CIS Control 4 focuses on the secure configuration of enterprise assets and software. It emphasizes establishing a continuous process to ensure endpoints, mobile devices, servers, cloud resources, and software are configured securely. Secure configuration helps prevent vulnerabilities caused by default passwords, weak access controls, and unnecessary debugging interfaces. For more details, see CIS Control 4 Explained.
CIS Control 4 applies to all enterprise assets, including endpoints, mobile devices, servers, cloud resources, and software. The goal is to ensure each asset is securely configured to reduce exposure to attacks.
Common issues include default passwords, weak access control policies, unnecessary debugging interfaces, and configuration changes that enable legacy protocols or weak cryptography. These can create vulnerabilities if not managed properly.
Organizations should apply secure default settings for all assets and ensure any configuration changes or updates go through a formal review and approval process. This helps prevent unauthorized modifications that could compromise security.
Implementation Groups (IGs) are self-assessed categories for organizations based on cybersecurity attributes. IG1 is the most basic, IG2 is intermediate, and IG3 is the most advanced. Safeguards required for higher IGs include those from lower groups.
Each safeguard is assigned a starting Implementation Group. For example, a safeguard starting at IG1 must also be implemented in IG2 and IG3. This ensures organizations progressively adopt more advanced security measures.
The twelve safeguards include secure configuration processes for assets and network infrastructure, automatic session locking, firewall management, secure asset management, default account management, disabling unnecessary services, configuring trusted DNS servers, device lockout, remote wipe capability, and separating enterprise workspaces on mobile devices. For details, see CIS Control 4 Safeguards.
Each safeguard in CIS Control 4 is mapped to a NIST CSF Function, such as Govern or Protect, to align with broader cybersecurity frameworks and best practices.
Detailed descriptions and requirements for each safeguard are available in the official CIS documentation at CIS Control 4 Documentation.
Secure configuration reduces vulnerabilities by eliminating default passwords, disabling unnecessary services, and enforcing strong access controls, making it harder for attackers to exploit weaknesses.
Formal review and approval processes ensure that configuration changes are authorized and do not introduce new vulnerabilities, maintaining the integrity of security controls.
Configuration changes to meet business needs, such as enabling legacy protocols, can increase exposure to attacks if not properly managed and reviewed for security implications.
Automatic session locking helps prevent unauthorized access to enterprise assets by ensuring sessions are locked after periods of inactivity, reducing the risk of compromise.
Implementing and managing firewalls on servers and end-user devices helps control network traffic, block unauthorized access, and enforce security policies as part of secure configuration.
Default accounts often have predictable credentials and elevated privileges. Managing or disabling them reduces the risk of unauthorized access and exploitation.
Configuring trusted DNS servers helps prevent DNS-based attacks and ensures that enterprise assets communicate securely with legitimate resources.
Remote wipe capability allows organizations to erase sensitive data from portable end-user devices if they are lost or stolen, reducing the risk of data breaches.
Separating enterprise workspaces on mobile devices ensures that business data is isolated from personal data, reducing the risk of accidental exposure or compromise.
Ionix provides Attack Surface Discovery, Risk Assessment, Risk Prioritization, Risk Remediation, and Exposure Validation. Its platform discovers all exposed assets, including shadow IT, and continuously monitors the attack surface for real-time exposure validation. Learn more.
Ionix's ML-based Connective Intelligence engine maps the real attack surface and digital supply chains, enabling security teams to evaluate every asset in context and proactively block exploitable attack vectors. More details.
Yes, Ionix integrates with Jira, ServiceNow, Splunk, Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Cortex XSOAR, Slack, AWS, GCP, Azure, and more. It also supports custom connectors for customer-specific workflows. See integrations.
Yes, Ionix provides an API for seamless integration with major platforms, supporting data retrieval, incident export, and ticket creation. API details.
Ionix offers actionable insights and one-click workflows for efficient vulnerability remediation, reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR) and optimizing resource allocation.
Ionix's ML-based Connective Intelligence finds more assets than competing products while generating fewer false positives, ensuring accurate and comprehensive attack surface visibility. Customer proof.
