CIS compliance: a checklist

CIS, or Center for Internet Security, is a nonprofit organization that develops globally recognized security best practices for cyber defense. The organization creates benchmarks, controls, and guidelines that help organizations improve their cybersecurity posture against evolving threats. CIS works collaboratively with cybersecurity experts, government agencies, and industry professionals to establish these standards.

The CIS Controls are a prioritized set of actions that organizations can implement to protect their systems and data from cyberattacks. These controls are organized into three implementation groups based on an organization's resources and risk tolerance, ranging from basic cyber hygiene to advanced security measures. The framework focuses on the most effective security practices that provide the highest impact in preventing common attack vectors.

CIS also provides configuration benchmarks for various operating systems, software applications, and network devices to help organizations securely configure their technology infrastructure. These benchmarks are developed through a consensus-based process involving security experts and are regularly updated to address new threats and technologies. Organizations worldwide use CIS resources to enhance their security programs and demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

CIS compliance steps

Complying with CIS security standards requires establishing a comprehensive baseline security posture through systematic implementation of the CIS Controls framework. Organizations begin by inventorying all hardware and software assets within their environment, then prioritize controls based on their specific risk profile and organizational maturity. The implementation process involves deploying standardized configurations using CIS Benchmarks, which provide detailed technical guidance for securing various technologies and platforms against common vulnerabilities.

The second phase focuses on continuous monitoring and maintenance of security configurations. Organizations must establish processes for regular vulnerability assessments, patch management, and configuration drift detection. This includes implementing automated tools for compliance monitoring and establishing incident response procedures aligned with CIS recommendations. Regular audits ensure that security controls remain effective and properly configured as the environment evolves.

Documentation and evidence collection form a critical component of CIS compliance efforts. Organizations must maintain detailed records of all implemented controls, configuration changes, and security incidents. This documentation supports both internal governance requirements and external audit processes. Additionally, staff training and awareness programs ensure that personnel understand their roles in maintaining security standards and following established procedures.

Governance and continuous improvement complete the compliance framework by establishing executive oversight and regular review cycles. Organizations should implement metrics and reporting mechanisms to track compliance status and security effectiveness. Regular assessments against the CIS Controls framework help identify gaps and opportunities for enhancement, while stakeholder engagement ensures that security requirements align with business objectives and regulatory requirements.

CIS compliance checklist

• Asset Inventory Management: Maintain comprehensive inventories of all hardware and software assets with automated discovery tools. Example: Deploy network scanning tools that automatically identify all devices, including that forgotten server in the storage closet, and maintain a centralized asset management database updated in real-time.

• Secure Configuration Implementation: Apply CIS Benchmarks to all systems and maintain configuration baselines. Example: Configure Windows servers using CIS Windows Server 2019 Benchmark settings, such as disabling unnecessary services like Print Spooler and setting password policies to require 14-character minimum length.

• Vulnerability Management Program: Establish regular vulnerability scanning and patch management processes. Example: Run weekly vulnerability scans using tools like Nessus, prioritize critical patches for deployment within 72 hours, and maintain documentation showing that the recent Apache Log4j vulnerability was patched across all affected systems within the required timeframe.

• Access Control and Monitoring: Implement least-privilege access principles and monitor all user activities. Example: Configure Active Directory so that the marketing intern cannot access financial databases, implement multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts, and log all privileged user activities with alerts for after-hours access attempts.

• Security Awareness Training: Provide regular cybersecurity training to all personnel with measurable outcomes. Example: Conduct quarterly phishing simulation campaigns where employees who click malicious links receive immediate training, and track improvement metrics showing a reduction in click rates from 15% to 3% over six months.

• Incident Response and Recovery: Develop and test comprehensive incident response plans with defined roles and procedures. Example: Maintain an incident response playbook that includes specific steps for ransomware attacks, conduct tabletop exercises quarterly, and ensure the IT team can restore critical systems from critical systems from backups within 4 hours as demonstrated in recent tests.

Common challenges

Organizations frequently encounter significant obstacles when attempting to implement comprehensive CIS Controls across diverse IT environments with varying levels of maturity and complexity. Many struggle with the initial assessment phase, finding it difficult to accurately inventory all assets, identify critical vulnerabilities, and prioritize which controls should be implemented first. The sheer scope of the CIS framework can overwhelm organizations that lack dedicated cybersecurity staff or sufficient budget allocation for comprehensive security initiatives.

Resource constraints present another major challenge, as CIS compliance often requires substantial investments in both technology solutions and skilled personnel to maintain ongoing adherence. Organizations must balance the costs of new security tools, staff training, and potential operational disruptions against their available budgets and competing business priorities. Small to medium-sized organizations particularly struggle with this challenge, as they may lack the economies of scale that larger enterprises enjoy when implementing enterprise-wide security controls.

Legacy systems and technical debt create additional compliance hurdles that many organizations find difficult to overcome within reasonable timeframes. Older infrastructure components may not support modern security configurations recommended by CIS Benchmarks, forcing organizations to choose between costly system upgrades and accepting residual security risks. The complexity increases when organizations must maintain business continuity while gradually modernizing their systems, often requiring phased implementation approaches that can extend compliance timelines and create temporary security gaps.

Simplifying CIS benchmark enforcement with an Enterprise Browser

CIS benchmarks are a series of best practices that ensure information security and privacy hygiene when using browsers among other things. With the Island Enterprise Browser, businesses can simply use CIS benchmarks when creating policy to maintain best practices — directly through the browser.

By enforcing CIS benchmarks, Island ensures users, browsers, and applications use mature best practices reducing information security and privacy risks.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the difference between CIS Controls and CIS Benchmarks?

A: CIS Controls are a prioritized set of high-level security actions organized into three implementation groups that organizations can follow to improve their cybersecurity posture. CIS Benchmarks are detailed technical configuration guidelines for specific operating systems, software applications, and network devices that help implement secure configurations aligned with the Controls.

Q: How should organizations prioritize which CIS Controls to implement first?

A: Organizations should start by inventorying their hardware and software assets, then prioritize controls based on their specific risk profile and organizational maturity. The CIS Controls are designed with the most impactful, foundational security measures prioritized first, such as asset inventory management and secure configuration implementation.

Q: What are the main challenges organizations face when implementing CIS compliance?

A: The most common challenges include difficulty with initial asset inventory and vulnerability assessment, resource constraints (budget and skilled personnel), legacy systems that don't support modern security configurations, and the overwhelming scope of the comprehensive CIS framework, especially for small to medium-sized organizations.

Q: How often should organizations review and update their CIS compliance status?

A: Organizations should establish continuous monitoring processes with regular vulnerability assessments, weekly vulnerability scans for critical patches (deployed within 72 hours), quarterly security awareness training and incident response exercises, and ongoing automated compliance monitoring to detect configuration drift and maintain effective security controls.

Q: What documentation is required for CIS compliance?

A: Organizations must maintain detailed records of all implemented controls, configuration changes, security incidents, staff training completion, vulnerability scan results, patch management activities, and incident response test outcomes. This documentation supports both internal governance requirements and external audit processes while demonstrating compliance adherence over time.