What is Critical Security Controls CIS?

CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls) are a prioritized set of cybersecurity best practices developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) to help organizations defend against common cyber threats. The controls provide practical, actionable guidance for improving cyber resilience by focusing on the security measures that have the greatest impact on reducing risk.

Unlike technology-specific configuration standards such as CIS Benchmarks, the CIS Controls provide a broader cybersecurity framework that organizations can apply across people, processes, and technology.

How do Critical Security Controls CIS work?

The CIS Controls organize cybersecurity practices into a structured framework covering key areas such as asset management, vulnerability management, access control, secure configuration, audit logging, malware defenses, data recovery, and security awareness.

Organizations typically implement the CIS Controls by:

• Identifying and inventorying enterprise assets.
• Applying secure configurations to systems and applications.
• Managing vulnerabilities and software updates.
• Enforcing least-privilege access and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Monitoring systems through logging and continuous security assessments.
• Regularly testing and improving security controls.

The controls are designed to be implemented progressively based on an organization’s risk profile, available resources, cybersecurity maturity, and operational requirements.

CIS Controls Implementation Groups

Implementation Groups (IGs) organize CIS Controls to help organizations prioritize safeguards based on factors such as size and complexity, data sensitivity, available resources, technology, threat exposure, and risk profile.

Selecting the appropriate Implementation Group enables organizations to adopt a risk-based approach to cybersecurity rather than attempting to implement every safeguard at once.

Why are CIS Controls important?

CIS Controls help organizations establish a structured cybersecurity program that reduces attack surfaces, improves visibility into IT assets, and strengthens defenses against common attack techniques.

Key benefits include:

• Prioritized cybersecurity practices based on real-world threats.
• Improved cyber hygiene across users, devices, and systems.
• Better alignment with security governance and risk management.
• Support for regulatory compliance and security audits.
• Scalable implementation for organizations of different sizes and maturity levels.

How Hexnode supports CIS Controls

Hexnode UEM helps organizations support endpoint-focused security practices that align with several CIS Critical Security Controls through centralized endpoint management. From a single console, administrators can enforce device security policies, manage operating system updates, and deploy and manage applications. They can also configure password policies, enforce compliance rules, deploy certificates, and remotely manage supported endpoints.

Although Hexnode is not a CIS Controls certification platform, its endpoint management capabilities help organizations implement and maintain security practices related to device hardening, software management, compliance enforcement, and endpoint security.