What is the CIS Controls Framework?

The CIS Controls Framework gives IT security teams a clear, actionable path to reduce risk without re-inventing the wheel. Good news for teams already stretched thin by cloud migrations, alert fatigue and playing catch up with evolving threats.
What makes the CIS Controls so valuable is it breaks down security into a prioritized set of tactical, practical and manageable steps. It’s like a checklist of what to do and when.
So, whether you’re a small security team at a mid-sized company or managing controls across hybrid environments, the CIS Controls is a way to improve your security posture without getting bogged down in complexity.

Why the CIS Controls Framework Works

Adaptability to Your Reality

One reason why the CIS Controls Framework is so useful is that it tells you what to do first, depending on your size. The framework organizes its 18 controls into three categories, which are Basic, Foundational and Organizational.
But what really makes the framework actionable is the Implementation Groups (IGs). These are practical tiers (IG1, IG2, IG3) that help you prioritize based on your resources, risk profile and security maturity. For example, IG1 is for small teams or organizations with small staff and limited cybersecurity expertise. IG3 is for enterprises managing complex infrastructures and compliance requirements.
This hierarchical approach allows resource-constrained organizations to focus first on implementing highly effective controls, so they can build a strong security foundation efficiently.

Built for Real Teams

As a security team, we know you face a harsh reality: not everything can be fixed at once. The CIS Controls lets you start with high-impact actions that reduce the most common attack vectors, like poor asset inventory, missing patches or unmanaged admin privileges.
By focusing on what’s most likely to be exploited, the framework gives you quick wins while laying the groundwork for longer-term improvements.

Efficient Use of Limited Resources

Time, talent and budget are always in short supply. Because the CIS Controls prioritizes what matters most, you don’t waste cycles chasing low-impact fixes. This is perfect for SMBs and understaffed teams who need a focused plan instead of a long list. In some cases, there’s no need for a 7-figure budget or 20 20-person SOC.

What are the Differences and Similarities Between CIS vs NIST (CSF)?

Both the CIS Controls Framework and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) are effective and modern frameworks. But they’re for different levels of maturity. 
Firstly, NIST CSF gives your IT security team a strategic view to organize a cybersecurity program across five pillars: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. For some teams, especially earlier in their security journey, it can feel too high-level or resource-intensive to get up and running quickly.
On the other side of the coin, CIS drills down into specific actions. It’s less about the big picture and more about a tactical playbook. Patch this, monitor that, limit these permissions, etc. Here’s a pro tip: you can start with CIS, then layer in NIST as you mature.
The good news is that with NRI Secure, you can actually get the best of both frameworks from the outset. We integrate the CIS Controls Framework into our broader security assessments and implementation services. Our proprietary NRI Secure Framework (NSF) creates assessment items through continuous updates by incorporating elements from CIS, NIST CSF, and other global standards to build tailored assessments for each client. This serves as the backbone of our security gap analysis services.

The 3 CIS Controls and Their Purpose

The controls are organized into three categories, each building on the last:

• Basic Controls: These are your security hygiene measures (the must-haves and non-negotiables) for any organization, regardless of size or industry. They include asset management, secure configuration and privileged access control. Basic controls are your organization’s first line of defense and should be implemented early to protect your most critical and vulnerable assets.
• Foundational Controls: Once the basics are in place, Foundational Controls take things further by addressing more complex security functions. This includes vulnerability management, malware defense, and email/web browser protection. They build on the Basic Controls to enable your organization to detect, prevent and respond to threats more effectively.
• Organizational Controls: This last group centers on long-term security plans. It covers management practices such as incident response, audit log management, security awareness training and data recovery. These controls play a key role in managing risks in the long run. 

When you combine these categories, what you get is a layered defense model that scales as your company grows.

Quick Note: The current version (CIS Controls v8) reflects today’s modern, distributed environments. It consolidates and updates earlier controls to address new tech and realities (like cloud, remote work and mobile) while emphasizing flexibility and role-based implementation through Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3).

CIS Controls Version 7. Source: Center for Internet Security.

How to Use the CIS Controls Framework for Your Organization

You know security isn’t the same for everyone. In fact, any rigid, cookie-cutter approach will fail. The CIS Controls Framework knows that. That’s why you can adjust it to your industry, risk tolerance and the resources and operational realities of your organization.

Customization by Industry

Different industries face different threats. For instance, a retail enterprise will be more concerned with anti-malware protection, POS system protection and patching systems quickly when they are vulnerable. Health-care organizations will focus on data privacy, controlling access to devices and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA).
Thus, making sure that the framework is aligned with your industry risk profile enables you to focus on controls that address the threats most relevant to your business (without expending effort on low-priority items).

Right-Sizing by Organizational Maturity

Size and complexity do matter when it comes to your security needs. What might suffice for a 10-person startup probably won't be adequate for a global company..

• Small businesses will typically start with the Basic Controls to build fundamental hygiene. These can stop a high percentage of the common attacks we see.
• Mid-sized organizations could add more of the Foundational Controls, putting monitoring, vulnerability management, and tighter access policies onto their security stack.
• Enterprises would look to deploy all three tiers (Basic, Foundational, and Organizational), aligning them with regulatory compliance or internal risk frameworks.

The beauty of the CIS Controls Framework is this versatility: it's simple enough for a startup and comprehensive enough for a multinational, yet still retains simplicity and usability.

