Every day, organizations worldwide face an invisible war. Cyberattacks are skyrocketing, with cybercrime expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.[1] In 2023 alone, the U.S. faced over 2,200 cyberattacks per day, exposing 22 billion records.[2] In one alarming case, a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare in 2024 disrupted healthcare payments nationwide, affecting hospitals, pharmacies, and insurance providers.[3]
So, what can businesses do to stay ahead of cybercriminals? They need a rock-solid security strategy, and this is where CIS compliance can help.
What are the CIS Controls?
In 2008, a severe data breach shook the U.S. defense industry. This attack raised the need for a unified security approach, leading to the creation of the Critical Security Controls (CSC).[4]
Initially developed as a military-grade framework, these 20 controls were later taken over by the Center for Internet Security (CIS). Today, the CIS security framework has evolved into a globally recognized cybersecurity standard that helps organizations defend against modern cyber threats.
CIS critical control version 8.1: latest version of CIS Controls
Staying ahead of cybersecurity threats requires a framework that evolves with the threats. CIS Controls v8 offers a prioritized set of best practices designed to strengthen your organization’s security posture. Building on the solid foundation of CIS compliance, the CIS control version 8.1 is the latest update. The CIS controls v8 introduces critical enhancements, including a new security function and improved alignment with NIST CSF 2.0.
What are the top 18 CIS Controls?
The CIS top 18 Controls represent a comprehensive and prioritized cybersecurity framework designed to help organizations defend against the most common cyber threats. Often referred to as the CIS controls list, these best practices serve as a roadmap for building a resilient security strategy. Without these in place, your digital environment remains vulnerable. Let’s break down how each control contributes to protecting your organization from the ground up.
1. Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets
The first step in securing your organization is protecting and controlling your assets. This control requires you to maintain an up-to-date inventory of all hardware assets within your network. This includes servers, computers, laptops, mobile devices, and any other endpoints connected to your systems. By keeping track of your devices, you ensure that only authorized and approved equipment is granted access to your network. Unauthorized devices? They don’t even get a chance to enter. This helps prevent situations where cybercriminals exploit untracked or forgotten devices as entry points into your system.
2. Inventory and Control of Software Assets
Now that you know what devices you’re working with, you need to make sure that only safe, verified software is running on them. This ensures that every software application installed on your systems is cataloged, monitored, and kept up to date. The goal here is to eliminate any unapproved, outdated, or vulnerable software that could serve as a potential entry point for cybercriminals. By maintaining a list of only authorized software, you reduce the risk of malware, ransomware, and other malicious attacks that could target software vulnerabilities.
3. Data Protection
Imagine your sensitive data as a treasure chest. You wouldn’t leave it unguarded in a public place, right? The same goes for digital information. This control ensures that your organization’s sensitive data such as customer records, financial details, or proprietary information is encrypted when it’s stored and when it’s being sent across the network. Additionally, access to this data is tightly controlled to ensure that only authorized personnel can view or manipulate it. Whether through encryption or strong data access policies, data protection is all about locking down your most valuable assets to prevent unauthorized access and theft.
4. Secure Configuration of Enterprise Assets and Software
This control is about ensuring that all devices and applications are securely configured. Default settings for devices and software are often not secure, and cybercriminals know this. By implementing secure configurations, you’re making sure that all security features such as firewalls, anti-malware protection, and access controls are turned on and optimized. This helps reduce vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Essentially, it’s like securing every corner of your digital environment before you open it up for business.
5. Account Management
One of the most common ways for attackers to gain access to your network is through compromised user accounts. The Account Management control focuses on maintaining strict oversight of user accounts, especially those with administrative privileges. Admin accounts can open up a wealth of potential damage, so it’s crucial that access is granted only to those who truly need it. Regular audits of account activity, revoking unnecessary accounts, and enforcing strong password policies all fall under this control. It’s also important to ensure that users are removed from the system when they leave the organization to avoid any lingering access risks.
