Standards Comparison

    LGPD

    Mandatory
    2020

    Brazil's comprehensive law for personal data protection

    VS

    CIS Controls

    Voluntary
    2021

    Prioritized cybersecurity controls framework for resilience

    Quick Verdict

    LGPD mandates data protection for Brazilian residents with fines up to 2% revenue, while CIS Controls offer voluntary cybersecurity best practices for global hygiene. Companies adopt LGPD for legal compliance, CIS for resilient defenses against common threats.

    Data Privacy

    LGPD

    Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais (Law 13.709/2018)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Extraterritorial scope targeting Brazilian residents worldwide
    • 10 core principles including prevention and non-discrimination
    • Fines up to 2% Brazilian revenue capped R$50M
    • Mandatory Data Protection Officer for controllers
    • 3-business-day breach notifications to ANPD
    Cybersecurity

    CIS Controls

    CIS Critical Security Controls v8.1

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • 18 prioritized controls with 153 actionable safeguards
    • Implementation Groups IG1-IG3 for scalable adoption
    • Mappings to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS
    • Technology-agnostic, offense-informed best practices
    • Free Benchmarks and Navigator tools for implementation

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    LGPD Details

    What It Is

    LGPD (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais, Law No. 13.709/2018) is Brazil's federal regulation for personal data protection. It establishes a risk-based framework governing processing, storage, and transfer of personal and sensitive data, with extraterritorial scope for operations targeting Brazilian residents.

    Key Components

    • **10 core principlespurpose limitation, necessity, transparency, security, prevention, accountability, etc.
    • **Data subject rightsaccess, correction, deletion, portability, objection to automated decisions.
    • 10 legal bases for processing, mandatory DPO for controllers, DPIAs for high-risk activities.
    • ANPD enforcement with graduated sanctions up to 2% Brazilian revenue (R$50M cap).

    Why Organizations Use It

    LGPD compliance avoids multimillion fines, operational suspensions, and reputational harm. It builds customer trust, enables market access in Brazil's digital economy, reduces breach risks, and supports AI innovation via anonymization exemptions.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased approach: governance setup, data mapping/RoPA, policies, technical controls (encryption, access), DSR automation, vendor DPAs with SCCs. Applies to all sizes/industries processing Brazilian data; no certification but ANPD audits required.

    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, using Implementation Groups (IG1–IG3) for risk-based, scalable adoption.

    Key Components

    • 18 Controls with 153 Safeguards, covering asset inventory, data protection, vulnerability management, incident response.
    • Built on offense-informed prioritization from real attacks.
    • No formal certification; compliance via self-assessment, audits, mappings to NIST, ISO 27001.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mitigates 85% common attacks, cuts breach costs.
    • Maps to regulations (NIST, HIPAA, PCI DSS) for multi-compliance.
    • Builds trust, enables cyber-insurance discounts, operational efficiency.
    • Strategic edge via prioritized hygiene.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased roadmap: governance, discovery, foundational (IG1), expansion (IG2/IG3), validation.
    • Automation-heavy; suits SMBs to enterprises, all sectors.
    • Tools: Benchmarks, Navigator; 9–18 months typical for IG2.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    LGPD
    Personal data protection, subject rights, processing
    CIS Controls
    Cybersecurity hygiene, asset management, incident response

    Industry

    LGPD
    All sectors, Brazil residents, all sizes
    CIS Controls
    All industries worldwide, all sizes

    Nature

    LGPD
    Mandatory Brazilian regulation, ANPD enforcement
    CIS Controls
    Voluntary cybersecurity framework, no enforcement

    Testing

    LGPD
    DPIAs for high-risk, ANPD audits
    CIS Controls
    Penetration testing, self-assessments, IG maturity

    Penalties

    LGPD
    2% Brazilian revenue fines, up to R$50M
    CIS Controls
    No legal penalties, reputational risk only

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about LGPD and CIS Controls

    LGPD FAQ

    CIS Controls FAQ

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