Most small to mid-sized firms don’t think much about security frameworks until a client, auditor, or insurance carrier brings it up.

But by then, it’s usually urgent.

The smarter move? Get ahead of it.

That’s where something like CIS Controls v8.1 comes in.

What Are CIS Controls?

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) is a nonprofit that publishes a globally recognized set of cybersecurity best practices — known as the CIS Controls.

They’re not laws. They’re not regulations. But they’re really useful. Think of them like a business playbook for securing your technology.

And the newest version, CIS Controls v8.1, does something critical:
It connects these best practices to real-world risk, audit frameworks, and insurance requirements.

In other words: it’s not just security for security’s sake. It’s practical, aligned, and increasingly expected.

Why Should SMBs Care?

Because “you’re not required to” is no longer good enough.

State regulators, cyber insurers, and even large clients are tightening the screws. They want to know:

• Are you using multi-factor authentication?

• Do you have endpoint detection and response (EDR)?

• Is your staff getting security training?

• Do you have backups? Are they tested?

All of these tie directly to CIS 8.1. And even if nobody’s asking yet — they will.

What Makes v8.1 Different?

Here’s what’s new (and helpful) in this version:

• Safeguard Mapping: It shows how each control lines up with cyber insurance, NIST, HIPAA, and other frameworks.

• Implementation Groups (IGs): You don’t have to do it all at once. IG1 is built for SMBs.

• Focus on Real-World Threats: It prioritizes the tactics most used by actual attackers — like phishing, remote access abuse, and unpatched systems.

A Real-World Example

We recently helped a 25-person accounting firm prepare for cyber insurance renewal.

They weren’t required to follow CIS.

But when we used CIS IG1 as a roadmap, they:

• Cleared the insurance audit with flying colors

• Fixed several risky gaps (they didn’t know they had)

• Got better pricing by proving proactive security

What You Can Do Now

You don’t need a security team or six-figure budget to start.

Here’s what we recommend:
✔️ Adopt CIS IG1 as your baseline
✔️ Inventory your systems and users
✔️ Enable MFA across the board
✔️ Train your team to recognize threats
✔️ Use EDR and managed backups
✔️ Document and test incident response

These steps don’t just protect your firm — they reduce insurance costs, satisfy clients, and avoid regulatory headaches.

How Big Water Tech Helps

We’ve aligned our security stack — the tools and practices we bring to every client — with CIS Controls v8.1. That means:

• No guesswork for you

• Clear reports for insurance and auditors

• Practical, real-world protection without the enterprise price tag

If your IT provider hasn’t talked to you about CIS… they should.

And if you’re not sure where to start, we’ll walk you through it.

👉 Let’s talk about how your firm can align with CIS 8.1 — and build security that supports your business.