6. Access Control Management
With the rise of data breaches and hacking attempts, basic password security is no longer enough. Access Control Management ensures that only the right people have access to the right resources at the right time. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to authenticate themselves with more than just a password, such as through a one-time code sent to their phone. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) ensures that users can only access the information or systems that are necessary for their job. For example, an HR employee shouldn’t have access to financial systems, and an IT admin shouldn’t be able to view customer data. This minimizes the risk of insider threats and data leaks.
7. Continuous Vulnerability Management
Vulnerabilities in your systems can leave you exposed to cybercriminals. This control ensures that your organization regularly updates systems and scans for any security weaknesses. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities, you can fix them before they are exploited by attackers. This can involve using automated vulnerability scanning tools and applying patches to fix software flaws. Regular monitoring is key to maintaining a secure system and reducing the risk of a breach.
8. Audit Log Management
Audit Log Management involves keeping detailed logs of all system activities, including user actions and system events. These logs help detect suspicious behavior, such as unauthorized access or unusual activity patterns. By regularly reviewing audit logs, you can spot potential threats early and take action before a small issue becomes a full-blown attack.
9. Email and Web Browser Protections
Phishing attacks and malicious websites are some of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to your systems. This control focuses on deploying email security solutions to block phishing emails that attempt to trick users into revealing passwords or downloading malware. It also involves setting up web browser protections to prevent users from accessing dangerous sites. By protecting your employees from these common attack vectors, you significantly reduce the chances of a successful cyberattack.
10. Malware Defenses
Malware defense is all about keeping your systems clean from malicious software like viruses, ransomware, and spyware. Installing and regularly updating antivirus software helps detect and remove these threats. This control also includes using behavior-based detection systems that can spot malware even if it’s not yet recognized by traditional signature-based software. With cybercriminals constantly developing new types of malware, having up-to-date defenses is essential for protecting your systems.
11. Data Recovery Capability
Data loss can be catastrophic for any business. This control ensures that your organization regularly backs up critical data to recover quickly from cyberattacks, such as ransomware. Having a solid data recovery plan in place helps minimize downtime in the event of an attack. It’s not just about backing up data, but also ensuring that the backups are secure and can be restored quickly and effectively. This helps your organization stay resilient, even in the face of a major breach.
12. Network Infrastructure Management
Your network is the backbone of your digital operations, and protecting it is crucial. Network Infrastructure Management involves securing network devices like firewalls, routers, and switches to prevent unauthorized access. Proper configuration and management of these devices ensure that your network is segmented and that traffic is filtered to block malicious activity. This also includes using encryption for sensitive communications and setting up intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual network behavior.
13. Network Monitoring and Defense
Keeping a close watch on your network activity is essential to maintaining a strong security posture. Network Monitoring and Defense involves using a combination of tools and procedures to identify and respond to threats within your network environment. This includes monitoring user behavior, analyzing traffic patterns, detecting anomalies, and filtering unwanted access. The 11 safeguards under this control guide how to gather relevant network data, generate alerts for suspicious events, and control access to prevent intrusions. By combining intelligent automation with a skilled security team, organizations can quickly detect, respond to, and recover from potential cyber threats.
14. Security Awareness and Skills Training
Your employees are often the first line of defense against cyber threats. Security Awareness and Skills Training involves educating employees about cybersecurity risks like phishing, social engineering, and password management. When employees are well-informed and know how to recognize suspicious activity, they become an active part of your security strategy. Regular training helps create a culture of security awareness, making it less likely that an employee will fall for a scam or inadvertently expose the organization to a breach.
15. Service Provider Management
Third-party vendors and contractors can also pose a security risk if their practices aren’t up to par. This control ensures that your service providers follow strong security policies and comply with your organization’s cybersecurity standards. Whether it’s cloud services, IT support, or suppliers, it’s important to assess the security posture of third parties and enforce security measures, such as encryption and data protection, in your contracts. Vendor risk management helps minimize vulnerabilities that arise from outside your organization.
