Ransomware, phishing, and supply chain attacks are everyday threats, and organizations without a structured security strategy often struggle to respond effectively. It’s not just about preventing attacks—it’s about identifying risks, tracking compliance requirements, and continuously improving security maturity.
That’s where the CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls) come in. Developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS), these controls offer a practical, prioritized approach to security, helping organizations reduce risk and strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
CIS Controls are freely available on the CIS website, allowing organizations to adopt a structured security framework. Brainframe provides a flexible solution to track, document, and monitor compliance with CIS Controls, ensuring businesses stay organized and up to date with their security measures.
This article explores why CIS Controls matter, how organizations use them, and how Brainframe simplifies their management.
What Are CIS Controls?
The CIS Critical Security Controls simplify the process of implementing cybersecurity best practices by providing a prioritized list of security safeguards that organizations can follow to reduce risk efficiently. Instead of trying to address every possible security concern at once, businesses can focus on key areas first.
At their core, CIS Controls are:
✅ Actionable & Practical – Each control outlines specific steps that improve security.
✅ Data-Driven – Developed based on real-world cyber threats, ensuring effectiveness.
✅ Scalable & Flexible – Designed for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to global enterprises.
Brainframe’s compliance tracking module enables businesses to document their CIS Control adoption, track maturity levels, and manage the implementation of both manual and automated security measures.
Structure of CIS Controls
CIS Controls are organized into 18 main categories that cover different areas of cybersecurity, from asset management to incident response. Each control is then broken down into safeguards, which provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to implement security measures.
Implementation Groups (IGs)
The CIS Controls are organized into 18 main categories, covering various cybersecurity areas, including asset management, access control, threat monitoring, and incident response.
To help organizations prioritize implementation, the CIS Controls are grouped into three Implementation Groups (IGs):
- IG1 – Basic Cyber Hygiene:
- The minimum security measures every business should have.
- Focuses on protecting against common attacks like phishing and malware.
- Designed for small organizations or those with limited security expertise.
- Example: Keeping an updated inventory of devices and software.
- IG2 – Foundational Security:
- Adds more advanced protections for organizations handling sensitive data.
- Often required for regulated industries like healthcare, legal, and manufacturing.
- Includes measures like vulnerability management, access control, and network monitoring.
- Example: Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and logging security events.
- IG3 – Advanced Security:
- For high-risk organizations like finance, defence, and critical infrastructure.
- Focuses on preventing sophisticated cyberattacks with proactive security strategies.
- Requires dedicated security teams and enterprise-level security tools.
- Example: Conducting penetration testing and red team exercises.
The tiered approach of IGs makes CIS Controls accessible—small businesses can start with basic protections, while larger organizations can scale up to more advanced security measures.
Instead of treating cybersecurity as an all-or-nothing challenge, CIS Controls help organizations take a structured, manageable approach to improving security.
Since CIS Controls are publicly available, Brainframe enables businesses to organize and manage their implementation, track progress, and document security practices in a structured manner.
Why CIS Controls Matter for Cybersecurity & Compliance
Cybersecurity isn’t just about protection—it’s also about ensuring that organizations meet regulatory and industry standards. Many businesses struggle with where to start or how to track their security maturity without excessive complexity. CIS Controls provide structured guidance, ensuring a more manageable approach to cybersecurity.
Aligning with Major Regulatory Frameworks
Since CIS Controls can be mapped to major regulatory frameworks, they help businesses streamline compliance efforts. Organizations commonly align their security controls with:
- ISO 27001 – Risk management and information security governance.
- NIS2 – European cybersecurity requirements for critical infrastructure.
- GDPR – Data protection and privacy regulations.
- SOC 2 – Security and operational controls for service providers.
- DORA – Resilience requirements for European financial institutions.
By following CIS Controls, businesses can streamline compliance efforts and demonstrate security maturity to auditors, customers, and regulators.
With Brainframe’s compliance tracking module, businesses can map their CIS Control implementation to regulatory requirements, track compliance status, and ensure security controls are well-documented.
Improving Security Governance with a Structured Approach
Many businesses operate without a clear cybersecurity strategy, leading to inconsistent security policies and reactive decision-making. CIS Controls solve this by providing a structured, scalable approach that helps organizations:
- Identify and protect critical assets.
- Standardize access controls and authentication.
- Monitor and respond to security threats effectively.
- Establish clear security policies and training programs.
Used by Businesses of All Sizes
CIS Controls aren’t just for large enterprises—they work for any organization looking to strengthen cybersecurity. Businesses use them to:
- Secure networks, data, and applications without unnecessary complexity.
- Enhance threat detection and response by improving logging, monitoring, and incident handling.
- Standardize cybersecurity policies and practices to ensure a consistent security posture across teams and departments.
