CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1 Implementation Group 2 (IG2)Supported in OneClickComply

Implement CIS Controls IG2 with evidence collected for you

CIS Controls IG2 is Implementation Group 2 of the CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1, a prioritised set of 130 Safeguards published by the Center for Internet Security. It includes all 56 IG1 essential cyber hygiene Safeguards plus 74 more covering areas such as audit logging, network monitoring, data protection, application security and penetration testing. It is a voluntary framework, not a certification.

See the CIS Controls IG2 requirements

CIS Controls IG2 Aligned

Automated Evidence

OneClickFix Enabled

Continuous Monitoring

In-House Audit Team

Who needs CIS Controls IG2

Is CIS Controls IG2 right for your organisation?

IG2 suits organisations that employ people to manage and protect their IT, support several departments with different risk profiles, and store or process sensitive client or company information. It is the natural next step once IG1 is in place, and is often adopted to show customers, insurers or regulators a defensible security baseline.

Adopting it is voluntary, though customers and auditors often expect it.

Issued by: Center for Internet Security (CIS)
Latest version: CIS Controls v8.1 (June 2024)
Scope of IG2: 130 Safeguards: 56 from IG1 plus 74 added in IG2
Structure: 18 Controls containing 153 Safeguards in total, split across IG1, IG2 and IG3
Requirement: Voluntary best-practice framework
Assessment route: Self-assessment or independent assessment; CIS does not issue an IG2 certification
Type: Framework (voluntary)
Region: Global
In OneClickComply: Supported today

How we help

OneClickComply makes it simple

CIS Controls IG2 is mapped in OneClickComply's control library and available on request, so your IG2 Safeguards can share controls and evidence with frameworks such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Automated evidence collection, continuous monitoring and OneClickFix help with technical Safeguards like MFA, anti-malware, patching and audit logging, while AutoComplete policies and vendor risk management cover process Safeguards.

Requirements covered

130 Safeguards across all 18 CIS Controls, being the 56 IG1 Safeguards plus 74 IG2 Safeguards, out of 153 Safeguards in CIS Controls v8.1.

Already working towards another framework?

ISO 270016% of CIS Controls IG2 overlaps
SOC 285% of CIS Controls IG2 overlaps
NIST CSF71% of CIS Controls IG2 overlaps
GDPR9% of CIS Controls IG2 overlaps

Evidence you collect once counts towards every framework it applies to.

Manual CIS Controls IG2 vs. OneClickComply

Manual CIS Controls IG2

Tracking 130 Safeguards across 18 Controls in spreadsheets
Screenshotting consoles to prove MFA, encryption and logging are on
Writing data management, incident response and vendor policies from scratch
Repeating the same evidence work for ISO 27001 or SOC 2
Finding out about configuration drift only at the next assessment

With OneClickComply

Every IG2 Safeguard tracked in one place with clear ownership
Evidence pulled from your cloud, identity and device tools automatically
Audit-ready policies generated from how your environment really works
Evidence collected once counts towards every mapped framework
Continuous monitoring flags drift as it happens, not months later

Capabilities

Everything you need for CIS Controls IG2

Map all 130 IG2 Safeguards to one shared control set

Collect evidence for MFA, patching, logging and backups automatically

Fix supported misconfigurations with OneClickFix, logged as evidence

Generate IG2 policies with AutoComplete from your real environment

Track service providers for Control 15 with vendor risk management

Get alerts when Safeguards drift, with Ask an Auditor on hand

How it works

Three steps to CIS Controls IG2 compliance

Connect & scan

Connect your cloud, identity and SaaS tools. OneClickComply checks them against CIS Controls IG2 and shows you exactly where you stand.

Fix & generate

OneClickFix remediates technical gaps in one click, and AutoComplete generates CIS Controls IG2-aligned policies from your real environment.

Monitor & evidence

Continuous monitoring keeps you compliant, and our in-house audit team is on hand when you need expert guidance.

Requirements

CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1 Implementation Group 2 (IG2) requirements

All 130 CIS Controls v8.1 Safeguards in Implementation Group 2, numbered by Control, including the 56 IG1 Safeguards.

