CIS Controls for Startups and SMBs

This guide shows how startups and small-to-medium businesses can implement CIS Controls effectively, focusing on the 56 IG1 safeguards that provide essential cyber hygiene without overwhelming limited teams.

Key Takeaways

Point	Summary
Start with IG1	56 essential safeguards designed for resource-constrained organizations
Focus on fundamentals	Asset inventory, access control, backups, and training first
Use existing tools	Many IG1 safeguards can be achieved with tools you already have
Build incrementally	Don't try to implement everything at once
Compliance foundation	IG1 creates a strong base for SOC 2 or ISO 27001 later

Quick Answer: Startups and SMBs should implement CIS Controls Implementation Group 1 (IG1), which contains 56 safeguards specifically designed for organizations with limited IT and security resources. IG1 addresses the most common attack vectors and can be implemented incrementally without dedicated security staff. Start with asset inventory, access controls, backups, and security training, then expand coverage over time.

Why CIS Controls Work for Startups

Designed for Resource Constraints

Unlike frameworks that assume enterprise resources, CIS Controls explicitly recognize that organizations have different capabilities. IG1 was created specifically for organizations that:

• Have limited IT and cybersecurity expertise
• May not have dedicated security staff
• Need to prioritize ruthlessly
• Want practical, actionable guidance

Prioritized for Impact

CIS Controls are ordered by priority. IG1 safeguards address the attack techniques used in the majority of breaches. By focusing on IG1, you're protecting against what matters most.

Free and Accessible

The CIS Controls framework is freely available. You don't need to purchase expensive consultants or tools to understand what to implement.

Scalable

As your startup grows, you can progress from IG1 to IG2 and IG3. The work you do now builds toward a more comprehensive security program later.

Startup Security Priorities

For startups, security typically isn't the core focus, and that's appropriate. Your priority is building your product and growing your business. However, security incidents can derail that progress, and customers increasingly require evidence of security practices.

The Startup Security Balance

Priority	Security Need
Protect customer data	Trust is your most valuable asset
Enable sales	Answer security questionnaires
Prevent disruption	Avoid incidents that stop work
Stay lean	Don't overinvest in security overhead

IG1 addresses all four priorities with minimal resource investment.

The IG1 Safeguards That Matter Most

IG1 contains 56 safeguards. Here are the ones that provide the most value for startups, organized by priority:

Priority 1: Know What You Have

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
1.1	Maintain hardware inventory	You can't protect unknown assets
2.1	Maintain software inventory	Track what's running in your environment
2.2	Ensure software is supported	End-of-life software doesn't get patches

Startup approach: Start with a spreadsheet listing your cloud accounts, devices, and critical applications. This doesn't need to be sophisticated.

Priority 2: Control Access

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
5.1	Inventory accounts	Know who has access to what
5.2	Use unique passwords	Password managers are essential
5.3	Disable dormant accounts	Former employees shouldn't have access
5.4	Use dedicated admin accounts	Don't use admin privileges for daily work
6.3	Require MFA for external applications	Phishing can't bypass MFA
6.4	Require MFA for remote access	Protect against credential theft
6.5	Require MFA for administrative access	Admin accounts are prime targets

Startup approach: Enable MFA everywhere you can. Use a password manager. Implement SSO if your budget allows. Review access when people leave.

Priority 3: Protect Your Data

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
3.4	Enforce data retention	Don't keep data you don't need
3.6	Encrypt end-user devices	Lost laptops shouldn't mean data breaches
11.1	Establish backup process	Know how you'll recover
11.2	Automate backups	Don't rely on manual processes
11.3	Protect backup data	Backups should be secured
11.4	Keep isolated backup copy	Ransomware can't touch offline backups

Startup approach: Enable full disk encryption on all laptops. Configure automated backups for critical data. Test restoring from backups periodically.

Priority 4: Secure Your Configurations

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
4.1	Establish configuration process	Document your security settings
4.3	Configure automatic session locking	Unattended devices should lock
4.4	Implement firewall on servers	Control network access to servers
4.6	Securely manage assets	Use secure protocols for management
4.7	Manage default accounts	Change defaults, disable unused accounts

Startup approach: Use configuration management tools (Ansible, Terraform) from the start. Apply cloud provider security best practices. Don't leave defaults unchanged.

