FISMA
U.S. federal law mandating risk-based cybersecurity programs
CIS Controls
Prioritized cybersecurity framework for cyber resilience
Quick Verdict
FISMA mandates risk-based security for US federal agencies via NIST RMF, while CIS Controls offer voluntary, prioritized safeguards for all organizations. Feds comply legally; others adopt CIS for practical hygiene, compliance mapping, and resilience.
FISMA
Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014
Key Features
- Mandates NIST RMF 7-step risk management process
- Requires continuous monitoring and diagnostics
- Enforces annual independent IG assessments
- Demands real-time major incident reporting
- Applies to agencies and federal contractors
CIS Controls
CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1
Key Features
- 18 prioritized controls with 153 actionable safeguards
- Implementation Groups IG1-IG3 for scalable adoption
- Asset and software inventory as foundational hygiene
- Mappings to NIST, PCI DSS, HIPAA frameworks
- Free Benchmarks and tools for configuration hardening
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
FISMA Details
What It Is
Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014 is a U.S. federal law establishing a risk-based framework for protecting federal information and systems. It mandates agency-wide information security programs using NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), focusing on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Key Components
- NIST RMF 7 steps: Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, Monitor.
- NIST SP 800-53 controls (20 families) tailored by FIPS 199 impact levels.
- Continuous monitoring via SP 800-137; annual IG evaluations with maturity models.
- Oversight by OMB, DHS/CISA, Congress; no formal certification but ATOs required.
Why Organizations Use It
Federal agencies and contractors must comply to avoid penalties, funding loss. It reduces risks, enables market access (e.g., FedRAMP), builds resilience, and aligns cybersecurity with missions for efficiency and trust.
Implementation Overview
Phased RMF lifecycle with SSPs, POA&Ms, automation. Applies to federal executive agencies, contractors handling federal data; complex for large/federated orgs, scalable for smaller via tools. Involves audits, reporting.
CIS Controls Details
What It Is
CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1 is a community-driven, prescriptive cybersecurity framework of prioritized best practices to reduce attack surfaces and enhance resilience. It applies across industries and organization sizes via Implementation Groups (IG1–IG3), focusing on actionable safeguards.
Key Components
- 18 Controls with 153 safeguards, covering asset inventory to penetration testing.
- Tiered IG1 (56 safeguards) for basic hygiene, IG2/IG3 for advanced maturity.
- Built on real-world attack data; maps to NIST, PCI DSS, HIPAA.
- No formal certification; self-assessed compliance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates breach risks, accelerates regulatory compliance.
- Delivers ROI via efficiency, insurance discounts, market trust.
- Supports risk management, vendor oversight in hybrid/cloud environments.
Implementation Overview
- Phased roadmap: governance, discovery, foundational controls, expansion, assurance.
- Key activities: asset inventories, vulnerability management, training.
- Scalable for SMBs to enterprises; all sectors, global applicability.
- Ongoing metrics, audits; leverages free tools like Benchmarks.
Key Differences
| Aspect | FISMA | CIS Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Federal info systems risk management via NIST RMF | 18 prioritized cybersecurity best practices/safeguards |
| Industry | US federal agencies, contractors, civilian systems | All industries/sectors worldwide, any organization size |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal law with DHS/OMB oversight | Voluntary consensus best practices framework |
| Testing | Annual IG assessments, continuous monitoring, ATOs | Self-assessments, pen testing, maturity via IGs |
| Penalties | Contract loss, debarment, IG reports, remediation | No penalties, reputational/business risk only |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about FISMA and CIS Controls
FISMA FAQ
CIS Controls FAQ
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