NERC CIP currently stands to be the oldest and most critical regulatory framework for protecting and securing our bulk electric systems as a whole as it relates to cybersecurity. On all levels, the consumer through a corporation, NERC CIP sets the gold standard for how to operate and protect the individuals who rely on its functionality. With so many mandated requirements, NERC CIP can be difficult to understand for those under-equipped, but knowing where to look and how to report on your organization's assets, policies, and personnel, can make the process digestible and replicable for your future compliance efforts. One of the things that makes NERC CIP unique is that it is centered around a risk-based model. To satisfy the controls within NERC CIP, your organization will have to account for everything it does, as it relates to operating in the BES, NERC outlines many resources available to meet these needs on their website.
The standards of NERC CIP at the time of writing consist of 17 controls and 91 sub-requirements. Out of these controls, only 11 are actively being enforced, 5 are subject to future enforcement and one is being transitioned to an inactive state. With this, we’ve developed a method to optimize your NERC CIP compliance efforts to not only speed up your risk initiatives but also to communicate them in a way your entire company can stay on the same page.