Priority 5: Patch Your Systems

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
7.1	Establish vulnerability management process	Know how you'll handle vulnerabilities
7.2	Establish remediation process	Have a plan for fixing issues
7.3	Automate OS patching	Operating system vulnerabilities are common
7.4	Automate application patching	Application vulnerabilities too

Startup approach: Enable automatic updates where possible. Use managed services that handle patching. Prioritize patching internet-facing systems.

Priority 6: Train Your People

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
14.1	Security awareness program	People are your first line of defense
14.2	Social engineering training	Phishing is the #1 attack vector
14.3	Authentication training	Strong passwords and MFA usage
14.4	Data handling training	How to handle sensitive data
14.6	Incident reporting training	People should know how to report issues

Startup approach: Brief onboarding security training for new hires. Periodic reminders about phishing. Make it easy to report suspicious activity.

Priority 7: Protect Against Malware

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
9.1	Use supported browsers and email	Don't use outdated software
9.2	Use DNS filtering	Block known malicious domains
10.1	Deploy anti-malware	Basic protection against malware
10.2	Keep signatures updated	Detection requires current signatures

Startup approach: Modern operating systems include built-in protections. Keep them enabled. Consider a DNS filtering service for additional protection.

Priority 8: Prepare for Incidents

Safeguard	What to Do	Why It Matters
17.1	Designate incident handler	Someone needs to own incidents
17.2	Maintain contact information	Know who to call when something happens
17.3	Establish reporting process	Everyone should know how to report

Startup approach: Designate someone (probably a founder or senior engineer initially) as the incident coordinator. Document emergency contacts. Establish a communication channel for incident reports.

Implementation Roadmap for Startups

Month 1: Foundation

Goals:

• Establish visibility into your environment
• Implement critical access controls

Actions:

1. Create hardware and software inventory (even if spreadsheet-based)
2. Enable MFA on all administrative accounts
3. Enable MFA on cloud provider accounts (AWS, GCP, Azure)
4. Enable full disk encryption on all company devices
5. Ensure all employees use a password manager

Month 2: Protection

Goals:

• Secure data and systems
• Establish backup procedures

Actions:

1. Configure automated backups for databases and critical data
2. Enable firewall rules on servers
3. Apply security group best practices in cloud environments
4. Review and disable unnecessary default accounts
5. Enable automatic OS updates

Month 3: Detection and Response

Goals:

• Establish logging
• Prepare for incidents

Actions:

1. Enable audit logging in cloud environments
2. Configure log retention
3. Designate incident response owner
4. Document incident reporting procedure
5. Review access and disable dormant accounts

Month 4+: Training and Refinement

Goals:

• Train team
• Continuously improve

Actions:

1. Conduct basic security training for all employees
2. Implement phishing awareness
3. Review and refine processes
4. Address any gaps identified
5. Progress toward additional IG1 safeguards

Tools for Startup Security

Many IG1 safeguards can be implemented with tools you already have or affordable alternatives:

Asset Inventory

Tool	Use Case	Cost
Spreadsheets	Simple tracking	Free
IT asset management tools	Automated tracking	Varies
Cloud provider consoles	Cloud asset inventory	Included

Access Control

Tool	Use Case	Cost
Google Workspace / Microsoft 365	SSO and MFA	Included
1Password / Bitwarden	Password management	~$5/user/month
Cloud IAM	Cloud access control	Included

Endpoint Security

Tool	Use Case	Cost
macOS FileVault / Windows BitLocker	Disk encryption	Included
Built-in firewalls	Endpoint firewall	Included
Windows Defender / macOS XProtect	Anti-malware	Included

Backups

Tool	Use Case	Cost
Cloud provider snapshots	Database/server backups	Varies
Time Machine / Windows Backup	Endpoint backups	Included
Backblaze / similar	Offsite backup	~$7/month

Vulnerability Management

Tool	Use Case	Cost
Dependabot / Snyk	Dependency scanning	Free tier available
Cloud Security Center	Cloud configuration scanning	Varies

Training

Tool	Use Case	Cost
Google Phishing Quiz	Basic awareness	Free
Curricula / KnowBe4	Security training platform	Varies
Internal documentation	Custom training	Free

Common Startup Security Mistakes

Mistake 1: Waiting for "Later"

Problem: Postponing security until after product-market fit, funding, or some other milestone.

