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Cybersecurity Best Practices

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Prioritized cybersecurity that works.

CIS Controls mapped to your Microsoft environment. Automated benchmarking and implementation groups designed for mid-market organizations.

18 Critical Controls Automated Compliance Microsoft Environment Mapping Implementation Groups
IG1 IG2 IG3 Prioritized Security Controls
The Framework

What are CIS Controls?

18 prioritized cybersecurity best practices developed by the Center for Internet Security. Unlike compliance frameworks that tell you WHAT to protect, CIS Controls tell you HOW to protect it.

CIS Controls are based on real-world attacks and defensive strategies. They're implementation-focused, technology-specific, and designed to be deployed incrementally. Most importantly, they're prioritized—you implement the most critical controls first.

Many compliance auditors (HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC) accept CIS Controls implementation as evidence of security best practices. You're not just checking boxes—you're building real defenses.

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Our Approach

How BluetechGreen implements CIS Controls

Microsoft Environment Mapping

Every CIS safeguard mapped to specific Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender, and Entra ID configurations. No generic advice—exact policies for your stack.

Automated Benchmarking

Our automation engine scans your environment and benchmarks against all 153 CIS safeguards. You get a live dashboard showing compliance status in real-time.

Implementation Groups

Start with IG1 (56 essential safeguards), progress to IG2 (130 total), and reach IG3 (all 153) as your program matures. Designed for incremental deployment.

Policy Deployment

We don't just tell you what to do—we deploy it. Intune policies, Conditional Access rules, Defender configurations, all implemented automatically.

Compliance Reports

Export audit-ready compliance reports showing which safeguards are implemented, which are in progress, and which are planned. Perfect for HIPAA, SOC 2, or insurance audits.

Continuous Monitoring

Once implemented, we monitor for drift. If someone disables a critical control or creates a non-compliant policy, you get alerted immediately.

Why BluetechGreen

Automated compliance without the complexity

Most consultants hand you a 200-page CIS assessment report and wish you luck. We automate the entire implementation. You get a live dashboard showing exactly which controls are implemented, which are in progress, and what's next.

Our Microsoft-native approach means every safeguard is mapped to specific Intune policies, Defender settings, or Entra ID configurations. No generic advice. No manual tracking. Just automated compliance.

  • Live compliance dashboard
  • Automated policy deployment
  • Microsoft-native implementation
  • Continuous drift monitoring
153CIS Safeguards
18Control Categories
3Implementation Groups
Common Challenges

What makes CIS Controls hard to implement?

Too many safeguards

153 safeguards across 18 controls. Where do you start? CIS solves this with Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3), but you still need to know which safeguards map to your technology stack.

Generic guidance

CIS tells you to "implement MFA" but doesn't tell you how to configure Conditional Access in Entra ID. You need someone who knows both the framework and the Microsoft platform.

Manual tracking

Spreadsheets can't keep up. Policies change, settings drift, new devices appear. You need automated benchmarking and continuous monitoring to stay compliant.

No implementation team

Mid-market companies don't have a security team to deploy 153 safeguards. You need automation that deploys policies, not just PDFs that tell you what to do.

FAQ

Common questions about CIS Controls

What are CIS Controls?

CIS Controls are a prioritized set of 18 cybersecurity best practices developed by the Center for Internet Security. They represent the most effective defensive actions based on real-world attacks. Unlike compliance frameworks, CIS Controls are implementation-focused and technology-specific, making them practical for IT teams to deploy.

How do CIS Controls differ from compliance frameworks?

Compliance frameworks (HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC) tell you WHAT to protect. CIS Controls tell you HOW to protect it. They provide specific, actionable technical controls you can implement today. Many compliance auditors accept CIS Controls implementation as evidence of security best practices.

Which Implementation Group should we start with?

IG1 is for organizations with limited cybersecurity expertise and resources. It covers 56 essential safeguards. IG2 adds 74 more safeguards for organizations managing multiple departments or locations. IG3 adds another 23 for organizations with security teams and significant IT assets. Most mid-market companies start with IG1 and progress to IG2 within 12-18 months.

How does BluetechGreen automate CIS Controls?

We map every CIS safeguard to specific Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender, and Entra ID configurations. Our automation engine benchmarks your current state, identifies gaps, and deploys policies automatically. You get a live compliance dashboard showing exactly which safeguards are implemented and which need attention.

Do CIS Controls help with cyber insurance?

Yes. Many cyber insurance carriers require evidence of MFA, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, and data backup—all covered in CIS IG1. Implementing CIS Controls demonstrates security maturity and can lower your premiums or help you qualify for coverage.

How long does implementation take?

IG1 implementation typically takes 60-90 days with our automation. We deploy in phases: asset inventory and endpoint management (weeks 1-3), data protection and MFA (weeks 4-6), vulnerability management and monitoring (weeks 7-9), and continuous improvement (ongoing). IG2 takes an additional 4-6 months.

Ready to Get Compliant?

Let's build your CIS Controls roadmap

We'll benchmark your current state, map safeguards to your Microsoft environment, and show you exactly what it takes to achieve IG1, IG2, or IG3 compliance.