Part 1/3 covered the Basic CIS Controls found in the Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense implementation guide of best practice guidelines for computer security.
No cyber defence approach can effectively address cyber risk without a means to address fundamental vulnerabilities. Organizations often use multiple regulatory frameworks to guide their cybersecurity strategy. No matter which frameworks an organization chooses to work toward, foundational cybersecurity is an excellent first step toward compliance. However, it is important to remember that good cybersecurity goes beyond compliance and requires one to be proactive with security.
These CIS controls can help protect systems from some of the most pervasive attacks by cybercriminals.
CIS Control 7: Email and Web Browser Protections
Minimize the attack surface and the opportunities for attackers to manipulate human behaviour through their interaction with web browsers and email systems.
CIS Control 8: Malware Defenses
Control the installation, spread, and execution of malicious code at multiple points in the enterprise, while optimizing the use of automation to enable rapid updating of defence, data gathering, and corrective action.
CIS Control 9: Limitation and Control of Network Ports, Protocols, and Services
Manage (track/control/correct) the ongoing operational use of ports, protocols, and services on networked devices to minimize windows of vulnerability available to attackers.
CIS Control 10: Data Recovery Capabilities
The processes and tools used to properly back up critical information with a proven methodology for timely recovery of it.
CIS Control 11: Secure Configuration for Network Devices, such as Firewalls, Routers, and Switches
Establish, implement, and actively manage (track, report on, correct) the security configuration of network infrastructure devices using rigorous configuration management and change control process to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerable services and settings.
CIS Control 12: Boundary Defense
Detect/prevent/correct the flow of information transferring networks of different trust levels with a focus on security-damaging data.
CIS Control 13: Data Protection
The processes and tools used to prevent data exfiltration, mitigate the effects of exfiltrated data and ensure the privacy and integrity of sensitive information.
CIS Control 14: Controlled Access Based on the Need to Know
The processes and tools used to track/control/prevent/correct secure access to critical assets (e.g., information, resources, systems) according to the formal determination of which persons, computers, and applications have a need and right to access these critical assets based on an approved classification.
CIS Control 15: Wireless Access Control
The processes and tools used to track/control/prevent/correct the security use of wireless local area networks (WLANs), access points, and wireless client systems.
CIS Control 16: Account Monitoring and Control
Actively manage the life cycle of system and application accounts – their creation, use, dormancy, deletion – to minimize opportunities for attackers to leverage them.
In Part 3 of 3: 4 Organizational Critical Security Controls
Download CIS Control V7 here: https://learn.cisecurity.org/20-controls-download