CIS Level 1 vs. CIS Level 2: Which security benchmark fits your needs?

Ransomware attacks surged by 95% in 2023^[1], and data breaches exposed over 26 billion records last year.^[2] With insider threats also rising, businesses face greater cybersecurity risks than ever. Here’s the good news: CIS Benchmarks offer a tested security framework. They help organizations secure their IT systems using best practices that work.^[1]

You might have heard of CIS Level 1 vs. CIS Level 2, but which one should you choose? Is Level 1 enough? Do you need Level 2 for complete protection? 

Let’s break it down in simple terms so you can make the best decision for your organization.

What is CIS compliance?

The Center for Internet Security (CIS), a nonprofit, enhances cybersecurity by sharing globally recognized best practices like CIS Benchmarks to protect IT environments.

They provide detailed security recommendations for:

• Operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS
• Cloud environments: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Applications: web browsers, databases, office suites.
• Network devices: Firewalls, routers, and switches.

Developed by global cybersecurity experts, these benchmarks are regularly updated to address emerging threats like ransomware, zero-day vulnerabilities, phishing attacks, and insider threats.

Why does CIS compliance matter?

1. Proven risk reduction: Studies show that implementing CIS Controls can reduce cybersecurity risks by up to 85% (CIS study)^[3]. By following these guidelines, organizations can achieve a much stronger security posture.

2. Regulatory compliance: Many industries must follow strict security regulations. CIS Benchmarks help businesses align with frameworks like:

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) – healthcare data security.
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) – payment security for financial institutions.
• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) – government and enterprise cybersecurity.
• ISO 27001 – International Standard for Information Security Management

3. Industry-agnostic security: CIS compliance offers a flexible security framework. It works for both small businesses and large enterprises. You can adapt it to various industries and IT environments.

4. Enhanced cyber resilience: CIS Benchmarks focus on proactive security. It includes access control, system hardening, and threat detection. It helps organizations prevent cyberattacks rather than reacting to them.

Read more: About CIS compliance and its importance.

Different CIS security levels address varying risk levels and compliance needs. Level 1 provides essential protections with minimal disruption, while Level 2 offers stricter controls for high-risk industries handling sensitive data.

Understanding CIS Level 1: Essential security for everyday protection

CIS Level 1 targets basic security steps to build a strong defense against cyber threats such as ransomware, zero-day vulnerabilities, phishing attacks, and insider threats. These controls protect IT systems. CIS Level 1 ensures that business operations function without disruption. It aims to offer basic security hardening. Any organization can apply these measures without difficulty. It won’t hurt usability or require complex setups.

Key features of CIS Level 1

1. Strong password policies

• Enforce complex passwords to prevent weak credentials.
• Requires regular password changes to minimize unauthorized access risks.
• Prevents common password vulnerabilities, such as dictionary attacks.

2. Disabling guest & unused accounts

• Prevents unauthorized users from accessing corporate systems.
• Reduces attack vectors by removing unnecessary entry points.

3. Firewall & network protection

• Enables firewalls by default to block malicious inbound and outbound traffic.
• Restricts unnecessary internet connections to minimize exposure to cyber threats.

4. Minimizing attack surfaces

• Disables unneeded services, ports, and protocols to limit vulnerabilities.
• Prevents attackers from exploiting unused software or configurations.

Impact on system usability & performance

CIS Level 1 security settings balance protection and usability. Most users won’t see any slowdowns or disruptions. These measures are not very strict. Performance remains unchanged. It’s a smart choice for businesses needing cybersecurity without extra hassle.

Best-suited for:

• Organizations with a basic need for security & compliance. 
• Small and mid-sized businesses, startups, and low-risk enterprises

Understanding CIS Level 2: Advanced security for high-risk environments

CIS Level 2 is for organizations needing stronger security. This need often comes from rules, managing sensitive data, or facing cyber risks. It builds on CIS Level 1 by adding stricter security controls that help guard against advanced threats. It ensures compliance with strict security regulations and protects against sophisticated cyber threats.

