CIS Controls v8 Implementation Services
The CIS Critical Security Controls version 8 provide a prioritized, prescriptive set of cybersecurity actions that defend against the most common attack vectors. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. implements the 18 CIS Controls and their 153 safeguards in a phased approach aligned with your organization's size and resources, delivering measurable risk reduction from day one through the framework trusted by tens of thousands of organizations worldwide.
Attack-Based Prioritization
Every CIS Control is prioritized based on effectiveness against real-world attack patterns. Implementation Groups (IGs) let you focus on the safeguards that stop the most attacks first, delivering maximum risk reduction with minimum resources.
Three Implementation Groups
IG1 provides essential cyber hygiene for every organization. IG2 adds controls for operational complexity. IG3 addresses sophisticated threats. Start where you are and build systematically toward comprehensive protection.
Multi-Framework Mapping
CIS Controls map directly to NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Implementing CIS Controls creates a foundation that accelerates compliance with virtually any regulatory framework.
Measurable Outcomes
Each safeguard has defined metrics and measurement procedures. CIS Benchmarks provide specific configuration standards. This combination delivers quantifiable security improvement that can be tracked, reported, and demonstrated to stakeholders.
Why the CIS Controls Are the Most Practical Cybersecurity Framework
The Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls, now in version 8, represent the collective knowledge of cybersecurity experts from government, industry, and academia who identified the most effective actions organizations can take to defend against real-world cyber attacks. Unlike frameworks that catalog every possible security control, the CIS Controls focus on the specific actions that stop the most prevalent and damaging attack techniques, providing a prioritized roadmap that delivers maximum security impact per dollar invested.
Version 8 reorganized the controls around activities rather than the devices managed, reflecting the reality of modern environments where data and applications span on-premises infrastructure, cloud services, mobile devices, and remote work environments. The 18 controls encompass 153 specific safeguards organized into three Implementation Groups (IGs) that scale from essential cyber hygiene appropriate for every organization to advanced protections for enterprises facing sophisticated threats.
Petronella Technology Group, Inc. recommends CIS Controls v8 as the starting point for organizations building or improving their cybersecurity programs. The framework's prescriptive nature eliminates the ambiguity found in higher-level frameworks, telling organizations not just what outcomes to achieve but specifically what to do. While the NIST Cybersecurity Framework provides strategic direction and NIST 800-53 provides comprehensive control catalogs, the CIS Controls provide actionable, prioritized steps that deliver immediate risk reduction.
The Implementation Group model makes the CIS Controls uniquely accessible. IG1 defines 56 safeguards that constitute essential cyber hygiene, sufficient to defend against the most common attacks targeting small and medium organizations. IG2 adds 74 safeguards addressing the additional complexity of organizations with multiple departments, regulatory requirements, and significant IT infrastructure. IG3 completes the framework with 23 additional safeguards for organizations requiring protection against advanced threats. This graduated approach means every organization can start at an appropriate level and progress systematically.
For organizations in the Research Triangle, Petronella Technology Group, Inc. implements CIS Controls v8 with hands-on engineering that goes beyond consulting recommendations. We deploy and configure the specific technologies, processes, and governance structures needed to implement each safeguard, validating effectiveness through measurement procedures defined within the framework itself. Our implementation approach leverages CIS Benchmarks for system hardening, CIS-CAT Pro for automated assessment, and proven operational procedures developed through hundreds of implementations since the framework's inception.
CIS Controls v8 Implementation Services
End-to-end services implementing the CIS Critical Security Controls with practical, measurable security improvements at every stage.
CIS Controls Gap Assessment & IG Determination
Our gap assessment evaluates your current security posture against all 153 CIS Controls v8 safeguards, determining which are fully implemented, partially implemented, or missing. We also determine the appropriate Implementation Group for your organization based on data sensitivity, regulatory requirements, organizational complexity, and risk exposure.
Assessment Methodology: We use CIS-CAT Pro for automated technical assessment where applicable, supplemented by manual evaluation of procedural controls, policy review, and stakeholder interviews. Each safeguard receives a maturity score that reflects both implementation completeness and operational effectiveness.
Deliverables: Comprehensive gap analysis report, current maturity scores for all 18 controls, Implementation Group recommendation with rationale, prioritized remediation roadmap organized by IG, estimated timeline and resource requirements, and executive summary with risk-focused metrics showing the attack techniques you are currently vulnerable to.
Implementation Group 1: Essential Cyber Hygiene
IG1's 56 safeguards form the essential cyber hygiene baseline that every organization should implement. These safeguards defend against the most common attack vectors and satisfy what CIS considers the minimum viable security posture. We implement IG1 as the foundation for all clients, regardless of their target Implementation Group.
Core IG1 Capabilities: Enterprise asset inventory, software asset inventory, data protection basics, secure configuration of enterprise assets and software, account management, access control management, continuous vulnerability management, audit log management, email and web browser protections, malware defenses, data recovery, network infrastructure management, security awareness training, and incident response management.
