Cybersecurity is a critical concern for organizations of all sizes in today’s interconnected world. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls provide a prioritized set of actions to defend against the most pervasive cyber threats. This will explore how organizations can leverage the CIS Controls to develop enhanced cyber defense strategies.
Introduction to CIS Controls
The CIS Controls are a concise, actionable set of practices designed to stop today’s most common and significant cyber attacks. They are developed by a community of IT experts who continuously refine and verify the controls based on evolving threats and real-world application.
Prioritizing Your Cyber Defense with CIS Controls
The CIS Controls are divided into basic, foundational, and organizational categories, each addressing different aspects of cybersecurity:
Basic Controls
- Inventory and Control of Hardware Assets: This means keeping track of all the physical devices connected to your network, like computers, servers, routers, and printers. By knowing what’s on your network, you can make sure only the devices you trust are connected and reduce the chances of unauthorized access.
- Inventory and Control of Software Assets: Similar to hardware, you need to keep a list of all the software programs installed on your systems. This helps in ensuring that only approved software is used, minimizing the risk of malicious programs being installed without permission.
- Continuous Vulnerability Management: This involves regularly checking your systems and software for weaknesses or vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. Once identified, these vulnerabilities need to be fixed or patched promptly to reduce the chances of a cyber attack. Regular scanning helps in staying proactive and keeping your systems secure.
Best Practice: Start with these basic controls to establish a strong foundation for your cybersecurity posture.
Foundational Controls
- Secure Configuration of Hardware and Software: This involves setting up your hardware devices and software programs with strong security settings right from the start. By configuring them securely, you reduce the chances of attackers exploiting default or weak settings to gain unauthorized access to your systems.
- Email and Web Browser Protections: Implementing security measures for email and web browsing helps in minimizing the risks associated with these commonly used services. This includes measures like spam filters, phishing detection, and safe browsing practices to prevent users from accessing malicious websites or falling victim to email-based attacks.
- Malware Defenses: Malware, or malicious software, can wreak havoc on your systems by stealing data, damaging files, or disrupting operations. To defend against malware, use anti-malware solutions such as antivirus software. Keeping these solutions updated ensures they can detect and block both known and emerging threats, providing a crucial layer of defense against malicious attacks.
Best Practice: Build upon the basic controls with these foundational practices to further strengthen your defenses.
Organizational Controls
- Incident Response and Management: Having an incident response plan in place is crucial for effectively dealing with security breaches or incidents. This plan outlines the steps to take when an incident occurs, including who to contact, how to contain the incident, and how to recover from it. By having a well-defined plan, you can respond promptly and effectively to minimize the impact of security incidents.
- Penetration Tests and Red Team Exercises: Regularly testing your systems through penetration tests and red team exercises helps in identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your defenses. Penetration tests involve simulated attacks on your systems to uncover security flaws, while red team exercises simulate real-world attack scenarios to evaluate your organization’s readiness to defend against sophisticated threats. These tests provide valuable insights into areas that need improvement and help in strengthening your overall security posture.
- Application Software Security: It’s essential to ensure that the software applications used within your organization are developed with security in mind. This involves following best practices throughout the software development lifecycle, including secure coding practices, vulnerability assessments, and regular security reviews. By prioritizing application security, you can reduce the risk of vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers to compromise your systems or steal sensitive data.
Best Practice: These advanced controls help create a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that involves the entire organization.
Implementing CIS Controls
To effectively leverage the CIS Controls, follow these steps:
- Assess Current Posture: Start by assessing your current cybersecurity practices and measures against the CIS Controls. This involves identifying strengths and weaknesses in your security posture to determine where improvements are needed. By understanding your current status, you can effectively prioritize and plan your implementation efforts.
- Prioritize Implementation: Once you’ve identified gaps in your cybersecurity posture, prioritize the implementation of CIS Controls based on the risks they address. Focus on implementing controls that mitigate your most significant risks first. This approach helps in allocating resources efficiently and effectively strengthening your overall security posture.
- Educate and Train Staff: Cybersecurity is a team effort, so it’s essential to ensure that all employees understand their role in maintaining security. Provide comprehensive training and education programs to help staff recognize potential threats, follow security protocols, and respond appropriately to security incidents. By empowering your workforce with the knowledge and skills they need, you can enhance the effectiveness of your cybersecurity measures.
- Monitor and Review: Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so it’s crucial to continuously monitor your defenses and review the effectiveness of the implemented controls. Regularly assess whether the CIS Controls are adequately addressing your cybersecurity risks and adjust your strategies as needed. By staying vigilant and proactive, you can adapt to emerging threats and maintain a strong security posture over time.
What Are The Benefits of Using CIS Controls
Adopting the CIS Controls can provide several benefits:
- Improved Security Posture: By adhering to a structured set of actions outlined in the CIS Controls, organizations can systematically enhance their defenses against cyber threats. This methodical approach helps in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities across systems, networks, and applications, ultimately bolstering overall cybersecurity.
- Cost-Effectiveness: CIS Controls emphasize prioritization, enabling organizations to allocate resources judiciously. By focusing on implementing controls that address the most critical security risks first, organizations can optimize their cybersecurity investments. This targeted approach helps in maximizing the effectiveness of security measures while minimizing unnecessary costs.
- Compliance: Many of the CIS Controls are aligned with regulatory requirements and industry standards. By implementing these controls, organizations can streamline their compliance efforts, ensuring adherence to various regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and others. This alignment not only helps in meeting regulatory obligations but also reinforces cybersecurity practices to protect sensitive data and systems.
Success Case Study Leveraging CIS Controls
The case study of Cityscape Schools’ adoption of CIS Controls to formalize their K-12 cybersecurity policies is a compelling example of how educational institutions can enhance their cyber defense in a resource-constrained environment. Despite the challenges posed by budget and staffing limitations, as well as the sudden need to pivot to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district successfully implemented a robust cybersecurity framework.
Key insights from this case study
Proactive Leadership: The initiative taken by the district’s superintendent and the Director of Technology, Brock Boggs, demonstrates the importance of leadership in prioritizing cybersecurity.
Leveraging Resources: Utilizing CIS SecureSuite® and the CIS Configuration Assessment Tool (CIS-CAT® Pro) allowed Cityscape to efficiently establish and enforce cybersecurity policies.
Compliance and Beyond: While Cityscape was not directly affected by Texas Senate Bill 820, the district chose to proactively align with the legislation, showcasing a commitment to cybersecurity that exceeds compliance requirements.
Community and Expertise: The case study highlights the value of community-driven resources like CIS Controls, which are developed and refined by IT experts, providing Cityscape with access to industry best practices.
Education and Empowerment: By focusing on policy writing and team support, Cityscape has emphasized the importance of educating and empowering staff to maintain a secure cyber environment.
This case study serves as an inspiration for other K-12 institutions facing similar challenges. It shows that with the right approach, even schools with limited resources can achieve a high level of cybersecurity readiness, ensuring the protection of their students, staff, and digital assets
The CIS Controls offer a robust framework for enhancing your organization’s cyber defense. By systematically implementing these controls, you can significantly improve your security posture, ensure cost-effective resource allocation, and maintain compliance with key regulations. Remember, cybersecurity is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. Regularly assess, prioritize, educate, and review to keep your defenses strong against evolving threats. Stay proactive, stay secure.
