Cybersecurity standards play a crucial role in protecting organizations against growing threats.
Choosing the right standard helps to structure security efforts effectively and improve resilience in the face of cyber-attacks.
Among the most widely used frameworks, NIST and CIS each meet specific needs, depending on the size of the organization and its cybersecurity objectives.
At Infologo, we have opted mainly for the CIS standard to have an international framework, in addition to CyberSafe, a Swiss organization, to better meet our customers’ expectations in terms of security for our VSE and SME customers.
However, we sometimes get questions from customers about the difference between CIS and NIST. This article presents the main differences between the CIS and NIST standards, to help you make the right choice.
Overview of NIST and CIS standards
What is NIST?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S.-based organization that provides a comprehensive framework for cybersecurity and risk management. Designed for large enterprises and regulated industries, NIST offers a robust framework focused on regulatory compliance and strategic threat protection.
It is particularly appreciated in environments where risk management is paramount and compliance with specific laws, such as US federal laws, is required.
What is CIS?
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) offers a simpler, more accessible approach to cybersecurity. CIS consists of a list of prioritized and practical controls, geared towards the rapid securing of critical systems. This standard is particularly popular with SMEs or companies looking for a pragmatic, concrete approach to improving their security immediately and without excessive complexity.
At Infologo, we use CIS for certain customers, with the aim of ensuring continuous improvement in CIS scores by combining one-off actions and specific projects for maximum efficiency.
Comparison of main criteria between NIST and CIS
Approach to the standard
- NIST: NIST offers a broad framework, comprehensively covering all aspects of cybersecurity and risk management. Its complexity makes it particularly suitable for large organizations with strict compliance requirements.
- CIS: CIS focuses on a list of priority controls, facilitating the rapid implementation of concrete measures. This pragmatic approach is ideal for companies seeking immediate, measurable results. Infologo favors the CIS approach because of the flexibility it offers its customers.
Scope and objectives
- NIST: Designed to meet regulatory compliance and risk management requirements, NIST is particularly well suited to regulated sectors and large organizations.
- CIS: The CIS standard specifically targets technical cybersecurity, providing easily applicable controls to rapidly protect critical IT assets. Infologo supports its customers in this CIS approach, providing protection tailored to companies of all sizes.
Detail level
- NIST: Highly detailed and often perceived as complex, the NIST framework demands great rigor and resources.
- CIS: More straightforward and direct, CIS offers a pragmatic approach that makes implementation quicker and less costly, an advantage we leverage to deliver tailored, efficient outsourcing services.
Target audience
- NIST: This standard is aimed primarily at large companies, government agencies and highly regulated sectors.
- CIS: CIS is accessible to companies of all sizes, including SMEs, making it a preferred choice for Infologo in its security assignments for a variety of organizations.
Implementation and resource requirements
- NIST: Implementing the NIST standard can be a lengthy and resource-intensive process. It is best suited to companies with the resources for a large-scale project.
- CIS: CIS is designed to be quick to implement, with actions prioritized so that results can be seen quickly. Infologo applies this framework within the framework of “Managed” service contracts for one-off follow-up actions and for specific tailor-made projects, offering its customers a constant commitment to improving their CIS/Cybersafe score.
Use cases: when and why choose NIST or CIS?
Examples of NIST applications
- Compliance with strict federal laws and regulations.
- Strategic risk management for organizations with extensive compliance requirements and long-term cybersecurity processes.
Examples of how Infologo uses CIS
- Rapidly secure critical systems and continuously optimize CIS scores.
- We support our customers with one-off production follow-up actions via the Managed contract, or for specific projects (outside the Managed subscription), thanks to a customized optimization approach tailored to different needs.
Advantages and limitations of each standard
Benefits of NIST
- Provides a comprehensive and robust framework for organizations with complex compliance requirements.
- Enables strategic risk management, ideal for large companies.
NIST limits
- Its level of detail makes it complex to set up and requires substantial resources.
Benefits of CIS
- Simple, straightforward approach, geared to rapid implementation and continuous improvement.
- Flexibility and adaptability are Infologo’s strengths when it comes to security management for organizations of all sizes.
CIS limits
- More limited scope for complex or long-term cybersecurity strategies.
What’s the best choice between NIST and CIS?
The choice between NIST and CIS depends essentially on the organization’s objectives and resources.
While NIST provides a strategic and comprehensive framework for large organizations, CIS offers a fast and efficient solution, better adapted to the needs of SMEs and companies looking for immediate results in cybersecurity.
At Infologo, our choice to use primarily the CIS standard reflects our commitment to providing accessible, scalable and high-performance cybersecurity for our customers. Whether you opt for one standard or the other, it’s essential to regularly assess your needs and adapt your strategy to ensure optimum protection.
Note: there are “gateways” for translating or, let’s say, transposing a CIS audit into a NIST audit and vice versa.