Reference	Requirement
1.1	Establish and Maintain Detailed Enterprise Asset Inventory
1.2	Address Unauthorized Assets
1.3	Utilize an Active Discovery Tool
1.4	Use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Logging to Update Enterprise Asset Inventory
2.1	Establish and Maintain a Software Inventory
2.2	Ensure Authorized Software is Currently Supported
2.3	Address Unauthorized Software
2.4	Utilize Automated Software Inventory Tools
2.5	Allowlist Authorized Software
2.6	Allowlist Authorized Libraries
3.1	Establish and Maintain a Data Management Process
3.2	Establish and Maintain a Data Inventory
3.3	Configure Data Access Control Lists
3.4	Enforce Data Retention
3.5	Securely Dispose of Data
3.6	Encrypt Data on End-User Devices
3.7	Establish and Maintain a Data Classification Scheme
3.8	Document Data Flows
3.9	Encrypt Data on Removable Media
3.10	Encrypt Sensitive Data in Transit
3.11	Encrypt Sensitive Data at Rest
3.12	Segment Data Processing and Storage Based on Sensitivity
4.1	Establish and Maintain a Secure Configuration Process
4.2	Establish and Maintain a Secure Configuration Process for Network Infrastructure
4.3	Configure Automatic Session Locking on Enterprise Assets
4.4	Implement and Manage a Firewall on Servers
4.5	Implement and Manage a Firewall on End-User Devices
4.6	Securely Manage Enterprise Assets and Software
4.7	Manage Default Accounts on Enterprise Assets and Software
4.8	Uninstall or Disable Unnecessary Services on Enterprise Assets and Software
4.9	Configure Trusted DNS Servers on Enterprise Assets
4.10	Enforce Automatic Device Lockout on Portable End-User Devices
4.11	Enforce Remote Wipe Capability on Portable End-User Devices
5.1	Establish and Maintain an Inventory of Accounts
5.2	Use Unique Passwords
5.3	Disable Dormant Accounts
5.4	Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts
5.5	Establish and Maintain an Inventory of Service Accounts
5.6	Centralize Account Management
6.1	Establish an Access Granting Process
6.2	Establish an Access Revoking Process
6.3	Require MFA for Externally-Exposed Applications
6.4	Require MFA for Remote Network Access
6.5	Require MFA for Administrative Access
6.6	Establish and Maintain an Inventory of Authentication and Authorization Systems
6.7	Centralize Access Control
7.1	Establish and Maintain a Vulnerability Management Process
7.2	Establish and Maintain a Remediation Process
7.3	Perform Automated Operating System Patch Management
7.4	Perform Automated Application Patch Management
7.5	Perform Automated Vulnerability Scans of Internal Enterprise Assets
7.6	Perform Automated Vulnerability Scans of Externally-Exposed Enterprise Assets
7.7	Remediate Detected Vulnerabilities
8.1	Establish and Maintain an Audit Log Management Process
8.2	Collect Audit Logs
8.3	Ensure Adequate Audit Log Storage
8.4	Standardize Time Synchronization
8.5	Collect Detailed Audit Logs
8.6	Collect DNS Query Audit Logs
8.7	Collect URL Request Audit Logs
8.8	Collect Command-Line Audit Logs
8.9	Centralize Audit Logs
8.10	Retain Audit Logs
8.11	Conduct Audit Log Reviews
9.1	Ensure Use of Only Fully Supported Browsers and Email Clients
9.2	Use DNS Filtering Services
9.3	Maintain and Enforce Network-Based URL Filters
9.4	Restrict Unnecessary or Unauthorized Browser and Email Client Extensions
9.5	Implement DMARC
9.6	Block Unnecessary File Types
10.1	Deploy and Maintain Anti-Malware Software
10.2	Configure Automatic Anti-Malware Signature Updates
10.3	Disable Autorun and Autoplay for Removable Media
10.4	Configure Automatic Anti-Malware Scanning of Removable Media
10.5	Enable Anti-Exploitation Features
10.6	Centrally Manage Anti-Malware Software
10.7	Use Behavior-Based Anti-Malware Software
11.1	Establish and Maintain a Data Recovery Process
11.2	Perform Automated Backups
11.3	Protect Recovery Data
11.4	Establish and Maintain an Isolated Instance of Recovery Data
11.5	Test Data Recovery
12.1	Ensure Network Infrastructure is Up-to-Date
12.2	Establish and Maintain a Secure Network Architecture
12.3	Securely Manage Network Infrastructure
12.4	Establish and Maintain Architecture Diagram(s)
12.5	Centralize Network Authentication, Authorization, and Auditing (AAA)
12.6	Use of Secure Network Management and Communication Protocols
12.7	Ensure Remote Devices Utilize a VPN and are Connecting to an Enterprise's AAA Infrastructure
13.1	Centralize Security Event Alerting
13.2	Deploy a Host-Based Intrusion Detection Solution
13.3	Deploy a Network Intrusion Detection Solution
13.4	Perform Traffic Filtering Between Network Segments
13.5	Manage Access Control for Remote Assets
13.6	Collect Network Traffic Flow Logs
14.1	Establish and Maintain a Security Awareness Program
14.2	Train Workforce Members to Recognize Social Engineering Attacks
14.3	Train Workforce Members on Authentication Best Practices
14.4	Train Workforce on Data Handling Best Practices
14.5	Train Workforce Members on Causes of Unintentional Data Exposure
14.6	Train Workforce Members on Recognizing and Reporting Security Incidents
14.7	Train Workforce on How to Identify and Report if Their Enterprise Assets are Missing Security Updates
14.8	Train Workforce on the Dangers of Connecting to and Transmitting Enterprise Data Over Insecure Networks
14.9	Conduct Role-Specific Security Awareness and Skills Training
15.1	Establish and Maintain an Inventory of Service Providers
15.2	Establish and Maintain a Service Provider Management Policy
15.3	Classify Service Providers
15.4	Ensure Service Provider Contracts Include Security Requirements
16.1	Establish and Maintain a Secure Application Development Process
16.2	Establish and Maintain a Process to Accept and Address Software Vulnerabilities
16.3	Perform Root Cause Analysis on Security Vulnerabilities
16.4	Establish and Manage an Inventory of Third-Party Software Components
16.5	Use Up-to-Date and Trusted Third-Party Software Components
16.6	Establish and Maintain a Severity Rating System and Process for Application Vulnerabilities
16.7	Use Standard Hardening Configuration Templates for Application Infrastructure
16.8	Separate Production and Non-Production Systems
16.9	Train Developers in Application Security Concepts and Secure Coding
16.10	Apply Secure Design Principles in Application Architectures
16.11	Leverage Vetted Modules or Services for Application Security Components
17.1	Designate Personnel to Manage Incident Handling
17.2	Establish and Maintain Contact Information for Reporting Security Incidents
17.3	Establish and Maintain an Enterprise Process for Reporting Incidents
17.4	Establish and Maintain an Incident Response Process
17.5	Assign Key Roles and Responsibilities
17.6	Define Mechanisms for Communicating During Incident Response
17.7	Conduct Routine Incident Response Exercises
17.8	Conduct Post-Incident Reviews
18.1	Establish and Maintain a Penetration Testing Program
18.2	Perform Periodic External Penetration Tests
18.3	Remediate Penetration Test Findings