Reality: Security incidents don't wait for your milestone. A data breach can destroy customer trust and derail your company.

Solution: Implement IG1 basics now. It takes less time than you think.

Mistake 2: Over-Engineering

Problem: Buying enterprise security tools or implementing complex processes that a 10-person company doesn't need.

Reality: Enterprise security is expensive and creates overhead. IG1 is designed for your scale.

Solution: Use tools appropriate to your size. A spreadsheet for asset inventory is fine at 20 employees.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Basics

Problem: Implementing advanced security measures while missing fundamentals like MFA or backups.

Reality: Most breaches exploit basic gaps, not sophisticated techniques.

Solution: Cover IG1 completely before considering IG2 measures.

Mistake 4: Security as a One-Time Project

Problem: Treating security as something to "finish" rather than an ongoing practice.

Reality: Security requires continuous attention. People join and leave. Systems change.

Solution: Build security into your operations. Review access monthly. Keep systems updated.

Mistake 5: Neglecting Application Security

Problem: Startups building software focus on IG1 but overlook secure development practices because Control 16 (Application Software Security) has no IG1 safeguards.

Reality: For SaaS companies and startups building software products, application vulnerabilities are a primary attack vector. While CIS IG1 doesn't include formal application security requirements, that doesn't mean AppSec is optional for software companies.

Solution: Even before reaching IG2, adopt basic secure development practices:

• Keep dependencies updated (use Dependabot or Snyk)
• Separate production and development environments
• Review code before deployment
• Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection
• Encode output to prevent XSS

These practices aren't required by IG1 but are essential for any company building software.

Connecting to Compliance

Many startups pursue SOC 2 or ISO 27001 as they grow. Implementing CIS Controls IG1 creates a strong foundation:

Compliance Framework	IG1 Contribution
SOC 2	Covers majority of technical controls
ISO 27001	Addresses many Annex A requirements
Customer questionnaires	Provides confident answers

Organizations that implement IG1 before pursuing compliance find the process significantly easier. You're not building from scratch; you're documenting what exists.

See our CIS Controls SOC 2 Mapping for detailed alignment.

Scaling Security as You Grow

As your startup grows, your security needs will evolve:

10-25 Employees

Focus: IG1 fundamentals

• Manual processes are acceptable
• Shared security responsibilities
• Basic tooling

25-50 Employees

Focus: IG1 completion + automation

• Automate repetitive tasks
• Consider dedicated IT support
• Implement SSO if not already

50-100 Employees

Focus: IG1 complete + IG2 priority items

• Dedicated IT staff needed
• Formal security policies
• Consider compliance certification

100+ Employees

Focus: IG2 + compliance

• Dedicated security personnel
• Formal security program
• SOC 2 or ISO 27001 typically required

Common Questions

What's the minimum we should do as a startup?

At absolute minimum:

1. MFA on all administrative and cloud accounts
2. Password manager for all employees
3. Full disk encryption on devices
4. Automated backups
5. Basic security training

This addresses the most common attack vectors with minimal overhead.

Should we hire a security person?

Most startups under 50 employees don't need a dedicated security person. IG1 can be managed by your IT function or engineering team. Consider a security hire when you're preparing for compliance certification or when your infrastructure complexity requires it.

How much should we spend on security?

For early-stage startups, most security can be achieved with included or low-cost tools. Budget $5-10 per employee per month for password management and potentially SSO. Larger expenses (penetration testing, compliance tools) come later.

When should we pursue SOC 2 or ISO 27001?

When customers require it or when it becomes a competitive advantage. For most B2B SaaS companies, this is typically when pursuing enterprise customers or after Series A. Having IG1 in place makes certification significantly faster and cheaper.

Is IG1 enough?

For most startups and SMBs, yes. IG1 addresses the attack techniques used in the majority of breaches. Progress to IG2 when you have dedicated IT staff and face increased risks.

---

Ready to implement CIS Controls at your startup? Talk to our team about getting started efficiently.

---

Sources

• CIS Controls v8 - Official CIS Controls documentation
• CIS Implementation Groups - IG1 guidance for small organizations
• CIS Controls Self Assessment Tool - Free assessment tool