Cloud & Systems Security
CIS BenchmarkAssessment.Hardened.
443 Labs delivers CIS Benchmark assessments for cloud platforms, operating systems, databases, and containers — with percentage compliance scoring, prioritised gap analysis, and remediation scripts to automate hardening.
CIS Benchmarks L1 & L2 · Cloud & OS Hardening
Assessment Process
Asset Inventory & Benchmark Selection
We identify all in-scope systems — cloud accounts, operating systems, databases, containers, and network devices — and map each to the applicable CIS Benchmark version and profile (Level 1 or Level 2).
Automated + Manual Benchmark Assessment
Automated CIS-CAT Pro scans are run against all in-scope systems. Manual review supplements automated findings for complex controls that require contextual interpretation.
Scoring & Gap Prioritisation
Each system receives a percentage compliance score per CIS Benchmark section. Gaps are prioritised by profile (L1 vs L2), ease of remediation, and business risk — with a pragmatic remediation roadmap.
Hardening Report & Remediation Scripts
A benchmark hardening report is delivered with system-level scoring, failed control details, and where possible, remediation scripts (Bash, PowerShell, Ansible) to automate the hardening implementation.
Engagement Scope
Scoring per section.
Remediation scripts included.
CIS Compliance Scorecard
Section-by-section compliance score for each assessed system with prioritised gaps and remediation roadmap.
Benchmark Assessment Report
Detailed findings per CIS Benchmark control with current state, required state, and remediation guidance.
Remediation Scripts
Ansible playbooks, Terraform modules, or PowerShell DSC scripts to automate application of benchmark controls at scale.
Compliance Evidence Package
PCI DSS Req 2.2, SOC 2 CC6.1, and ISO 27001 A.8 compliance evidence in audit-ready format.
All in-scope systems assessed — cloud, OS, databases, and containers
CIS-CAT Pro automated scanning plus manual control verification
Remediation scripts in Ansible, Terraform, or PowerShell DSC
PCI DSS Req 2.2 and SOC 2 evidence delivered as standard
Benchmark Coverage
Why 443 Labs
Why security teams choose 443 Labs for CIS hardening.
Pragmatic Remediation Roadmap
Benchmark scores mean nothing without a plan to act on them. We deliver a prioritised remediation roadmap that starts with L1 quick wins — the highest-impact controls your team can implement immediately.
CIS-CAT Pro Automated Scanning
We use CIS-CAT Pro for consistent, repeatable, and auditor-accepted benchmark assessments. Manual control verification supplements automated findings for contextual and exception-based controls.
Automation Scripts Included
Where remediation can be automated, we provide Ansible playbooks, Terraform modules, or PowerShell DSC scripts. Your team implements changes at scale — not one system at a time.
Compliance Framework Mapping
CIS Benchmark findings are directly mapped to PCI DSS Req 2.2, SOC 2 CC6.1, ISO 27001 A.8, and other applicable frameworks. One assessment produces evidence for multiple compliance obligations.
Plan Your Assessment
Not sure which benchmarks apply to your environment?
Our cloud security specialists can scope a CIS Benchmark assessment across your entire stack — cloud, OS, databases, and containers — with a clear remediation plan and scripts to automate the fixes.
Common Questions
What are CIS Benchmarks?
CIS Benchmarks are globally recognised configuration security standards published by the Center for Internet Security. They define hardened configuration baselines for operating systems, cloud platforms, databases, containers, and network devices — used in PCI DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and FedRAMP compliance programmes.
What is the difference between CIS Level 1 and Level 2?
CIS Level 1 profiles contain foundational security recommendations that are broadly applicable. Level 2 profiles include additional hardening that may impact functionality or performance — typically required for high-security environments and compliance frameworks requiring enhanced controls.
Which CIS Benchmarks do you assess?
We assess CIS Benchmarks for major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), operating systems (Linux, Windows Server), databases (Oracle, MSSQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL), containers (Docker, Kubernetes), web servers (Apache, NGINX), and network devices.
Do CIS Benchmarks satisfy PCI DSS requirements?
CIS Benchmarks are explicitly referenced as an acceptable hardening standard in PCI DSS Requirement 2.2. A CIS Benchmark assessment provides direct evidence for PCI DSS system hardening requirements.
Can you provide Ansible/Terraform playbooks to automate remediation?
Yes. For cloud and OS hardening, we provide infrastructure-as-code remediation playbooks (Ansible, Terraform, PowerShell DSC) where practical, allowing teams to automate the application of benchmark controls at scale.
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CIS Benchmark assessment with percentage scoring, prioritised gaps, and ready-to-deploy remediation scripts.