Quick Wins: Many IG1 safeguards can be implemented rapidly with significant security impact. We prioritize these quick wins to deliver measurable risk reduction within the first 30 days while building toward comprehensive IG1 coverage.
Implementation Group 2: Operational Complexity
Building on IG1, Implementation Group 2 adds 74 safeguards designed for organizations with operational complexity, regulatory requirements, or moderate risk profiles. IG2 organizations typically have multiple departments, dedicated IT staff, and store or process sensitive data subject to regulatory oversight.
Advanced Capabilities: Detailed asset inventory with network-based discovery, automated software inventory tools, data classification and handling procedures, centralized log management with retention policies, network monitoring and intrusion detection, application software security, penetration testing program, and security awareness training with phishing simulations.
Regulatory Alignment: IG2 safeguards map extensively to HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and NIST 800-171 requirements. Implementing IG2 creates a strong foundation for meeting these regulatory obligations with minimal additional effort.
Implementation Group 3: Advanced Threat Protection
IG3 completes the CIS Controls with 23 additional safeguards designed for organizations that must defend against sophisticated, targeted attacks. These safeguards address advanced threats through comprehensive monitoring, testing, and incident management capabilities that assume adversaries will actively attempt to bypass standard defenses.
Advanced Capabilities: Encrypted communications for all sensitive data, advanced malware detection with behavioral analysis, application-level firewall filtering, centralized security event alerting, advanced penetration testing including red team exercises, comprehensive security awareness with role-based training, and dedicated security operations capabilities.
Threat-Driven: IG3 safeguards are specifically designed to counter the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by advanced threat actors. We align implementation with MITRE ATT&CK framework mapping to ensure controls address the specific threats most relevant to your organization.
CIS Benchmarks & System Hardening
CIS Benchmarks provide specific configuration standards for operating systems, applications, cloud platforms, and network devices that implement CIS Controls safeguards at the technical level. We harden your systems to CIS Benchmark standards, ensuring consistent, secure configurations across your entire environment.
Benchmark Coverage: Windows Server, Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux distributions (Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS), Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, VMware, Cisco IOS, and dozens of application-specific benchmarks. We customize Level 1 and Level 2 profiles based on your operational requirements.
Automated Compliance: We deploy CIS-CAT Pro or equivalent tools for continuous configuration assessment, automated reporting on benchmark compliance, and alerting when systems drift from approved configurations. This automation ensures hardening remains effective as systems are updated and new infrastructure is deployed.
Ongoing CIS Controls Management
Security controls require ongoing management to remain effective. New assets, software updates, personnel changes, and evolving threats all impact your security posture. Our managed CIS Controls program maintains implementation effectiveness through continuous monitoring, regular assessment, and adaptive improvement.
Continuous Activities: Automated asset discovery and inventory updates, continuous vulnerability scanning and remediation tracking, configuration compliance monitoring against CIS Benchmarks, security awareness training management, incident response readiness maintenance, and quarterly CIS Controls maturity reassessment.
Progress Tracking: Monthly reporting on safeguard implementation status, trend analysis showing maturity improvement over time, and comparison against CIS community benchmarks that show how your organization compares to peers in your industry and size category.
Our CIS Controls Implementation Process
A practical, phased methodology that delivers measurable security improvements from the first week while building systematically toward your target Implementation Group.
Assess & Prioritize
We evaluate your current security posture against all 153 safeguards, determine your appropriate Implementation Group, and create a prioritized roadmap. Quick wins that deliver immediate risk reduction are identified for fast implementation. The roadmap sequences remaining safeguards by their impact on stopping the attack techniques most relevant to your organization and industry.
Foundation & Quick Wins
We implement foundational safeguards and quick wins that establish essential capabilities: asset inventory, secure configuration, account management, vulnerability scanning, and basic logging. These controls stop the most common attack vectors and provide the infrastructure needed for advanced safeguards. Organizations typically see measurable risk reduction within 30 days of this phase.
Systematic Implementation
We implement remaining safeguards in your target Implementation Group through planned phases. Each phase addresses a related group of controls, deploys necessary technology, establishes procedures, trains staff, and validates effectiveness through measurement. CIS Benchmarks are applied for system hardening, and automated assessment tools are deployed for continuous compliance monitoring.
Measure & Improve
We establish ongoing measurement using CIS-defined metrics, reporting on safeguard effectiveness, compliance status, and maturity trends. Regular reassessment identifies areas needing improvement and ensures new assets and systems are brought into compliance. For organizations ready to advance, we plan the progression to the next Implementation Group with clear milestones.
Why Choose Petronella Technology Group, Inc. for CIS Controls Implementation
Practical Security Engineers
We implement and configure every safeguard ourselves rather than producing assessment reports for someone else to act on. Our engineers deploy the tools, harden the systems, configure the monitoring, and validate the results that make CIS Controls operational.
