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CIS Benchmark

Initial Assessment

Review the latest CIS Benchmark relevant to your systems.

Identify the systems and applications to be assessed.

Determine compliance requirements and organizational policies.

Here are some additional steps that could be included in the Initial Assessment section of the New CIS Benchmark checklist

Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats to the systems and applications

Gather baseline data on current configurations and security controls in place for the identified systems

Review previous audit findings and security assessments to understand historical compliance issues and areas for improvement

Identify key stakeholders and establish a communication plan for the assessment process

Determine the scope of the assessment, including any exclusions or limitations

Assess the availability of resources (e.g., tools, personnel) necessary for conducting the assessment

Establish a timeline for the assessment process, including milestones and deadlines

Develop a checklist or framework for evaluating compliance against the CIS Benchmark

Create a plan for reporting findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders

Identify training needs for the team involved in the assessment to ensure they are familiar with the CIS Benchmark and assessment process

Preparation

Assemble a team of stakeholders (IT, security, compliance).

Define the scope of the assessment (which systems and configurations).

Gather existing documentation and previous audit results.

Baseline Configuration

Establish a secure baseline configuration for each system.

Ensure all systems are up to date with patches and updates.

Disable unnecessary services and features on each system.

Implementation of Controls

Apply recommended security configurations from the CIS Benchmark.

Implement strong password policies (complexity, expiration).

Enable logging and monitoring for critical systems.

Testing and Validation

Conduct vulnerability scans to identify security gaps.

Perform manual checks against CIS Benchmark recommendations.

Validate that configurations are applied correctly and consistently.

Documentation

Document the current configuration state of systems.

Maintain records of implementation steps and any deviations.

Create a report detailing compliance levels and remediation steps needed.

Remediation

Address any identified gaps or non-compliance issues.

Prioritize remediation based on risk assessment.

Reassess systems after applying changes to ensure compliance.

Review and Maintenance

Schedule regular audits to ensure ongoing compliance.

Update configurations as new CIS Benchmarks are released.

Train staff on security best practices and benchmark updates.

Continuous Improvement

Solicit feedback on the assessment process and outcomes.

Stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Adjust policies and procedures based on lessons learned from assessments.

This checklist can help organizations systematically implement and maintain CIS Benchmark guidelines to enhance their security posture.

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