CIS Flashcards
What are the CIS Critical Security Controls and how can they help organizations improve their cybersecurity posture?
The CIS Critical Security Controls are a set of best practices for organizations to follow in order to improve their cybersecurity posture. They are designed to provide a prioritized approach to security focusing on the most important actions that should be taken first. The controls cover areas such as asset management
access control
incident response
and malware defense. By following these controls
organizations can reduce their risk of attack and ensure that their systems remain secure.
How are the CIS Controls organized and how can organizations use them to prioritize their cybersecurity efforts?
You can use CIS Critical Security Controls Implementation Groups to prioritize cybersecurity efforts. Implementation Groups (IGs) are the recommended guidance to prioritize implementation of the CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls). In an effort to assist enterprises of every size IGs are divided into three groups. They are based on the risk profile and resources an enterprise has available to them to implement the CIS Controls. Each IG identifies a set of Safeguards (previously referred to as CIS Sub-Controls)
that they need to implement. There is a total of 153 Safeguards in CIS Controls v8. Every enterprise should start with IG1. IG1 is defined as “essential cyber hygiene
” the foundational set of cyber defense Safeguards that every enterprise should apply to guard against the most common attacks. IG2 builds upon IG1
and IG3 is comprised of all the Controls and Safeguards.
Can you describe the first five CIS Critical Security Controls and how they relate to foundational cybersecurity best practices?
CIS Control
1: Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets CIS Control
2: Inventory and Control of Software Assets CIS Control
3: Data Protection CIS Control
4: Secure Configuration of Enterprise Assets and Software CIS Control
5: Account Management
Source: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-list
What is an Implementation Group and how can organizations use them to prioritize their implementation efforts for the CIS Controls?
Implementation Groups (IGs) are the recommended guidance to prioritize implementation of the CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls). In an effort to assist enterprises of every size that they need to implement. There is a total of 153 Safeguards in CIS Controls v8. Every enterprise should start with IG1. IG1 is defined as “essential cyber hygiene
” the foundational set of cyber defense Safeguards that every enterprise should apply to guard against the most common attacks. IG2 builds upon IG1
and IG3 is comprised of all the Controls and Safeguards. Source: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/implementation-groups
Can you provide an example of how the CIS Controls can be used to detect and respond to a cybersecurity incident such as a ransomware attack?
An example of how the CIS Controls can be used to detect and respond to a ransomware attack is by implementing a system of regular backups and patching. Regular backups ensure that if an attack does occur the data can be restored from a previous version. Additionally
patching any known vulnerabilities in the system can help prevent an attack from occurring in the first place. Finally
having an incident response plan in place can help ensure that any attack is quickly identified and responded to in an effective manner.
How can organizations use the CIS Controls to improve their vulnerability management and patching processes?
Organizations can use the CIS Controls to improve their vulnerability management and patching processes by implementing the vulnerability management controls outlined in CIS Control 7: Continuous Vulnerability Management. Additionally organizations should create policies and procedures that ensure that all systems are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Finally organizations should also ensure that all users are trained on how to properly identify and respond to potential security threats.
Can you describe how the CIS Controls can be used to secure cloud environments and applications?
Section The CIS Controls are a set of best practices for securing cloud environments and applications. They provide guidance on how to identify protect
detect
respond
and recover from cyber threats. By following the CIS Controls
organizations can reduce their attack surface and minimize the risk of a successful attack.
How can organizations use the CIS Controls to manage privileged access and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data?
Organizations can use the CIS Controls to manage privileged access and prevent unauthorized access by implementing CIS Control 6: Access Control Management which involves implementing strong authentication protocols restricting access to only those who need it and regularly monitoring user activity. Additionally
organizations should use multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts and ensure that all users have unique credentials. Finally
organizations should ensure that all privileged accounts are regularly reviewed and that any unused accounts are disabled.
Can you describe how the CIS Controls can be used to reduce the risk of insider threats?
Answer: The CIS Controls are a set of best practices that can be used to reduce the risk of insider threats. They include measures such as implementing strong access control policies monitoring user activity and regularly auditing systems for suspicious activity. Additionally
organizations should provide security awareness training to employees to ensure they understand the importance of protecting sensitive data and following security protocols.
How can organizations use the CIS Controls
Organizations can use the CIS Controls to identify assess the Controls can be used to create a baseline of security requirements that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of an organization. Finally
organizations can use the CIS Controls as a benchmark for measuring their security posture against industry standards.