However, they might impact usability and performance.

Key features of CIS Level 2

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• Users must confirm their identity via multiple authentication factors. For example, this could be a password plus a security code or an OTP.
• Protects against phishing and credential theft attacks.

2. Restricting administrative access

• Limits who can perform critical system changes.
• Implements role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring that users have the minimum privileges needed.
• Reduces insider threats by restricting admin privileges to essential personnel only.

3. Advanced logging & monitoring

• Enables detailed event logging to track system activity and detect suspicious behavior.
• Helps with forensic investigations by logging security events. These include unauthorized login attempts and policy violations.
• Integrates with SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems for real-time threat detection.

4. Strict system hardening & encryption

• Enforces disk encryption (BitLocker, FileVault) to protect stored data.
• Requires secure boot mechanisms to prevent malware from loading during system startup.
• Stops unauthorized software and scripts from running. This helps prevent ransomware and malware attacks.

Impact on system usability & performance

CIS Level 2 boosts security but can also bring usability and performance issues, like:

• Stricter access controls: Users might face delays or extra steps to access resources. This can happen because of multi-factor authentication or limited privileges.
• Higher system resource use: Advanced logging and monitoring take up more storage. It can slow down performance a bit.
• Higher admin overhead: IT teams manage complex setups, access rights, and audit logs. This requires more expertise.

Best-suited for:

Organizations with high security requirements or operating in regulated industries. 

CIS Level 2 suits businesses handling finance, government data, healthcare, and infrastructure. 

CIS Level 1 vs. CIS Level 2: A comparison

CIS Level 1 provides essential security measures like enforcing password policies, disabling unnecessary accounts, and ensuring firewall protection, all with minimal impact on system performance. In contrast, CIS Level 2 includes advanced controls such as multi-factor authentication, detailed system logging, and strict administrative access policies, which may slow down systems. Level 1 is easy to implement, requiring no complex configurations, allowing businesses to adopt it without disrupting daily operations. However, Level 2 demands more technical expertise, making implementation challenging. 

Small to mid-sized businesses that need security and compliance might find CIS Level 1 enough. It provides essential protection without causing major usability disruptions. Businesses in high-risk fields like finance, healthcare, and government need strong security. They often turn to CIS Level 2 for protection.

CIS Compliance in action: Use cases by industry

Here’s how CIS Level 1 and Level 2 apply to various industries.

A. CIS Level 1: Baseline security for business operations

Healthcare & life sciences

In the healthcare sector, patient data privacy and regulatory compliance are top priorities. CIS Level 1 provides the foundational security necessary to meet these needs.

Ensures HIPAA compliance.

• Enforces password policies to prevent unauthorized access to medical records.
• Requires firewall protection to restrict malicious traffic targeting hospital networks.

Protects patient data

• Disables guest accounts to prevent unauthorized access to hospital systems.
• Implements basic access controls, ensuring that only approved personnel can view patient records.

Secures hospital networks & medical devices

• Protects IoT-enabled medical devices from cyber threats.
• Ensures secure remote access for healthcare professionals working off-site.

Financial services & banking

Financial institutions deal with sensitive financial data. That’s why CIS compliance is key. It helps protect transactions and prevent fraud.

Protects customer transactions

• Enables real-time monitoring of banking networks for suspicious activities.
• Implements firewall configurations to block unauthorized access to payment processing systems.

Ensures compliance with PCI DSS & SOX regulations

• Enforces secure password policies for banking staff and customers.
• Ensures the encryption of stored customer financial data.

Prevents phishing & fraud attacks

• Restricts email attachments to prevent phishing scams.
• Implements URL filtering to block fraudulent banking websites.

Retail & E-Commerce

Retailers process many transactions each day. So, they must focus on security to protect consumer data.

