Choosing Between NIST and CIS: A Practical Guide for Resource-Constrained Teams

When the next step to becoming secure seems ambiguous, a framework can give you the confidence to move forward with clarity. Serving as a guide, it will highlight the gaps in your security program and offer a baseline of controls that you can prioritize.

For IT teams looking to improve their security posture, choosing between the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and CIS Controls can feel overwhelming. At Blumira, we regularly help organizations navigate this decision. Let's break down these frameworks in practical terms to help you make the right choice for your team.

The Key Differences at a Glance

NIST Cybersecurity Framework:

• More flexible and adaptable
• Focus on overall risk management
• Six core functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover
• Great for organizations that need customization

CIS Controls:

More prescriptive and actionable
Focus on specific security controls
18 control categories with concrete implementation steps
Ideal for teams seeking clear, direct guidance
Well-suited for organizations just starting their security journey

Which Framework Fits Your Reality?

Consider NIST If:

You need flexibility to adapt security controls to your environment
Your industry has specific compliance requirements
You want to build a comprehensive security program over time
You have some security expertise on your team
You're looking to mature your security practices gradually

Consider CIS If:

You want clear, specific guidance on what to implement
You're starting from scratch with security
You have limited security expertise in-house
You need quick wins and clear progress markers
You prefer step-by-step implementation instructions

The Real-World Impact
Based on our experience with customers, here's what we typically see:
NIST Success Story: A mid-sized healthcare provider chose NIST because it aligned well with their HIPAA requirements. They appreciated the framework's flexibility, which allowed them to prioritize controls based on their specific risks while meeting compliance needs.

CIS Success Story: A small manufacturing firm with a two-person IT team found CIS Controls ideal because it gave them clear, prioritized steps to improve their security posture without requiring extensive security expertise.
Making It Work With Limited Resources
Whichever framework you choose, here are some practical tips for implementation:

Start Small: Focus on the most critical controls first
Automate Where Possible: Use tools that can automate monitoring and response
Document As You Go: Make documentation part of your daily process
Leverage Existing Tools: Look for ways your current tools support framework requirements
Focus on Outcomes: Don't get lost in the process - keep sight of security goals

The Bottom Line
There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but here's our guidance: If you're just starting out and need clear direction, CIS Controls might be your best bet. If you need more flexibility and have some security maturity, NIST could be the better choice.
Remember, the goal isn't perfect implementation of either framework - it's improving your security posture in a way that works for your organization's resources and needs.
Want to learn more about how Blumira can help you implement either framework effectively? Check out our platform's capabilities or schedule a demo with our team. If you're specifically interested in diving deeper, explore our comprehensive
NIST Cybersecurity Framework guide.

Participants

Wolfgang Goerlich, Advisory CISO, Duo Security

Wolf is an Advisory CISO of Duo Security, the leading provider of unified access security and multi-factor authentication delivered through the cloud. He has held senior management roles in IT and IT security in the financial services and healthcare verticals. In addition, Wolf has held senior leadership roles in consulting firms specializing in identity and access management, governance risk and compliance, and security programs. Wolf advises clients primarily in risk management, incident response, business continuity, and secure development.

Mike Toole, Head of Security and IT, Blumira

Mike, Head of Security and IT at Blumira, has over a decade of experience in IT. Prior to joining Blumira, he managed IT for Duo Security and Censys. He has broad experience with a range of IT and security focus areas, including compliance, network design, log monitoring, project management, and cross-platform IT.