# What are CIS benchmarks? ![Prasanna Kumar](https://www.manageengine.com/ems/images/tools/employee/prasanna-dp.png) Prasanna Kumar Last updated on: October 2026 12 Min Read ## Key Takeaways - CIS Benchmarks are configuration guidelines, and not vulnerability scanners. They address system configuration, including running services, access controls, and default settings. Vulnerability management addresses software flaws. Both are required for a complete security posture. - CIS benchmark profiles indicate the security depth and the operational impact. Level 1 is the starting point for most enterprise environments. Level 2 is intended for high-security environments that require stricter security controls and more careful planning before deployment. Choosing the right profile is a risk-based decision. - CIS Benchmarks act as a technical roadmap to help achieve other compliance frameworks. They map to specific controls within PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST, and ISO 27001 and provide documented evidence useful in regulatory audits, but, meeting CIS Benchmark requirements alone does not constitute compliance with any of these frameworks. - CIS and STIG are different standards with different audiences. CIS is broadly applicable across commercial and government sectors. STIG is mandatory in certain environments like defence and federal governments. - A fully patched system can still be misconfigured. Configuration hardening closes the attack surface that vulnerability patching leaves open. The two controls are complementary. - Manual CIS benchmark compliance breaks down at scale. A single benchmark can contain 300 or more recommendations. Continuous automated monitoring is required to maintain compliance across thousands of endpoints and to catch configuration drift before it becomes an exposure. ## What are CIS benchmarks? CIS Benchmarks are security configuration guidelines published by the Center for Internet Security (CIS). They define how operating systems, servers, cloud platforms, databases, and applications should be configured to reduce security risk. Each benchmark translates the collective knowledge of thousands of security professionals into specific recommendations that organizations can audit their systems against. Unlike vulnerability scans, which detect flaws in software code and missing patches, CIS Benchmarks focus on configuration, like how a system is set up, what services are running, what access controls are in place, and whether default settings have been replaced with more secure ones. A system that is fully patched can still present significant risk if its configuration is insecure. As of 2026, CIS has published over 100 benchmarks covering more than 25 technology families. They are available as free PDF downloads for non-commercial use. ## How are CIS Benchmarks developed? CIS Benchmarks are developed through a unique consensus-based model that brings together a massive global community of over 12000 IT and security professionals. For any single specific benchmark, a focused sub-committee from the larger pool is formed. This group includes independent penetration testers, security architects, and direct representatives from the technology vendor (e.g., Microsoft, Amazon, or Cisco). This collaborative process ensures that the resulting configuration guidelines are technically sound, realistic to implement, and approved by the vendors who built the software. ## What technologies do CIS Benchmarks cover? CIS Benchmarks cover a comprehensive list of more than 100 IT security baselines distributed across 25+ vendor product families. They are categorized into 8 primary technology stacks: | Technology / Category | Focus | Covered technologies or vendors | |---|---|---| | Operating systems | Hardens server and desktop OS environments by restricting user access, configuring firewalls, and securing system files. | Microsoft Windows (11, Server), Apple macOS, Linux (Red Hat, Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky), Unix (Solaris, AIX) | | Server software | Prevents unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and injection attacks by securing encryption, and user permissions. | MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL server, MongoDB, IBM DB2, Cassandra | | Cloud providers | Secures cloud environments by auditing identity management (IAM), logging, monitoring, network configurations, and storage privacy. | Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud | | Mobile devices | Covers developer options, OS privacy settings, and app permissions. | Google Android, Apple iOS | | Network devices | Safeguards network infrastructure by enforcing protocols for firewalls, routers, and switches. | Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper | | Desktop software | Protects end-user endpoints and business productivity software from malware, data leaks, and insecure browser settings. | Microsoft Office/365, Zoom, Web Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) | | Multi-function print devices | Provide configuration standards for office printers, covering firmware updates, TCP/IP settings, and user management controls. | Enterprise Multifunction Printers | | DevSecOps tools | Address the software supply chain, helping teams apply security controls throughout the development lifecycle from design through deployment. | Software Supply Chain tools, code repositories | ## What are CIS Benchmark profile levels? Each CIS Benchmark includes profile levels that indicate the intended security depth and the operational impact. Choosing the right profile is a risk-based decision, and usually