CIP-C
NERC CIP Compliance
Compliance assessment, readiness, and remediation against NERC CIP standards. Illumant assesses BES Cyber Systems and associated cyber assets — along with their electronic and physical security perimeters, security management systems, and personnel controls.
A layered standard for a layered grid
The NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards exist because the Bulk Electric System is a national-security asset under continuous, sophisticated attack — from nation-states, criminal groups, and insiders. The CIP standards require a layered, defense-in-depth approach to securing BES Cyber Systems, their supporting infrastructure, and the people who touch them. Non-compliance is enforced through audits and material monetary penalties — up to $1M per day per violation.
Illumant's CIP-C service is built for NERC-registered entities (GO/GOP, TO/TOP, BA, RC, RP, DP) of every size — from large investor-owned utilities to municipal utilities and IPPs. We work with you to identify and categorize your BES Cyber Systems, assess gaps against current CIP standards versions, and prepare for audit through structured remediation.
The CIP standards series
The CIP standard requires a layered approach to security of BES Cyber Systems. Illumant reviews compliance readiness for each of the standards below and the requirements within.
CIP-002
BES Cyber System Categorization
Identify and categorize BES Cyber Systems and their associated cyber assets by impact rating (high / medium / low). Everything else flows from this.
CIP-003
Security Management Controls
Senior management policies and accountability for cyber security across all impact ratings, including low-impact policy requirements.
CIP-004
Personnel & Training
Awareness, role-based training, personnel risk assessments (background checks), and access management for personnel with authorized cyber or physical access.
CIP-005
Electronic Security Perimeter(s)
Identify and protect ESPs, control all interactive remote access through Intermediate Systems with multi-factor authentication, and monitor traffic at access points.
CIP-006
Physical Security of BES Cyber Systems
Physical Security Perimeters (PSPs) for high- and medium-impact BES Cyber Systems — physical access controls, monitoring, and visitor logging.
CIP-007
Systems Security Management
Ports & services hardening, security patch management, malicious code prevention, security event monitoring, and account management — the bread-and-butter operational hygiene.
CIP-008
Incident Reporting & Response Planning
Documented and tested incident response plans, including reporting timelines to the E-ISAC for reportable cyber security incidents.
CIP-009
Recovery Plans for BES Cyber Systems
Recovery plans, backup and restore processes, and annual testing for BES Cyber Systems.
CIP-010
Configuration Change Management & Vulnerability Assessments
Baseline configurations, change authorization & monitoring, and at-least-every-15-month vulnerability assessments. Active vulnerability assessment for high-impact systems.
CIP-011
Information Protection
BES Cyber System Information (BCSI) identification, protection, and secure disposal — including in cloud environments under the recently approved CIP-011-3 updates.
CIP-013
Supply Chain Risk Management
Vendor risk management plans for BES Cyber Systems — software integrity, vendor remote access, and incident notification obligations.
CIP-014
Physical Security
Physical security for the most critical Transmission stations and substations against physical attack.
Highlights
- Compliance assessment vs. current CIP standards versions
- BES Cyber System identification and impact categorization (CIP-002)
- ESP and remote access architecture review (CIP-005)
- PSP and physical access review (CIP-006)
- Patch, ports/services, malware, logging review (CIP-007)
- Configuration baseline & vulnerability assessment process (CIP-010)
- Supply-chain risk management plans (CIP-013)
- BCSI handling — including cloud-readiness for CIP-011 updates
- Audit preparation and Technical Feasibility Exception (TFE) support
- Remediation roadmap with prioritization by audit risk
Targets
- BES Cyber Systems — high, medium, low impact
- Associated protected cyber assets (PCA)
- Electronic Access Control & Monitoring Systems (EACMS)
- Physical Access Control Systems (PACS)
- Control centers and backup control centers
- Transmission stations and substations
- Generation resources
- Blackstart resources and cranking paths
- Systems and facilities critical to system restoration
Related security assessments
What we typically pair with a CIP engagement.
PSA
Perimeter Security Assessment & Penetration Testing
Find the weaknesses in your perimeter before hackers do.
CASA
Critical Asset Security Assessment
Test the systems that, if breached, would hurt the most.
LANSA
LAN Security Assessment
Assume breach — then prove what an insider can reach.
NISA
Network Infrastructure Security Assessment
Routers, switches, firewalls — the layer-3 fabric.
ADSA
Active Directory Security Assessment
AD is the keys to the kingdom — make sure they're locked.
PhySA
Physical Security Assessment
Locks, badges, cameras, and the humans guarding them.
Ready to start a conversation?
Talk to a senior consultant — we'll scope an engagement that fits your environment.