Always check the official CIS Controls IG2 text for the exact wording.

CIS Controls IG2 FAQs

What is CIS Controls IG2?

CIS Controls IG2 is Implementation Group 2 of the CIS Critical Security Controls, published by the Center for Internet Security. In version 8.1 it contains 130 Safeguards: the 56 IG1 essential cyber hygiene Safeguards plus 74 additional ones. The extra Safeguards help organisations with more complex IT environments and more sensitive data, and some depend on enterprise-grade technology and specialist expertise to install and configure.

Who should implement CIS Controls IG2?

IG2 is intended for organisations that employ people responsible for managing and protecting IT infrastructure, support multiple departments with differing risk profiles, and store or process sensitive client or company information. CIS describes these organisations as able to withstand short interruptions of service, with loss of public confidence after a breach a major concern. Smaller organisations should normally complete IG1 first.

Is CIS Controls IG2 mandatory?

No. The CIS Controls are a voluntary best-practice framework, and there are no fines for not implementing IG2. However, customers, cyber insurers and some sector regulators reference the CIS Controls as evidence of reasonable security, so contracts or procurement questionnaires may effectively require you to show progress against IG1 or IG2.

What is the difference between IG1, IG2 and IG3?

The three Implementation Groups are cumulative. IG1 has 56 Safeguards for essential cyber hygiene. IG2 adds 74 Safeguards, giving 130, for organisations with dedicated IT staff and sensitive data. IG3 adds a further 23, covering all 153 Safeguards in v8.1, for organisations facing sophisticated attackers or handling highly sensitive data.

Can you get certified against CIS Controls IG2?

No. The Center for Internet Security does not run a certification scheme for the CIS Controls or for any Implementation Group. Organisations usually self-assess against the Safeguards, for example with CIS's Controls Self Assessment Tool, or ask an independent assessor to review their implementation and report on it to customers, insurers or the board.

How does CIS Controls IG2 relate to ISO 27001 and SOC 2?

CIS Controls IG2 overlaps heavily with ISO 27001 Annex A and the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria, particularly for access control, logging, vulnerability management, backups and incident response. CIS publishes mappings to other frameworks. IG2 is more prescriptive about technical Safeguards, so it is often used to decide how to implement controls that ISO 27001 or SOC 2 describe at a higher level.

What changed in CIS Controls v8.1?

CIS Controls v8.1, released in June 2024, is an update rather than a rewrite. It keeps the 18 Controls and 153 Safeguards of v8, adds Govern as a security function to align with NIST CSF 2.0, revises some Safeguard titles and descriptions, and updates the glossary. The Implementation Group sizes of 56, 130 and 153 Safeguards remain the same.

Does OneClickComply support CIS Controls IG2?

Yes, on request. CIS Controls IG2 is mapped in OneClickComply's control library and available to customers on request, rather than offered as a self-serve framework today. Once enabled, it shares controls and evidence with frameworks you already run, and uses automated evidence collection, continuous monitoring, AutoComplete policies and Ask an Auditor guidance to help you work through the Safeguards.

Related standards

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