Multi-Framework Integration
We implement CIS Controls with awareness of your broader compliance landscape. Our implementations map to NIST 800-171, NIST CSF 2.0, HIPAA, and SOC 2, ensuring each safeguard contributes to multiple compliance objectives simultaneously.
CIS Benchmark Expertise
We have extensive experience applying CIS Benchmarks across Windows, Linux, macOS, cloud platforms, and network infrastructure. Our hardening procedures balance security with operational requirements, avoiding the common problem of secure configurations that break production systems.
Right-Sized Implementation
CIS Controls scale from small businesses implementing IG1 to enterprises completing IG3. We right-size our engagement to your organization's needs, resources, and risk profile, delivering maximum value whether your budget is $20,000 or $500,000.
Research Triangle Location
Based in Raleigh with on-site implementation capability throughout North Carolina. We provide hands-on deployment, training, and support for organizations across the Research Triangle and the broader region.
Proven Track Record
Implementing security frameworks since 2002 with BBB A+ rating since 2003. Our clients consistently achieve their target Implementation Group and maintain safeguard effectiveness through our ongoing management services.
CIS Controls v8 Implementation FAQ
What changed from CIS Controls v7.1 to v8?
Version 8 reorganized controls around activities rather than device types, reflecting modern hybrid environments. The number of controls reduced from 20 to 18 through consolidation, while safeguards increased clarity and measurability. New emphasis on cloud security, remote work, and mobile devices. Implementation Groups replaced the previous prioritization approach, providing clearer guidance for organizations of different sizes and risk profiles.
Which Implementation Group is right for my organization?
IG1 is appropriate for small to medium organizations with limited IT resources and moderate data sensitivity. IG2 suits organizations with dedicated IT staff, multiple departments, regulatory requirements, and sensitive data. IG3 is for organizations with significant security programs protecting highly sensitive assets or facing sophisticated threats. Most small businesses start with IG1, while mid-market companies target IG2. Defense contractors and financial institutions often need IG3.
How do CIS Controls relate to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework?
CIS Controls and the NIST CSF are complementary. The CSF provides a strategic risk management framework that describes desired cybersecurity outcomes. CIS Controls provide the specific, prescriptive actions to achieve those outcomes. CIS maintains official mappings between CIS Controls v8 and NIST CSF 2.0, allowing organizations to use the CSF for governance and strategy while using CIS Controls for tactical implementation. Many organizations adopt both simultaneously.
Can CIS Controls help us meet regulatory requirements?
Yes. CIS provides official mappings to HIPAA, PCI DSS 4.0, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, NIST CSF, and other frameworks. IG2 implementation typically covers 70-80% of HIPAA Security Rule technical requirements and a similar percentage of SOC 2 criteria. While CIS Controls alone may not satisfy every regulatory requirement, they create a strong foundation that significantly reduces additional compliance effort.
How long does CIS Controls implementation take?
IG1 implementation for a small organization can be completed in 2-4 months. Full IG2 for a mid-size organization typically takes 6-12 months. IG3 for large enterprises may require 12-18 months. However, the CIS Controls are designed for phased implementation with immediate benefit. Quick wins in the first 30 days address the most common attack vectors, and each subsequent phase adds measurable protection.
What are CIS Benchmarks and how do they relate to CIS Controls?
CIS Benchmarks are specific configuration standards for operating systems, applications, and cloud services developed through community consensus. They provide the technical implementation details for CIS Controls safeguards related to secure configuration (primarily Control 4). For example, while CIS Controls specify "establish and maintain a secure configuration process," CIS Benchmarks detail exactly which Windows Group Policy settings, Linux kernel parameters, or cloud service configurations to apply.
Do we need CIS Controls if we already have a security program?
Even organizations with existing security programs benefit from a CIS Controls assessment. The framework's attack-based prioritization often reveals that existing programs over-invest in some areas while leaving critical gaps in others. We regularly find organizations with sophisticated security tools that have not implemented basic safeguards like hardware asset inventory or secure configuration baselines. A CIS Controls assessment provides an objective benchmark of your actual security posture against community best practices.
How much does CIS Controls implementation cost?
Costs scale with Implementation Group and organizational size. IG1 for small businesses typically costs $15,000-$50,000 including technology, configuration, and consulting. IG2 for mid-size organizations ranges $50,000-$200,000. IG3 enterprise implementations can exceed $200,000-$500,000. Assessment-only engagements start at $8,000-$15,000. The CIS Controls' prioritized approach ensures your investment delivers maximum risk reduction regardless of total budget.
Stop Real Attacks With Prioritized Cybersecurity Actions
The CIS Controls are designed by practitioners who defend against real attacks every day. They tell you exactly what to do, in what order, to stop the threats that are actually hitting organizations like yours. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. implements these controls with the engineering depth that turns a framework document into operational security that protects your business.
Practical security since 2002 • BBB A+ Rating • CIS Controls implementation experts