Secures POS (Point of Sale) systems from malware

• Enforce default security settings on POS systems to prevent unauthorized tampering.
• Ensures regular software updates to fix security vulnerabilities.

Ensures safe online transactions & consumer data privacy

• Implements SSL/TLS encryption for secure data transmission.
• Prevents unauthorized access to customers’ payment details.

Complies with PCI DSS standards.

• Implements secure network segmentation to separate payment processing from other systems.
• Uses intrusion detection systems (IDS) to check for cyber threats.

B. CIS Level 2: Advanced security for high-risk environments

CIS Level 2 enforces stricter security for industries handling sensitive data, including regulated sectors and critical infrastructure, to defend against advanced threats

Government & defense

National security and government agencies need strong cybersecurity systems. These frameworks protect classified data and stop cyber warfare.

Protects classified data from cyber threats.

• Implements advanced encryption standards (AES-256) to secure sensitive government files.
• Enforces strict access controls, preventing unauthorized personnel from accessing classified information.

Complies with NIST 800-53, FISMA, and FedRAMP.

• Ensure audit logs for tracking government system access.
• Implements multi-factor authentication (MFA) for government employees and contractors.

Prevents state-sponsored cyberattacks

• Uses intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to detect and block nation-state cyber threats.
• Enforces endpoint protection to secure government-issued devices from malware and ransomware.

Healthcare & pharmaceuticals

Hospitals, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies need strong security measures. This is important for protecting research data and electronic health records (EHRs).

Safeguards Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

• Implements role-based access control (RBAC). This means that only authorized doctors and nurses can view patient records.
• Uses disk encryption (BitLocker, FileVault) to protect stored medical information.

Ensures FDA cybersecurity compliance

• Secures medical research systems from cyber threats.
• Implements detailed system logging required by regulatory agencies.

Protects biomedical research & intellectual property

• Prevents unauthorized exfiltration of patent-sensitive research.
• Ensures strict privilege management, allowing only authorized researchers to access lab databases.

Energy & critical infrastructure

Cyberattacks often target power grids, water treatment plants, and public transport systems. CIS Level 2 provides strong protection against threats like ransomware and nation-state attacks.

Secures power grids, water systems, and transportation networks.

• Uses network segmentation to separate operational technology (OT) from IT infrastructure.
• Implements security monitoring tools to detect anomalies in industrial control systems (ICS).

Prevents ransomware & nation-state attacks

• Enforces zero-trust security policies to prevent unauthorized access.
• Uses application whitelisting to block unapproved software execution.

Complies with NERC CIP & ISO 27001 standards

• Requires continuous system monitoring for potential cyber threats.
• Implements incident response plans for handling cyber breaches in critical systems.

Choosing the right CIS Level for your organization

Choosing the right CIS security level depends on your industry, risk, and IT skills. CIS Level 1 offers key security controls for most businesses. CIS Level 2 focuses on organizations that handle sensitive data. It is for those with strict compliance needs or in high-risk environments.

Key considerations:

1. Industry & compliance needs: Do you handle sensitive data? Are there strict regulations?
2. Risk exposure: What level of cyber threats does your business face?
3. IT security resources: Can your team handle the complexity of Level 2?

Decision guide:

• If you need basic security with minimal disruption, go for CIS Level 1.
• If you operate in a high-risk industry, opt for CIS Level 2.
• If you start with Level 1, you can upgrade to Level 2 over time.

Final thoughts:

Choosing between CIS Level 1 and Level 2 depends on your industry’s risk and compliance needs.

Choose CIS Level 1 if you need basic security with minimal impact on usability. It is ideal for small businesses, financial institutions, and retailers.

Choose CIS Level 2 for strong security, strict compliance, and advanced threat defense. It is essential for government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Choosing between CIS Level 1 and Level 2 is important. Effective security measures can protect your organization from data breaches and compliance problems. They also help defend against cyber threats.

So, which level fits your business needs? Are you ready to enhance your security posture

References:

1. CLM

2. CISecurity

3. Cybernews