CIS Critical Security Controls Implementation
CIS Controls consulting services for Implementation Groups 1-3. We deliver prioritized control roadmaps, evidence libraries, and audit-ready documentation for CIS Critical Security Controls compliance.
Bell Tower engineers CIS Critical Security Controls implementation for organizations seeking prioritized security improvements and regulatory alignment.
What We Deliver
- Implementation Group Roadmapping: Prioritized control deployment across IG1 (essential cyber hygiene), IG2 (best practices), and IG3 (advanced defenses) tailored to your risk profile
- Control Crosswalk Mapping: Evidence showing how CIS Controls satisfy HIPAA, FINRA/SEC, GDPR, and other regulatory requirements
- CIS Controls Evidence Library: Organized documentation of control operation, testing, and effectiveness for auditor review
- Gap Assessment & Remediation: Current-state analysis against all 18 CIS Controls with actionable remediation plans
- Automation to Auditor Handoff: Translation of security tool outputs into evidence formats auditors accept
CIS Critical Security Controls Implementation
Bell Tower’s CIS Controls consulting applies a prioritized approach—addressing the most impactful controls first. We begin with gap assessment against all 18 controls across three Implementation Groups, identifying which controls apply based on your organization’s data sensitivity, regulatory requirements, and risk tolerance.
Our implementations focus on controls that deliver measurable security improvement: Inventory of Assets (CSC 1), Software Inventory (CSC 2), Continuous Vulnerability Management (CSC 3), and Secure Configuration (CSC 4). For each control, we deliver configuration guidance, evidence collection procedures, and testing methodologies that demonstrate control effectiveness.
We engineer evidence libraries that document not just policy existence but control operation—logs showing assets are inventoried monthly, vulnerability scans run weekly, and configurations are hardened and tested. This operational evidence satisfies auditors and regulators who require proof that controls function as designed.
Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3)
IG1 — Essential Cyber Hygiene
Minimum security controls every organization should implement. We deploy these foundational controls first:
- CSC 1 — Inventory of Assets: Automated asset discovery with criticality classification
- CSC 2 — Software Inventory: Authorized software tracking with application whitelisting
- CSC 3 — Continuous Vulnerability Management: Weekly scanning with prioritized remediation SLAs
- CSC 4 — Secure Configuration: Hardened baselines with drift detection
- CSC 5 — Account Management: MFA enforcement, privileged access controls, and regular access reviews
IG2 — Best Practices
Controls for organizations handling sensitive data or subject to regulatory oversight:
- CSC 6 — Access Control Management: Role-based access with least privilege enforcement
- CSC 7 — Continuous Vulnerability Management: Expanded scanning scope with threat intelligence integration
- CSC 8 — Audit Log Management: Centralized logging with tamper protection and retention policies
- CSC 9 — Email and Web Protections: Phishing defenses, URL filtering, and attachment sandboxing
- CSC 10 — Malware Defenses: Endpoint detection and response (EDR) with behavioral monitoring
IG3 — Advanced Defenses
Sophisticated controls for high-value targets and critical infrastructure:
- CSC 11-18: Data recovery capabilities, network infrastructure management, penetration testing, and incident response
We assess your current Implementation Group and build roadmaps to advance security maturity systematically.
Regulatory Crosswalk: CIS Controls to Compliance Requirements
CIS Controls map directly to major regulatory frameworks. Our crosswalks demonstrate compliance through CIS implementation:
HIPAA Security Rule
| CIS Control | HIPAA Requirement | Evidence Artifact |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 1 (Asset Inventory) | 164.308(a)(1) Security Management | Asset inventory with PHI system identification |
| CSC 3 (Vulnerability Management) | 164.308(a)(8) Security Testing | Weekly scan reports, remediation tickets |
| CSC 4 (Secure Config) | 164.312(a)(2)(iv) Encryption | Configuration baselines, encryption verification |
| CSC 5 (Account Management) | 164.312(d) Person/Entity Authentication | MFA logs, access review attestations |
| CSC 12 (Data Recovery) | 164.308(a)(7) Data Backup Plan | Backup test results, restoration procedures |
FINRA/SEC Cybersecurity Requirements
| CIS Control | FINRA/SEC Requirement | Evidence Artifact |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 1 (Asset Inventory) | FINRA Rule 4370 Business Continuity | Asset criticality matrix, dependency mapping |
| CSC 3 (Vulnerability Management) | SEC Regulation S-P (Safeguards) | Vulnerability SLAs, patch management records |
| CSC 8 (Audit Logging) | FINRA Notice 21-29 | Log retention policies, SIEM configuration |
| CSC 10 (Malware Defenses) | FINRA Cybersecurity Checklist | EDR deployment records, detection metrics |
GDPR Article 32
| CIS Control | GDPR Requirement | Evidence Artifact |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 1 (Asset Inventory) | Art. 32(1) Security of Processing | Data processing register, system mapping |