Challenges in Implementing CIS Controls
CIS Controls offer a clear roadmap for strengthening cybersecurity, but implementing them isn’t always straightforward. Many organizations, especially smaller ones, struggle with limited resources, evolving threats, and the complexity of compliance. Below are some of the key challenges businesses face when adopting CIS Controls.
Resource Constraints: The Reality of Limited Time, Budget, and Expertise
- Many small and mid-sized businesses lack dedicated security teams, making it difficult to allocate time and personnel to implement security controls.
- Budget limitations often force companies to prioritize daily operations over security improvements, leaving gaps in protection.
- Expertise is another barrier—not every organization has an in-house security specialist to interpret and apply CIS Controls effectively.
Keeping Up with Evolving Threats
- Cyber threats are evolving, and controls that were effective last year might not be enough today.
- Attackers adapt quickly, using zero-day vulnerabilities, social engineering, and AI-driven attacks to bypass traditional security measures.
- CIS Controls are updated periodically, but businesses need a process to stay informed and adjust their security measures accordingly.
- Example: A company implementing Email & Web Browser Protections might struggle to keep pace with new phishing tactics that bypass traditional spam filters.
Lack of Visibility: You Can’t Protect What You Can’t See
- Many organizations don’t have a complete inventory of their IT assets, making it hard to apply security controls effectively.
- Shadow IT—unauthorized apps, personal devices, and cloud services—creates additional blind spots.
- Without proper asset management, patching, monitoring, and access controls become reactive rather than proactive.
- Example: A company trying to enforce the Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets requirement might find unmanaged IoT devices connected to their network, creating hidden security risks.
Compliance Complexity: Mapping Controls to Multiple Frameworks
- Many businesses must comply with multiple regulatory frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, NIS2, GDPR, SOC 2).
- Mapping CIS Controls to these frameworks can be overwhelming, especially without automated tools.
- Overlapping but slightly different requirements increase complexity, leading to duplicated efforts.
- Example: A bank provider following DORA and ISO 27001 might struggle to align both with CIS’ Data Protection requirement without a compliance management tool.
Operational Integration: Security Without Disrupting Business
- Implementing security controls shouldn’t come at the cost of productivity and usability.
- Businesses worry that strict security policies will slow down operations or frustrate employees.
- Poorly integrated controls can lead to workarounds, defeating their purpose.
- Example: If a company enforces Access Control Management with strict password policies but doesn’t offer password managers, employees might write down passwords or reuse weak ones.
How Brainframe Simplifies CIS Control Management
Implementing 153 CIS Controls manually is a massive task—especially for organizations with limited resources, complex compliance needs, or fast-changing security environments. Brainframe streamlines this process by providing tools that simplify CIS Control tracking, documentation, and reporting.
Effortless CIS Control Management with Brainframe
Instead of tackling controls one by one without a clear plan, Brainframe provides an intuitive platform to track, document, and manage CIS Controls, ensuring organizations stay on top of their security and compliance efforts.
With Brainframe, organizations can:
- Easily integrate and map CIS Controls to their specific compliance and security needs.
- Document implementation progress and link CIS Controls to internal policies, procedures, and risk assessments.
- Monitor control maturity over time and streamline reporting without excessive manual effort.
Key Features That Make CIS Control Implementation Easier
✅ Customizable Compliance Tracking
Brainframe allows businesses to import CIS Controls into their compliance module, enabling organizations to:
- Map controls to their regulatory requirements and security objectives.
- Document manual procedures, policies, and automated security measures for each control.
- Track implementation status and maturity levels using an interactive compliance dashboard.
✅ Guided Implementation & Best Practice Documentation
Organizations can track and document their CIS Control adoption step by step:
- Attach best practice recommendations and internal security policies to each control.
- Maintain a clear audit trail of security enhancements over time.
- Use Brainframe’s structured workflows to ensure controls are implemented systematically.
Users can visualize progress in a Kanban-style view, helping teams coordinate security improvements efficiently.
✅ Automated Compliance Monitoring & Reporting
Brainframe simplifies compliance tracking with automated dashboards that:
- Provide real-time insights into CIS Control adoption and security posture.
- Highlight gaps in compliance and flag incomplete or missing safeguards.
- Send alerts to key stakeholders when critical security measures need attention.
Instead of relying on manual spreadsheets and disconnected tools, organizations gain a centralized compliance tracking system for CIS Controls.
✅ Integrated Risk & Security Management
Brainframe links CIS Controls to relevant security processes, ensuring organizations can:
- Connect controls to risk assessments, security incidents, and compliance reports.
- Demonstrate how security improvements directly reduce business risk.
- Use an evolution graph to track security maturity and forecast future improvements.
By leveraging Brainframe’s flexible compliance module, organizations can document, track, and monitor CIS Controls efficiently, ensuring security and compliance efforts remain structured and scalable.