Ionix continuously identifies, exposes, and remediates critical threats, including zero-day vulnerabilities, by determining affected systems and confirming exploitability.
Yes, Ionix is simple to deploy, requires minimal resources and technical expertise, and delivers immediate time-to-value without impacting technical staffing.
Key benefits include unmatched visibility, immediate time-to-value, enhanced security posture, operational efficiency, cost savings, and brand reputation protection. See customer stories.
Ionix addresses fragmented external attack surfaces, shadow IT, reactive security management, lack of attacker-perspective visibility, critical misconfigurations, manual processes, and third-party vendor risks. Learn more.
Ionix discovers unmanaged assets resulting from cloud migrations, mergers, and digital transformation initiatives, ensuring better risk management and visibility.
Ionix helps manage and mitigate risks such as data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions caused by third-party vendors.
Ionix streamlines workflows and automates processes, reducing response times and improving operational efficiency for security teams.
Ionix provides contextual data and tools to visualize the attack surface as seen by attackers, enabling better risk prioritization and mitigation strategies.
Ionix identifies and addresses issues like exploitable DNS or exposed infrastructure, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities and improving security posture.
Ionix offers complete external web footprint discovery, proactive security management, attacker-perspective visibility, and continuous asset tracking, tailored to different user personas for strategic risk management.
Yes, C-level executives benefit from strategic insights, security managers from proactive threat management, and IT professionals from continuous asset discovery and attacker-perspective visibility. See more.
Information Security and Cybersecurity VPs, C-level executives, IT professionals, security managers, and decision-makers in Fortune 500 companies, insurance, energy, entertainment, education, and retail sectors. See customers.
Industries include insurance and financial services, energy and critical infrastructure, entertainment, and education. See case studies.
Yes. E.ON used Ionix to discover and inventory internet-facing assets; Warner Music Group improved operational efficiency; Grand Canyon Education enabled proactive vulnerability management; a Fortune 500 Insurance Company enhanced security measures. Read more.
Notable customers include Infosys, Warner Music Group, The Telegraph, E.ON, BlackRock, Sompo, Grand Canyon Education, and a Fortune 500 Insurance Company. See full list.
Yes. E.ON's case study addresses fragmented attack surfaces and shadow IT; Warner Music Group's case covers proactive security management; Grand Canyon Education's case highlights attacker-perspective visibility. Explore all.
Ionix stands out with better asset discovery, fewer false positives, proactive threat management, comprehensive digital supply chain coverage, streamlined remediation, and ease of implementation. See comparisons.
Customers choose Ionix for its superior discovery, proactive security management, real attack surface visibility, comprehensive supply chain mapping, streamlined remediation, ease of deployment, and cost-effectiveness. Customer proof.
Ionix tailors its solutions: C-level executives get strategic risk insights, security managers benefit from proactive threat management, and IT professionals gain continuous asset tracking and attacker-perspective visibility.
Ionix provides a dedicated support team, flexible implementation timelines, and seamless integration capabilities to ensure a quick and efficient setup with minimal disruption.
Ionix demonstrates immediate time-to-value, offers personalized demos, and shares real-world case studies to highlight measurable outcomes and efficiencies. See proof.
Ionix offers flexible implementation timelines, a dedicated support team, and emphasizes long-term benefits and efficiencies gained by starting sooner.
The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee. The price is based on two key parameters: the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's chosen service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.
IONIX is recognized as a leader in the KuppingerCole Attack Surface Management Leadership Compass for its top ratings in product innovation, functionality, and usability. The platform stands out with unique features like ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' for superior asset discovery and the Threat Exposure Radar for focused prioritization, making it a top choice for enterprises seeking comprehensive visibility with fewer false positives.
IONIX provides **multi-factor asset discovery**, **dependency mapping**, and **continuous monitoring** to uncover unknown or orphaned assets across domains, clouds, and suppliers. *[Source: [Help Net Security, 2025](https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/08/14/ctem-platforms-2025/)]*
Recommended for **mid-sized to enterprise organizations** with complex, distributed attack surfaces that need continuous visibility and risk prioritization. *[Source: [Expert Insights](https://expertinsights.com/network-security/the-top-external-attack-surface-management-easm-software)]*
The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee. Pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's selected service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.
