Center for Internet Security (CIS) Market Research Report

Background

The Center for Internet Security, Inc. (CIS) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the cybersecurity posture of public and private entities globally. Established in 2000, CIS's mission is to develop, validate, and promote best practice solutions that help organizations protect themselves against pervasive cyber threats. The organization's vision is to lead the global community in securing the ever-changing connected world.

Key Strategic Focus

CIS's strategic focus encompasses:

Development of Best Practices: Creation and maintenance of the CIS Critical Security Controls® and CIS Benchmarks™, which are globally recognized standards for securing IT systems and data.

Community Collaboration: Leading a global community of IT professionals to continuously evolve cybersecurity standards and provide products and services to proactively safeguard against emerging threats.

Support for Government Entities: Operating the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center® (MS-ISAC®) and the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center® (EI-ISAC®), which serve as trusted resources for cyber threat prevention, protection, response, and recovery for U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government entities and election offices.

Financials and Funding

CIS's funding sources include:

Product and Service Sales: Revenue generated from cybersecurity tools and resources such as CIS SecureSuite Membership and CIS Hardened Images.

Government and Nonprofit Grants: Funding from various programs aimed at improving the cybersecurity posture of U.S. SLTT government organizations.

Cost-Share Models: Operating the MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC through a combination of federal funding and CIS funds.

Technological Platform and Innovation

CIS distinguishes itself through several proprietary technologies and methodologies:

CIS Critical Security Controls®: A set of 18 prioritized safeguards designed to mitigate prevalent cyber-attacks against modern systems and networks.

CIS Benchmarks™: Over 100 vendor-neutral configuration guidelines developed through a consensus-based process to secure various IT systems.

CIS-CAT® Pro: A cross-platform Java application that assesses system conformance to CIS Benchmarks, providing organizations with a scoring feature to rate their configuration security.

CIS Hardened Images®: Secure, on-demand, scalable computing environments in the cloud, configured according to CIS Benchmarks to ensure robust security.

Leadership Team

CIS's leadership comprises experienced professionals dedicated to advancing cybersecurity:

John M. Gilligan, President and CEO: Leads the organization with a focus on enhancing global cybersecurity through collaboration and innovation.

Gina Chapman, Executive Vice President of Sales and Services: Oversees the development and delivery of CIS's products and services, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the cybersecurity community.

Curtis Dukes, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Security Best Practices: Guides the development of CIS's best practice solutions, including the CIS Controls and CIS Benchmarks.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The cybersecurity industry is experiencing rapid growth due to increasing cyber threats and the need for robust security measures. Organizations are seeking comprehensive solutions that encompass best practices, threat intelligence, and compliance frameworks.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the cybersecurity domain include:

Kaspersky Lab: A Russian multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider offering a range of products and services, including antivirus, internet security, and endpoint protection.

ISC2: A nonprofit organization specializing in IT cybersecurity certifications, such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and providing education and training to security professionals.

DShield: A community-based collaborative firewall log correlation system that analyzes attack trends by receiving logs from volunteers worldwide.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

CIS has established significant collaborations to enhance its cybersecurity initiatives:

Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA): CIS joined MISA to integrate the CIS Benchmarks with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management, enabling seamless collaboration around cybersecurity best practices.

CREST Partnership: CIS partnered with CREST to launch the CIS Controls Accreditation program, providing organizations a way to demonstrate that their cybersecurity posture meets the best practice guidance set forth in the CIS Controls, underpinned by the rigorous standards of CREST accreditation.

Operational Insights

CIS's strategic considerations include:

Community-Driven Approach: Leveraging a global community of IT professionals to develop and refine cybersecurity standards, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.

Vendor-Agnostic Solutions: Providing neutral, consensus-developed guidelines and tools that can be applied across various platforms and industries.

Focus on Public Sector: Offering specialized resources and support to U.S. SLTT government entities and election offices, addressing their unique cybersecurity needs.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

CIS is positioned to pursue several strategic opportunities:

Expansion of Cybersecurity Standards: Continuously evolving the CIS Controls and CIS Benchmarks to address emerging threats and technologies.

Enhanced Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with industry leaders and organizations to broaden the reach and impact of CIS's cybersecurity initiatives.

Increased Support for Government Entities: Expanding services and resources tailored to the specific needs of SLTT government organizations and election offices.