The benchmarks developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) are a set of best-practice cybersecurity standards for several IT systems and products. The baseline settings provided by CIS Benchmarks assure compliance with industry-agreed cybersecurity standards. The standards were created by CIS in collaboration with business and research institute communities of cybersecurity specialists.
The CIS Benchmarks are free to use and may be downloaded quickly. They’re beneficial to everyone involved in an organization’s IT governance, cybersecurity policies, or systems. A subscription option is also available at the Center for Internet Security, which improves cybersecurity compliance monitoring and resources.
IT system suppliers can acquire certification to prove that their solution meets CIS compliance by using CIS Benchmarks. It also covers the Center for Internet Security’s other products and services, such as CIS Controls and CIS certification.
What is CIS?
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and promoting best-practice cybersecurity policies and standards. With the help of a network of cybersecurity specialists, it creates and promotes IT security guidelines. Members of CIS come from a variety of fields, including commercial industry, government, and research institutes.
The goal is to improve cybersecurity and respond to known cyber threats in a collaborative manner. To do this, CIS provides a variety of tools, resources, and initiatives to help enterprises and government agencies implement best-practice IT governance.
Many of these tools and resources are available for free. Through the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, CIS regularly monitors cyber risks to assist national and local governments in promoting cybersecurity practices (MS-ISAC).
MS-ISAC provides information and tools to members for better IT governance, cybersecurity notifications, and cyber threat reports. CIS Benchmarks assist in the improvement of cybersecurity by recommending best-practice configurations for IT systems and products. To verify the secure deployment of various components of an IT network, most organizations will employ numerous benchmarks.
What is CIS benchmark?
When you install a new operating system or program, it comes with default settings. In most cases, all ports are open, and all application services are enabled. In other words, newly deployed assets are extremely vulnerable.
CIS Benchmarks are frameworks for calibrating a variety of IT services and products in order to assure the highest levels of security. They’re created through a collaborative approach that includes feedback from cybersecurity professionals. There are around 100 benchmarks available, spanning a wide range of well-known companies and systems.
All aspects of an IT network, including operating systems, server systems, office applications, and network devices, are covered by CIS Benchmarks. CIS Benchmarks are free to download and use. All aspects of the IT system are covered in the manuals, from basic setup through configuration. The advice is updated and revised on a regular basis to reflect new revisions of the IT service or product.
The baseline parameters for ensuring the security of an IT system or product are known as CIS Benchmarks. The goal is to improve worldwide cybersecurity standards across the board. Organizations, governments, and institutes all throughout the world utilize CIS Benchmarks.
The benefits of CIS benchmarks
CIS Benchmarks assist firms in implementing IT and technology solutions that offer best-in-class cybersecurity protection. The formation of a company’s cybersecurity policy relies heavily on guidelines. Many sorts of technology, including prominent operating systems and browsers, have benchmarks. Also organization IT infrastructure hasn’t been configured correctly these CIS benchmarks will detect and generate report to see the risk of the IT infrastructure.
Benefit of having CIS benchmarks
• Strengthen weaknesses that might lead to significant cyber-attacks.
•
Free to download and embed.
• CIS Benchmarks are aligned to the
best-known IT systems and technology.
• Developed with the help of a
community of cybersecurity experts.
• A clear tool in enhancing IT
governance procedure.
• Safeguarding of vital IT systems within an
organization.
How CIS benchmarks going to help your organization
CIS Benchmarks are guidelines for properly configuring a variety of IT technologies and systems. These systems, which include anything from desktop software to mobile devices, are an essential aspect of every modern business. CIS Benchmarks are a crucial tool for any IT governance plan because they give explicit best practice guidelines produced by a community of professionals.
Here are some of the examples of CIS control and CIS benchmark
CSC 1: Inventory and Control of Hardware Assets
CSC 2: Inventory and
Control of Software Assets
CSC 3: Continuous Vulnerability Assessment and
Remediation
CSC 4: Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges
CSC
5: Secure Configurations for Hardware and Software on Mobile Devices, Laptops,
Workstations, and Servers
CSC 6: Maintenance, Monitoring, and Analysis of
Audit Logs
CSC 7: Email and Web Browser Protections
CSC 8: Malware
Defenses
CSC 9: Limitation and Control of Network Ports, Protocols, and
Services
CSC 10: Data Recovery Capabilities
CSC 11: Secure
Configurations for Network Devices such as Firewalls, Routers, and Switches
CSC
12: Boundary Defense
CSC 13: Data Protection
CSC 14: Controlled
Access Based on the Need to Know
CSC 15: Wireless Access Control
CSC
16: Account Monitoring and Control
CSC 17: Implement a Security Awareness
and Training Program
CSC 18: Application Software Security
CSC 19:
Incident Response and Management
CSC 20: Penetration Tests and Red Team
Exercises
How to Implement Benchmarking in Your Organization.
There are two options
-
Download the benchmark document and implement the suggestion manually
- This method has the benefit of being simple to implement. However, it’s sometimes time-consuming, and maintaining compliance is challenging — especially when configurations change and new assets are added.
-
Use automated solution to identify and resolve areas of non-compliance
- While manually implementing CIS benchmarks is theoretically conceivable, most businesses employ an automated CIS benchmark program. Implementing and maintaining compliance with the CIS benchmarks is faster and easier with an automated solution.
Scanning functionality is commonly used in solutions to swiftly discover areas of non-compliance. An organization can avoid misconfigurations by executing scans on a regular basis.