depends on the system's purpose and business requirements. | Profile | Security Depth | Intended Environment | Operational Impact | |---|---|---|---| | Level 1 | Baseline security recommendations focused on reducing the attack surface without significantly affecting system functionality. | Most environments and standard enterprise workloads. | Generally low; recommendations are designed to be implemented without significant disruption to normal business operations. | | Level 2 | Builds on Level 1 with stronger security controls for environments where the risk profile justifies additional security, even if the controls add operational complexity. | High-security environments, including government agencies, financial institutions handling sensitive data, and healthcare organizations. | Higher. Implementation typically requires more planning, coordination with application owners, and impact testing before deployment. | | STIG Profile | Replaces the previous Level 3 profile and contains STIG-specific recommendations, along with applicable Level 1 and Level 2 recommendations. | Environments that need to address U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) requirements. | High. STIG requirements can be restrictive and require careful planning before deployment. | ## Why are CIS Benchmarks important? In a highly dynamic network infrastructures where new devices, servers, and cloud resources are continually added, maintaining a steady security baseline is a daunting task. Most cybersecurity laws tell what to do (e.g., “secure your servers”), but not how to do it. CIS Benchmarks give IT teams the exact settings, registry keys, and configurations needed to eliminate blind spots and systematically harden the enterprise attack surface. Here's why they are critical: 1. **Drastically reduce the attack surface.** Most software products are shipped with default passwords, unnecessary open ports, and risky services turned on. They are optimized for convenience and not security. CIS benchmarks provide step-by-step instructions to disable or optimize them without disrupting regular operations. 2. **Prevent human error and guesswork.** An OS like Windows Server or Red Hat Linux has hundreds of settings, and it is not possible for an IT admin to know the most secure configuration for all of them. CIS benchmarks eliminate the guesswork by providing a curated checklist to attain secure configuration. 3. **Accelerate audit readiness.** Major regulatory frameworks, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, and NIST, contain requirements related to secure system configuration. CIS Benchmarks provide specific configuration recommendations that can help organizations address these requirements and support the documentation needed for audits. 4. **Balance security with usability.** By utilizing defined Level 1 or Level 2 profiles, an enterprise can apply essential security controls universally without disrupting core business workflows, while reserving ultra-strict restrictions of level 2 for highly sensitive data environments. ## How to implement CIS Benchmarks Implementing CIS benchmarks involves assessing systems against the applicable profile, addressing security gaps, and monitoring them on a regular basis. Common workflows that security teams adopt to implement CIS benchmarks include: 1. **Identify the applicable benchmark.** Identify which CIS Benchmark applies to the technology in scope. A Windows Server, a Linux web server, and a Google Chrome deployment each have a separate benchmark. Large environments typically require multiple benchmarks running in parallel. 2. **Choose the appropriate profile.** Decide between Level 1 and Level 2 based on the system's risk level, the sensitivity of the data it handles, and operational requirements. Most standard enterprise workloads start with Level 1. Systems handling regulated or classified data often require Level 2. 3. **Assess the current configuration.** Run an audit of the system's settings against the selected benchmark. Each benchmark contains several hundred recommendations per platform. The audit identifies which recommendations are currently met and which represent violations. 4. **Remediate security gaps.** Address the configuration gaps found during the assessment. This may involve adjusting security policies, disabling unnecessary services, enabling encryption, or modifying access controls. Each benchmark recommendation includes the rationale for the change and step by step remediation guidance. 5. **Reassess and monitor for configuration drift.** Configuration drift occurs when systems that were previously compliant gradually return to less secure state over time, due to software updates, administrator changes, new deployments, or exception processes. Continuous monitoring ensures that the systems do not move from the defined baseline and ensures compliance. ## How do CIS Benchmarks help with compliance? CIS Benchmarks are not a compliance framework. Implementing them does not make an organization compliant with PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST, or ISO 27001. What they do is provide specific, testable configurations that map to requirements within those compliance frameworks, and help generate documented evidence that auditors can refer to. Organizations working toward compliance with any of these frameworks will typically find that CIS Benchmark compliance overlaps meaningfully with the configuration-related requirements they need to meet. The value is in the concrete guidance and the audit trail, and not in treating CIS compliance as a substitute for the framework itself. ### PCI