How to Implement the 18 Controls in the CIS Framework 

In order to apply the 18 CIS Controls most effectively, we always recommend a phased implementation and making sure that each step builds on the previous one.
Here's what we'd recommend to start with:

Step 1: Risk and Asset Inventory

Begin by conducting a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and align your efforts with the most relevant CIS Controls Framework measures. The first step helps define your threat surface and target your implementation to what matters most for your business.
It's also the time to decide on the CIS Implementation Group (IG1, IG2 or IG3). This establishes your starting point and priority depending on how mature your operations are, your staff, and risk exposure.

Step 2: Basic Controls (Cyber Hygiene)

Now, start with "Basic Controls," commonly referred to as Cyber Hygiene. These controls are critical to safeguarding your company's most important assets and need to be established immediately:

• Inventory and Asset Management: Find and inventory the devices and software in your company. You can do so by making a comprehensive list of assets (hardware, software, cloud environments, and data flows). That way, you know what's on your network and who's using them.
• Secure System Setup: Make consistent, secure settings on all systems and devices mandatory.
• Privileged Access Management: Restrict, monitor, and manage privileged access to sensitive data and systems.

These steps correspond to CIS Controls 1, 2, and 4 through 6. They will stop a substantial portion of automated and opportunistic threats (and lay the groundwork for more sophisticated controls).

Step 3: Establish Foundational Controls

Having set up basic controls, improve your defense position by putting the "Foundational Controls" in place. These address more advanced security concerns:

• Vulnerability Management: Identify, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities on an ongoing basis across your environment.
• Malware Defenses: Implement tools and processes to keep malware threats at bay, identify them, and respond to them effectively.
• Email and Web Browser Protections: Protect email and web browser activity to minimize attack surfaces.

These correspond to CIS Controls 3, 7, and others 7–16.

Step 4: Add Organizational Controls

Finally, lay a mature security foundation by developing solid organizational practices and policies:

• Incident Response: Implement and regularly test an incident response plan to respond to security incidents properly.
• Audit Log Management: Accurately log, track, and analyze security events to detect suspicious activity.
• Data Recovery: Use foolproof data backup and recovery techniques for business continuity.

These follow CIS Controls 17 and 18.

Start where you are. Many organizations get overwhelmed by trying to implement all 18 at once. The CIS Controls are iterative (with every step you take, you reduce risk). Don't wait for the perfect moment to implement all 18. Move toward the next best step that matches your existing exposure and capability.

How to Track Progress and Measure Results Using the CIS Controls Framework

To be able to know that your efforts actually reduce risk, you have to measure and compare over time. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a great way of staying on course, justifying cost, and constantly optimizing. It also tells you where controls are working and where they're not, so you can re-allocate resources or priorities.

Here are some KPIs we recommend your security team looks at:

• Asset Inventory Coverage: What percentage of devices, cloud assets, and software are inventoried? Anything that is unknown is a blind spot.
• Vulnerability Remediation Rate: How well and consistently are discovered vulnerabilities being patched? This indicates your team's technical competence and risk prioritization.
• Incident Response Time: After a threat is identified, how fast do you contain, investigate, and recover? The sooner the better.

Reviewing these metrics on a regular basis helps you spot gaps, make data-driven adjustments, and guarantee that your controls align with new threats. Visualization tools and dashboards (especially when baked into your SIEM or security platform) can help communicate progress concisely to stakeholders.

How to Use CIS for Cybersecurity Compliance

Another underleveraged application of the CIS framework is facilitating easier compliance work across numerous regulatory mandates. For example, data protection and secure access management practices in the CIS framework are aligned with GDPR, HIPAA and CCPA. This strengthens security and compliance.

How CIS Framework Aligns with GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA

• GDPR: Data access and recovery controls support Article 32 security of processing.
• HIPAA: Inventory management and configuration support system integrity and audit control requirements of the Security Rule.
• CCPA: Right-to-know and data security provisions of the law are enabled by the emphasis on protecting consumer information.

This makes audits easier and reduces compliance risk. Your security team does not have to manage dozens of duplicate requirements but can instead use the CIS Controls as one source of truth.

Continuous Risk Management

Cybersecurity is not a one-and-done deal. New threats show up, technology evolves, and business priorities shift. That's why regular check-ins on your controls (and how well they're working) are important to you.
Plan a review cadence (could be quarterly, twice yearly, etc.) and update your controls accordingly to include new risks, new tooling or compliance requirements.
Lastly, incorporating feedback loops into your security operations keeps you agile without losing control.
The CIS Controls Framework gives you a prioritized, actionable roadmap to build and mature your cybersecurity program. It’s a solid foundation to start with, whether you’re strengthening the controls of a large enterprise or securing your startup. 

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

As we wind down, the CIS Controls Framework provides you with a step-by-step, practical approach to building and expanding your cybersecurity program. 

Here's a quick rundown of what you need to do as follow-up steps:

• Carry out a thorough review of your current security posture.
• Prioritize implementation starting with IG1 (basic cyber hygiene), then build toward IG2 and IG3.
• Define and track KPIs to measure what’s working, and what’s not.
• Map controls to regulatory frameworks you’re subject to (HIPAA, CCPA, etc.).
• Reassess regularly and adjust to stay ahead of emerging threats.

NRI Secure incorporates the CIS Controls into an end-to-end security program. Our NRI Secure Framework (NSF) combines the CIS Controls with NIST guidelines and other global standards so we can provide you with assessments that integrate with your infrastructure. Let's get started. Talk to an expert now.