The CIS Controls are a set of 18 prioritized cybersecurity best practices designed to help organizations protect themselves against the most common and dangerous cyberattacks.
Developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) and supported by a global community of security experts, the Controls provide a practical, measurable, and adaptable framework for improving the security posture of any organization, regardless of its size or sector.
Their main goal is to prevent, detect, and effectively respond to security incidents, promoting a comprehensive approach to managing assets, vulnerabilities, access, and configurations.
Benefits of Implementing the CIS Controls
Adopting the CIS Controls enables organizations to:
- Protect critical assets and data from common threats such as ransomware, phishing, and vulnerability exploitation.
- Reduce the impact of human error and misconfigurations, two of the leading causes of cybersecurity incidents.
- Standardize security processes, including asset inventory, vulnerability management, access control, data backup, and continuous monitoring.
- Align defenses with international standards and frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, and other privacy and compliance regulations.
- Demonstrate maturity and compliance during audits or third-party assessments.
Structure and Implementation Levels
The CIS Controls v8 are organized into 18 security domains, grouped according to their core function: inventory and control, data protection, threat detection, response, and recovery.
Each Control is composed of several Safeguards — 104 in total — which outline specific, actionable steps for implementation.
To simplify adoption, CIS defines three Implementation Groups (IGs):
- IG1 (Essential Cyber Hygiene): foundational controls recommended for small organizations or those with limited resources.
- IG2: intermediate controls for organizations with more developed technical staff and infrastructure.
- IG3: advanced controls designed for entities with high security requirements, sensitive data, or significant exposure to threats.
This structure allows organizations to gradually scale their defenses, prioritizing the most impactful and achievable measures first.
Connection with Organizational Cybersecurity
The CIS Controls are globally recognized as a practical benchmark for cyber defense.
Their prioritized approach turns security policies into concrete, measurable actions, creating a solid foundation for implementing other frameworks and standards.
Key areas covered include:
- Inventory and control of hardware and software assets.
- Continuous vulnerability management.
- Secure configuration of systems, networks, and devices.
- Identity and access management.
- Data protection and backup procedures.
- Monitoring, incident response, and recovery.
In summary, the CIS Controls provide a prioritized, verifiable, and scalable roadmap for strengthening digital security and fostering an organizational culture focused on resilience and continuous improvement.