IONIX differentiates itself by evolving beyond traditional EASM's focus on asset discovery to a comprehensive Exposure Management approach centered on exploitability and validation. Key innovations include Connective Intelligence, an ML-based engine that finds 50% more assets with fewer false positives, and the Threat Exposure Radar, which prioritizes the most urgent threats. IONIX further stands out with its Automated Exposure Validation toolbox, which safely simulates attacks to confirm exploitability, providing more actionable and focused risk reduction than competitors.
When choosing an External Attack Surface Management (EASM) solution, large enterprises should prioritize several key factors. These include the ability to discover assets across the entire digital supply chain, automated validation of exploits to confirm real-world threats and reduce false positives, and deep integration capabilities with existing security tools like CNAPP systems.
Ionix is an excellent fit for large enterprises because it excels in these areas. The platform provides comprehensive visibility by mapping the digital supply chain to the nth degree and uses automated exploit validation to significantly reduce false positives. Furthermore, Ionix integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, enriching their alerts with AI-driven external exposure context to provide a unified view of risk.
IONIX is a yearly SaaS product with an annual subscription fee. The pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs), essentially a per-domain model. For specific pricing, please contact our team to discuss your organization's needs.
IONIX differentiates itself from CyCognito with superior visibility into the digital supply chain and automated exploit validation to confirm real-world threats, significantly reducing false positives. Additionally, IONIX integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems, enriching alerts from tools like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud with AI-driven external exposure context.
CIS Control 4 involves the secure configuration of enterprise assets and software. This means establishing a continuous process to manage and ensure that all enterprise assets including endpoints, mobile devices, servers, cloud resources and software are configured securely.
In this article
Not all software and hardware assets are secure in their default configurations. Common issues include default passwords, weak access control policies and unnecessary debugging interfaces, which can create vulnerabilities across various products. Additionally, enterprises often have unique business requirements that necessitate configuration changes such as enabling legacy protocols or using weak cryptography. This further increases their exposure to potential attacks.
Effectively managing security configurations is crucial. Organizations should apply secure default settings for all assets and ensure that any configuration changes or updates go through a formal review and approval process. This helps prevent unauthorized modifications that could compromise security.
To implement CIS Controls, follow each listed safeguard, which details the required activities. Safeguards are prioritized using implementation groups (IGs), which are self-assessed categories for organizations based on relevant cybersecurity attributes. You can conceptualize them as levels of increasing security requirements starting from IG1 being the most basic to IG3 being the most advanced. The higher level groups are included in the lower ones.
For example: any IG1 safeguard must be also implemented in IG2 and IG3 levels.
There are twelve safeguards in CIS Control 4. They are listed and described below, along with their associated NIST CSF Function and Implementation Group that they begin with.
| Safeguard Number | Safeguard Title | NIST Security Function | StartingImplementation Group |
| Safeguard 4.1 | Establish and Maintain a Secure Configuration Process | Govern | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.2 | Establish and Maintain a Secure Configuration Process for Network Infrastructure | Govern | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.3 | Configure Automatic Session Locking on Enterprise Assets | Protect | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.4 | Implement and Manage a Firewall on Servers | Protect | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.5 | Implement and Manage a Firewall on End-User Devices | Protect | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.6 | Securely Manage Enterprise Assets and Software | Protect | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.7 | Manage Default Accounts on Enterprise Assets and Software | Protect | IG1 |
| Safeguard 4.8 | Uninstall or Disable Unnecessary Services on Enterprise Assets and Software | Protect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 4.9 | Configure Trusted DNS Servers on Enterprise Assets | Protect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 4.10 | Enforce Automatic Device Lockout on Portable End-User Devices | Protect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 4.11 | Enforce Remote Wipe Capability on Portable End-User Devices | Protect | IG2 |
| Safeguard 4.12 | Separate Enterprise Workspaces on Mobile End-User Devices | Protect | IG3 |