16. Application Software Security
Applications are prime targets for cyberattacks, especially if they contain coding flaws. This control focuses on securing applications through secure coding practices and regular code reviews. It also includes patch management, vulnerability testing, and whitelisting to ensure that only secure applications are used. By implementing this policy, you reduce the risk of introducing vulnerabilities into your applications that could be exploited by attackers.
17. Incident Response Management
Incident Response Management ensures that your organization is ready to handle any security incident effectively. This control involves developing a clear plan for responding to security breaches, including identifying the source of the attack, containing the damage, and recovering systems. The plan should also include communication protocols for informing stakeholders and regulatory bodies. Regular incident response drills ensure that your team knows what to do when the real thing happens, minimizing the impact of the attack.
18. Penetration Testing
A Penetration Test (often referred to as a “pen test”) is like hiring ethical hackers to break into your systems. This control involves simulating cyberattacks to find vulnerabilities before malicious hackers do. By testing your defenses in real-world scenarios, you can identify weaknesses in your systems, networks, and applications. Once these vulnerabilities are discovered, they can be fixed before a real attacker can exploit them. Regular pen testing helps you stay one step ahead, ensuring that your defenses remain effective against evolving threats.
What are CIS Implementation Groups?
CIS Implementation Groups (IGs) are a practical way to guide organizations through the 18 CIS Controls based on their cybersecurity maturity, resources, and risk exposure. Instead of treating every control as equally urgent, the CIS framework organizes these security best practices into three Implementation Groups to help organizations prioritize what to implement first.
While the earlier version of the framework included 20 controls, the current CIS Controls list includes 18, categorized by complexity and implementation level:
IG1 – Basic Controls
These are foundational security actions recommended for all organizations, especially small to mid-sized ones with limited cybersecurity staff. They cover:
- Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets
- Inventory and Control of Software Assets
- Data Protection
- Secure Configuration of Enterprise Assets and Software
- Account Management
- Access Control Management
IG2 – Foundational Controls
Ideal for organizations with moderate risk exposure and more complex IT environments, these controls build on IG1 and include:
- Continuous Vulnerability Management
- Audit Log Management
- Email and Web Browser Protections
- Malware Defenses
- Data Recovery
- Network Infrastructure Management
- Network Monitoring and Defense
- Security Awareness and Skills Training
- Service Provider Management
- Application Software Security
- Incident Response Management
IG3 – Advanced Controls
These are advanced security practices recommended for large enterprises or organizations that handle highly sensitive data. These controls help guard against targeted attacks and meet regulatory requirements:
- Penetration Testing
By aligning the CIS Implementation Groups with the 18 critical controls, organizations can take a phased, strategic approach to cybersecurity, starting with the basics and building toward advanced protections as their capabilities grow.
Read more: CIS Level 1 vs. CIS Level 2: Which security benchmark fits your needs?
How to implement CIS controls?
Adopting the CIS controls framework is not an all-or-nothing task. You don’t need to implement all 20 controls at once, especially if your organization has limited resources. Instead, you can take a phased approach that aligns with your budget, manpower, and immediate security needs. Here’s how to get started:
- Assess your cyber risks: The first step is to identify what matters most to your organization. Start by pinpointing your critical data and assets. Once you know what needs protection, conduct a thorough risk assessment to understand the potential threats. What are the vulnerabilities in your system? Who might target your data? What could be the consequences if an attack were successful? By understanding your risk landscape, you can make smarter decisions about where to allocate resources and which controls to implement first.
- Compare your current security to CIS controls frameworks: Next, take a hard look at your current security posture. Compare your existing measures with those of the CIS controls frameworks to identify any gaps. What controls are you already implementing? Where are you falling short? This comparison helps you understand where your organization stands and what’s missing. Are your basic controls like asset inventory and access management in place? Do you need to upgrade your vulnerability management practices? Pinpointing these gaps will give you a clear roadmap for where to focus your efforts first.
