Maintaining the cyber hygiene of your data systems is one of the biggest challenges IT cybersecurity and compliance professionals face in today’s technologically dependent and rapidly evolving digital landscape. The Centre for Internet Security (CIS) controls is a condensed list of high-priority and highly effective cyber defense measures that help you safeguard your organization from the malicious intent of hackers and their software.
In our previous blog, we provided an overview of the 18 critical controls outlined in CIS v.8 and discussed the changes that improved these measures to protect your data better. This blog highlights the five most frequently asked questions about the CIS v.8 controls. If you want to implement CIS controls to secure your data infrastructure, read this article!
Five Most Frequently-Asked Questions About CIS V.8 Controls
- Who created the CIS Controls and when?
The CIS controls were created by an internationally diverse consortium that included businesses, governmental organizations, educational institutions, and people from every ecosystem sector, including cyber analysts, vulnerability finders, solution providers, users, consultants, policy-makers, executives, academia, auditors, etc.
The Controls were created by skilled volunteers who drew on their experience to create the best possible defensive measures against cyberattacks. The CIS Controls were created in 2008 and have undergone multiple amendments, the most recent of which is version 8.
- Does implementing the CIS Controls replace the need to comply with other security frameworks?
The CIS Controls do not replace current permission, compliance, or regulatory frameworks. Most important compliance frameworks and laws, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, NERC CIP, and FISMA, are mapped to the CIS Controls, including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-53, and ISO 27000 series. For these various frameworks, mappings from the CIS Controls have been created to provide a point of departure for action.
- Are the CIS Controls free to use?
Yes, anyone can utilize CIS Controls for free to enhance their personal cybersecurity. You may enroll in CIS SecureSuite Product Vendor or Consulting Membership or turn into an authorized Supporter to use the CIS Controls in tools or services that benefit your clients if you are using the Controls as a vendor or consultant or if you offer services in a related cybersecurity industry.
- How are the CIS Controls related to the NIST cybersecurity framework?
The CIS Controls are identified as one of the “informative references” in the NIST Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, which enables users to implement the Framework using an already-accepted technique. According to survey results, most people who utilize the CIS Controls also use the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
- How are the CIS Controls related to the CIS Benchmarks?
While CIS Benchmarks are recommendations for hardening certain operating systems, middleware, software applications, and network devices, CIS Controls are a generic set of best practices for safeguarding various systems and devices.
The CIS Controls repeatedly mention the necessity of secure setups. CIS Control 4 proposes secure hardware and software configurations for servers, workstations, laptops, and mobile devices.
The CIS Controls and CIS Benchmarks were created by expert communities utilizing a consensus-based methodology. We have included some CIS Controls in the CIS-CAT configuration assessment tool to demonstrate alignment between certain CIS Controls and Benchmarks settings.
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Establishing trust is a crucial competitive differentiator when prospecting new SaaS businesses in today’stoday’s era of data breaches and compromised privacy. Customers and partners want assurances that their organizations are doing everything possible to prevent disclosing sensitive data and putting them at risk, and compliance certification fills that need.
Akitra offers an industry-leading, AI-powered Compliance Automation platform for SaaS companies. Using automated evidence collection and continuous monitoring, together with a full suite of customizable policies and controls as a compliance foundation, our compliance automation platform and solutions help our customers prepare readiness for the CIS V8 Controls, along with compliance security frameworks like SOC 1, SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27701, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, PCI DSS, GDPR, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, CMMC, FedRAMP, and more such as CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark, etc. In addition, companies can use Akitra’s Risk Management product for overall risk management for your company, Trust Center, and AI-based Automated Questionnaire Response product to streamline and expedite security questionnaire response processes delivering huge cost savings. Our compliance and security experts will provide customized guidance to navigate the end-to-end compliance process confidently.
The benefits of our solution include enormous savings in time, human resources, and cost savings, including discounted audit fees with our audit firm partners. Customers achieve compliance certification fast and cost-effectively, stay continuously compliant as they grow, and can become certified under additional frameworks using a single compliance automation platform.
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