to protect organizations from cyber-attacks and prepare them to repel any possible cyber-attacks. 

CIS and NIST use different criteria to measure organizations. The core objective is the same; however, CIS cybersecurity compliance is related to other cybersecurity standards. Implementing CIS critical security controls means aligning with NIST. 

Gain insights on mapping the CIS Controls to NIST CSF here. 

Choosing the Best Framework for Your Organization

Two types of organizations adopt cybersecurity frameworks: those that don't have any and those willing to mature their existing framework. 

It is up to the organization to select the best framework for its business model. Remember, cybersecurity does not impede business growth—rather, it propels growth and ensures business continuity. Due to its flexibility, the CIS framework is better suited for non-government organizations and small businesses. For organizations with greater resources, NIST is better.

However, implementing different frameworks is more effective when done simultaneously, but there is always room for improvement. Run periodic cyber risk assessments to determine potential vulnerabilities - cybersecurity and risk management are continuous.

What are CIS Implementation Groups?

The CIS implementation groups (IG) are guidelines recommended to encourage the implementation of CIS controls. IGs are categorized into three groups: IG1, IG2, and IG3. Their purpose is to assist organizations of every size.

What Threats Does CIS Protect Your Organization Against?

CIS protects you from the following threats.

• Identity theft 

• Malware attacks.

• Intellectual Property theft.

• Corporate espionage.

• Data breach

• Data loss.

• Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS)

• Ransomware

• Trojan Horse

IG3 includes all 153 safeguards for mature organizations with significant resources that need protection from sophisticated attackers.

How Does An Enterprise Justify The Cost Of CIS Implementation?

There is a cost to everything. An organization can face losses on data breaches, audits, updating systems, configuring plans, and costs associated with data loss. Implementing CIS benchmarks is better to avoid significant financial and data losses.

Effectively Manage Cyber Risk with CIS

Cybersecurity is essential for businesses of every industry and size. NIST and CIS Cybersecurity Frameworks have made implementing security measures easy and effective. These models protect the organization's sensitive data and intellectual properties.

Overall, these frameworks help organizations to control the installation, spread, and execution of malicious software on enterprise assets to mitigate risks.

The CyberStrong platform can streamline and automate your compliance process with basic CIS controls and multiple other frameworks, such as NIST CSF and ISO 27001. Learn more about our all-in-one compliance and cyber risk management platform here.