- Prioritize key controls: Once you have a clear understanding of your risks and gaps, it’s time to prioritize your actions. Start with the basic controls. Once those are in place, move on to the foundational controls, which provide more advanced protections. If your organization is handling highly sensitive data or operating in regulated industries, you might need to implement organizational controls as well, which focus on policies and governance. By prioritizing these controls in phases, you can build your defenses in a manageable way while focusing on the most critical areas first.
- Secure executive buy-in: No security strategy can succeed without support from the top. Executive buy-in is essential for allocating the resources, both financial and human needed to implement CIS controls frameworks effectively. Engage with your leadership team and make the case for why cybersecurity is a top priority. Share the risks, explain the value of the controls, and show how CIS controls frameworks align with your organization’s broader goals. Once you have their backing, you can secure the budget and personnel needed to roll out your security initiatives.
- Implement and monitor progress: With your plans in place and the necessary resources secured, it’s time to implement the controls. Start small, and then expand as your organization becomes more comfortable with the process. But implementation doesn’t stop there. Continuous monitoring is key to maintaining a strong security posture. Regularly review and update your policies, track your progress, and stay flexible to adjust to emerging threats. Cybersecurity is an ongoing effort, not a one-time fix.
Benefits of Implementing CIS Security Controls
Implementing CIS Security Controls is a smart way to boost your cybersecurity. These controls help you prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats. They offer a clear, step-by-step approach to building your security strategy. You can customize the controls based on your organization’s size, the type of data you handle, and your risk level. Here’s how your business benefits from CIS security controls:
- Strengthened security foundation
Basic controls (IG1) help small businesses and startups establish essential security measures such as managing assets, securing accounts, and protecting devices creating a solid foundation for cyber defense. - Cost-effective protection for small teams
Organizations with limited resources can start with CIS security controls that offer high-impact safeguards without requiring a large budget or dedicated security team. - Regulatory compliance made easier
Foundational controls (IG2) support businesses that handle sensitive data like healthcare, financial, or personal information by aligning with compliance standards such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. - Improved risk management
By identifying vulnerabilities and enforcing secure configurations, CIS security controls reduce the risk of breaches and data loss across your digital infrastructure. - Strategic cybersecurity governance
Organizational controls (IG3) help large or high-risk organizations integrate security into business strategy, policies, and operations. It is ideal for government entities, defense, and critical infrastructure. - Scalable framework for growth
As your business grows, CIS security controls scale with you. From basic protections to advanced strategies you can ensure consistent security at every stage of your journey. - Enhanced trust and reputation
Following a recognized cybersecurity framework like CIS security controls protects your data and also boosts stakeholder confidence and builds credibility with clients and partners.
Secure today, thrive tomorrow
Cyber threats aren’t going anywhere. Organizations must adopt CIS critical security controls to stay ahead of cybercriminals. These controls provide a clear roadmap for securing systems, protecting data, and ensuring compliance.
At the end of the day, cybersecurity isn’t just about compliance, it’s about survival. Is your business ready to defend itself?
Register your interest today and see how Scalefusion Veltar can help you enhance security and CIS compliance.
References:
1. Cybercrime Magazine
2. Watch Guard
3. Change Healthcare
4. Wikipedia
FAQs
1. Who created the CIS controls?
The CIS controls were created by the Center for Internet Security (CIS). They were developed with input from cybersecurity experts across government, business, and academia.
2. Why should an organization implement the CIS Controls?
CIS security controls help organizations reduce cyber risk, protect sensitive data, and meet compliance standards. They offer a clear, scalable framework for building a strong cybersecurity strategy.
3. What is the purpose of CIS controls?
The purpose of the CIS controls is to provide a prioritized set of best practices to protect IT systems and data from cyber threats. They help organizations strengthen security with practical steps.
4. What is the latest version of CIS controls?
The latest version of CIS Controls is v8.1. It includes 18 updated controls that better support modern IT and cloud environments.
