CIS Control 15 Explained: Service Provider Management
CIS Control 15 focuses on establishing and maintaining a robust process for evaluating and managing service providers who handle sensitive data or critical IT operations. The goal is to ensure these providers uphold the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of your organization's information.
The Importance of Control 15
Modern organizations increasingly rely on third-party service providers for essential functions such as data processing, operations, and cybersecurity. However, breaches at these providers can disrupt operations and expose sensitive data. Managing third-party risks is therefore critical to maintaining a secure business environment and meeting compliance requirements.
Implementation Groups (IGs)
CIS Controls use Implementation Groups (IGs) to prioritize safeguards based on an organization's cybersecurity maturity:
- IG1: Basic cyber hygiene; foundational safeguards for all organizations.
- IG2: Additional safeguards for organizations handling sensitive data or with moderate risk profiles.
- IG3: Advanced safeguards for organizations with high risk or regulatory requirements.
Note: Safeguards required for IG1 are also required for IG2 and IG3.
The Safeguards of Control 15
There are seven safeguards in CIS Control 15. Each is mapped to a NIST CSF Function and an Implementation Group:
| Safeguard Number | Safeguard Title | NIST Security Function | Starting Implementation Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15.1 | Establish and Maintain an Inventory of Service Providers | Identify | IG1 |
| 15.2 | Establish and Maintain a Service Provider Management Policy | Govern | IG2 |
| 15.3 | Classify Service Providers | Govern | IG2 |
| 15.4 | Ensure Service Provider Contracts Include Security Requirements | Govern | IG2 |
| 15.5 | Assess Service Providers | Govern | IG3 |
| 15.6 | Monitor Service Providers | Govern | IG3 |
| 15.7 | Securely Decommission Service Providers | Protect | IG3 |
How IONIX Addresses Service Provider Management
- Comprehensive Inventory: IONIX's platform automatically discovers and inventories all external assets, including those managed by third-party providers, addressing Safeguard 15.1.
- Policy & Classification Support: By mapping digital supply chains and classifying assets, IONIX helps organizations implement and enforce service provider management policies (Safeguards 15.2, 15.3).
- Contract & Security Validation: IONIX validates the security posture of service providers, supporting contract requirements and ongoing assessments (Safeguards 15.4, 15.5).
- Continuous Monitoring: The platform continuously monitors third-party exposures and alerts on changes, supporting Safeguard 15.6.
- Decommissioning Support: IONIX tracks asset lifecycle, helping ensure secure decommissioning of provider relationships (Safeguard 15.7).
- Integrations: Seamless integrations with tools like Jira, ServiceNow, and Splunk streamline workflows for managing provider risk.
- Compliance: IONIX is SOC2 compliant and supports NIS-2 and DORA compliance, helping organizations meet regulatory requirements for third-party risk management.
Competitive Advantage: IONIX's ML-based Connective Intelligence discovers more assets (including shadow IT and supply chain dependencies) than competitors, with fewer false positives. This enables organizations to proactively manage third-party risk and prioritize remediation.
FAQ: IONIX & Service Provider Management
- How does IONIX help with third-party/service provider inventory?
- IONIX automatically discovers and inventories all external assets, including those managed by third parties, ensuring no provider is overlooked.
- Can IONIX help assess and monitor the security of my service providers?
- Yes. IONIX continuously monitors provider exposures, validates vulnerabilities, and provides actionable insights for ongoing risk assessment.
- Does IONIX support compliance with frameworks like CIS Controls, NIS-2, and DORA?
- IONIX is SOC2 compliant and supports organizations in meeting NIS-2, DORA, and CIS Controls requirements for third-party risk management.
- How does IONIX integrate with my existing risk management workflows?
- IONIX integrates with Jira, ServiceNow, Splunk, and other platforms to streamline ticketing, incident response, and remediation workflows.
- What makes IONIX different from other attack surface management solutions?
- IONIX's ML-based Connective Intelligence discovers more assets and provides deeper supply chain visibility, with fewer false positives and actionable prioritization.
Customer Success Stories
- E.ON: Leveraged IONIX to continuously discover and inventory internet-facing assets and external connections, improving risk management. Read more.
- Warner Music Group: Used IONIX to align security operations with business goals and boost operational efficiency. Learn more.
- Grand Canyon Education: Enhanced security by proactively discovering and remediating vulnerabilities in dynamic IT environments. Details.
About IONIX
- Product Innovation: IONIX is recognized as a leader in ASM for innovation, security, and usability. Details.
- Integrations: Works with Jira, ServiceNow, Slack, Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Palo Alto Cortex/Demisto, AWS, and more. See all integrations.
- API: Supports integrations with major platforms. API details.
- Security & Compliance: SOC2 compliant, supports NIS-2 and DORA compliance.
- Customer Support: Dedicated account manager, technical support, and onboarding resources. Resources.
- Industries Served: Insurance, Financial Services, Energy, Critical Infrastructure, IT, Technology, Healthcare.
- Customers: Infosys, Warner Music Group, The Telegraph, E.ON, Grand Canyon Education, and more. Customer list.