DSS The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requires secure configurations for cardholder data environments. CIS Benchmark recommendations map to several PCI DSS secure configuration requirements, including requirement 2, 6, 8, and 10. Organizations can reference documented CIS compliance results as supporting evidence during PCI DSS assessments, alongside other required controls. As per the PCI DSS framework Requirement 2, organizations are mandated to establish secure configuration standards for all system components using industry-accepted hardening standards, with the CIS Benchmarks officially recognized as an ideal baseline. ### HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires covered entities to implement appropriate technical safeguards for protected health information. CIS Benchmark configurations for servers and endpoints address areas that align with HIPAA's technical safeguard requirements, particularly access controls, audit logging, and system integrity. ### NIST The NIST Cybersecurity Framework and NIST 800-53 provide broad security control guidance. CIS Benchmark recommendations map to specific NIST controls, making them a practical implementation layer. While NIST frameworks specify outcomes, such as mandating secure configuration baselines, restricting user access, and enforcing system logging, they do not provide the vendor-specific code to execute them. By implementing CIS Benchmarks, security teams can use specific registry keys, console commands, and scripts to address NIST controls. CIS Benchmark assessments can also generate automated pass/fail reports that provides evidence of compliance. ### ISO/IEC 27001 ISO 27001 is an internationally recognized information security management standard. CIS Benchmark compliance can support the technical control requirements of Annex A within ISO 27001 and provides documented evidence of systematic configuration management that is useful during certification audits. ## What is the difference between CIS Benchmarks and vulnerability management? CIS Benchmarks and vulnerability management address different security risk layers, and both are necessary. Vulnerability management focuses on identifying and remediating known software flaws like unpatched CVEs, missing security updates, and publicly disclosed exploits. A vulnerability scanner detects software versions with a known exploit or when a patch has not been applied. CIS Benchmarks focus on configuration. They address how systems are configured, including access controls, default settings, and communication protocols. A system that is fully patched can still be exposed if its configuration is insecure. Both are needed. Patching closes known software vulnerabilities. CIS Benchmark compliance addresses the configuration weaknesses that attackers can exploit even on updated systems. Running both within a unified [vulnerability management](https://www.manageengine.com/vulnerability-management/what-is-vulnerability-management.html) program is the foundation of a strong security posture. ## How to automate CIS Benchmark compliance? CIS Benchmarks can contain hundreds of configuration recommendations for a single technology. A single benchmark can include more than 300 recommendations, making manual assessment time-consuming. Manual compliance also produces point-in-time results. An audit completed today does not reflect the state of systems next week, particularly in environments where configurations frequently change due to application deployments, policy updates, or user activity. Without regular monitoring, these changes can introduce new security gaps after an initial assessment. Automated tools address this by running continuous compliance assessments, flagging violations as soon as they appear, and provide remediation guidance. ## CIS benchmark compliance with Vulnerability Manager Plus ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus includes built-in CIS compliance functionality as part of its broader compliance management capabilities. Vulnerability Manager Plus is officially certified by CIS. It supports 130+ compliance policies covering Windows and Linux operating systems, Microsoft Office applications, and browser configurations. In addition to CIS Benchmarks, it supports STIG, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, and UK Cyber Essentials, allowing organizations to run compliance audits across multiple frameworks from a single console. Organizations can also customize compliance policies or build new ones from scratch as per their requirements. The platform runs scheduled automated audits across all endpoints in scope, instantly identifies configuration violations, and provides detailed remediation guidance for each violation including the rationale behind each recommendation. Compliance results are visible at the target group level, per individual computer, or per benchmark policy, giving teams the view they need for their specific role. Unlike tools that only detect violations, Vulnerability Manager Plus integrates CIS compliance auditing with vulnerability assessment and patch management within the same platform. Security teams can identify configuration gaps and address software vulnerabilities without switching between separate tools. ### About the author ![Prasanna Kumar](https://www.manageengine.com/ems/images/tools/employee/prasanna-dp.png) **Prasanna Kumar** is a Product Consultant at ManageEngine, specializing in Unified Endpoint Management and security solutions. He helps organizations evaluate, implement, and optimize endpoint management strategies aligned with industry best practices.