| CSC 4 (Secure Config) | Art. 32(1)(a) Pseudonymization | Encryption configuration, key management |
| CSC 5 (Account Management) | Art. 32(1)(b) Access Control | Access control matrices, review schedules |
| CSC 17 (Incident Response) | Art. 33 Breach Notification | IR procedures, breach assessment logs |
CIS Controls Evidence Library
Auditors require specific evidence for each control. We build organized libraries with:
| Control ID | Evidence Type | Owner | Refresh Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC 1 | Asset inventory with criticality ratings | IT Asset Manager | Monthly |
| CSC 2 | Authorized software list with approval records | Security Officer | Quarterly |
| CSC 3 | Vulnerability scan results with SLA tracking | Vulnerability Management Lead | Weekly |
| CSC 4 | Configuration baseline documentation | Infrastructure Lead | Semi-annual |
| CSC 5 | MFA enrollment reports, access review attestations | Identity Manager | Quarterly |
| CSC 8 | Log retention configurations, SIEM alert rules | Security Operations | Quarterly |
| CSC 10 | EDR detection reports, threat hunting results | SOC Manager | Monthly |
| CSC 12 | Backup test results, restoration time logs | Operations Manager | Quarterly |
| CSC 17 | Incident response plan, tabletop exercise records | Incident Response Lead | Annual |
Automation to Auditor Handoff
Security tools generate continuous data, but auditors require context and ownership. We prepare handoff packages that:
- Map tool outputs to CIS Controls: “Tenable.io weekly scans validate CSC 3 (Vulnerability Management) with CVSS-based prioritization”
- Document control operation: Tool configurations show automated checks run as designed; we add narrative explaining what the data represents
- Identify manual evidence requirements: “CSC 5 (Account Management) requires quarterly access reviews—tool monitors MFA but cannot attest to ownership approval”
- Translate to auditor formats: Convert scan exports to control operation summaries with timestamps, sample sizes, and exception documentation
Why Bell Tower for CIS Controls
Prioritized Implementation: We deploy IG1 controls first for immediate risk reduction, then advance to IG2 and IG3 based on your threat model and regulatory requirements.
Regulatory Integration: Our crosswalks show how CIS Controls satisfy HIPAA, FINRA/SEC, and GDPR requirements—enabling unified compliance across multiple frameworks.
Evidence Engineering: We know what auditors accept. Our evidence libraries include the operational artifacts that prove controls work, not just policy documentation.
Framework Breadth: We implement CIS Controls alongside NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and SOC 2—ensuring your security program satisfies multiple requirements with minimal duplication.
Related Resources
- Vendor Review Evidence Checklist — Map CIS Controls to Meta, Microsoft SSPA, and Google security requirements
- SOC 2 Evidence Library Template — Organize CIS Controls evidence for SOC 2 attestation
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework Alignment — See how CIS Controls map to NIST CSF functions
- ISO 27001 Compliance & Audit Readiness — Align CIS Controls with ISO 27001 Annex A
- BCDR Tabletop AAR Template — Document incident response exercises for CSC 17
Frequently Asked Questions
What are CIS Implementation Groups?
Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3) organize the 18 CIS Controls by priority and organizational risk profile. IG1 contains essential controls all organizations should implement. IG2 adds controls for organizations handling sensitive data. IG3 includes advanced defenses for high-value targets. We assess your profile and recommend the appropriate starting point.
How long does CIS Controls implementation take?
IG1 implementation typically takes 8-12 weeks for organizations with basic security infrastructure. IG2 adds 4-6 months depending on scope. IG3 implementation varies based on organizational complexity and existing security maturity. We provide phased roadmaps with clear milestones.
Do CIS Controls satisfy regulatory requirements?
Yes. The CIS Controls map directly to HIPAA, FINRA/SEC, GDPR, and other frameworks. Our crosswalk documentation demonstrates how implementing specific controls satisfies regulatory requirements—reducing duplicate compliance work.
How do CIS Controls compare to NIST CSF?
CIS Controls provide specific, actionable technical controls prioritized by risk reduction. NIST CSF offers a broader framework organizing security activities into functions (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover). We implement both together—using CIS Controls as the “how” and NIST CSF as the “what.”
What evidence do auditors require for CIS Controls?
Evidence varies by control but generally includes: asset inventories with timestamps, vulnerability scan results with remediation tracking, configuration baselines with drift detection, access logs and review attestations, incident response documentation, and backup test results. We organize these into libraries with clear ownership and refresh schedules.
Ready for CIS Critical Security Controls implementation? Contact us to discuss your current state and Implementation Group assessment.