How the CIS Framework Can Protect Your Business
By Richard Fullbrook, Chief Information Security Officer at Sirkit
Think of cybersecurity like locking your front door. You wouldn’t leave your home open to intruders, so why leave your business vulnerable to cybercriminals?
Whether you’re a small or large company, implementing a structured cybersecurity framework is an incredibly important foundation for safeguarding your data and systems. And one of the most effective and globally recognized frameworks is the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls.
What is the CIS Framework?
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) is a community-driven nonprofit. It has been at the forefront of cybersecurity for more than 20 years. Responsible for the CIS Controls® and CIS Benchmarks™, CIS provides best practices that are trusted worldwide for securing IT systems and data.
These standards are continuously refined by a global community of IT professionals, ensuring they evolve alongside emerging threats. The tool doesn’t just offer guidelines – it provides practical solutions. Whether you’re managing in-house systems or leveraging the cloud, CIS helps businesses build a solid security strategy.
The 18 Critical Security Controls?
The CIS Controls consist of 18 prioritized actions designed to help businesses mitigate the most common and dangerous cybersecurity threats. These controls are ranked by importance, allowing organizations to prioritize their efforts based on the potential impact and ease of implementation.
- 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
- Continuous Vulnerability Management
- Audit Log Management
- Email and Web Browser Protections
- Malware Defenses
- Data Recovery
- Network Infrastructure Management
- Security Awareness and Skills Training
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Capabilities
- Service Provider Management
- Application Software Security
- Incident Response Management
- Penetration Testing
The ranking of these controls is important because it guides businesses on where to start and what to prioritize. For example, understanding your IT environment (Controls 1 and 2) is foundational – you can’t protect what you don’t know you have. By assessing and auditing your current systems, software, and security measures, you can identify vulnerabilities and implement the appropriate controls.
The New CIS Consumer Guide
While the CIS framework primarily focuses on businesses, the organization also releases consumer guides – the most recent being A Parental Guide to Protecting Your Child’s Online Activity – offering practical cybersecurity tips for individuals. These consumer guides cover essential actions like securing home networks, enabling automatic updates, and using strong passwords.
As remote work becomes more prevalent, aligning personal cybersecurity practices with organizational policies is vital. Encouraging employees to adopt these consumer-level protections can significantly reduce risks for when they are on the job.
Why Every Business Should Implement CIS Controls
Small businesses often assume they’re not targets for cybercrime, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Scammers frequently target smaller organizations, assuming their defenses aren’t rock-solid. Without implementing these controls, small businesses become easy prey for cybercriminals.
It’s vital to know that every business, regardless of size, has access to these controls. And it costs nothing but time. CIS provides clean, well-configured guidance that helps companies understand how secure they want to be and prioritize the actions they need to take immediately.
The beauty of the CIS framework is its flexibility. Businesses can decide how deeply they want to implement the controls based on their resources and risk tolerance. Whether you start with the basics or aim for comprehensive implementation, the framework scales with your needs.
However, ignoring these controls altogether is a risk no business can afford. Proactive cybersecurity prevents attacks as well as your reputation, ensuring compliance, and maintaining the trust of your clients and partners.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re just starting your cybersecurity journey or looking to enhance existing measures, we provide the expertise and support you need. We understand that navigating cybersecurity frameworks can be overwhelming. Our team is here to help you implement and prioritize the CIS Controls needed for your business.
