CIS-Aligned Managed Security Services

Southfield, MI

TSP/MSP Cyber Protection: Cybersecurity Built on CIS Controls

Protecting Revenue, Reputation, and Compliance for Southfield & Metro Detroit Businesses Without the Complexity

Protect Your Business with Cybersecurity Built on CIS Controls, the Industry’s Most Trusted Security Framework

Big Water Tech offers Professional Outsourced IT Support to Michigan and Metro Detroit businesses from our Southfield, MI office. We help strengthen your security posture with a proven program based on the Center for Internet Security guidelines, ensuring you're secure, compliant, and ready for insurer and auditor review.

Why CIS Controls Matter, and How Big Water Tech Builds Them Into Your IT

When it comes to cybersecurity, most SMBs don’t need more tools.

They need a clear, practical framework, an actionable standard that shows them what to do, when to do it, and how to prove it.

That’s why we build everything, and our entire program is built around CIS Controls v8.1, a set of 18 prioritized safeguards used by cyber insurers, auditors, regulators, and enterprise IT teams worldwide.

CIS provides structured implementation guidance, threat-aligned safeguards, and recommendation sets that help organizations prioritize action and strengthen protection. At Big Water Technologies, we’ve translated those standards into a right-sized roadmap for Southfield or across Michigan SMBs. You get the same foundational protections used by large organizations, without the cost, complexity, or confusion.

What are the CIS Controls v8.1?

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) publishes globally recognized cybersecurity best practices, including CIS Benchmarks, configuration guidelines, and hardened templates that help harden and secure systems. These CIS Controls outline implementation tiers built around real-world threat defense and assessment priorities:

CIS Implementation Groups

  1. Group 1 — Essential hygiene and foundational security controls

  2. Group 2 — Advanced protection, monitoring, analysis, and threat response capabilities

  3. Group 3 — Governance, compliance alignment, and advanced analytics

The Center for Internet Security continues to evolve these standards, and professionals within its group work collaboratively to evolve these standards and provide updated mappings, standards and provide products, and services to proactively safeguard agencies and private organizations.

These controls are increasingly used by:

  • Cyber insurers (as baseline requirements for coverage)

  • Auditors & regulators (HIPAA, GLBA, NIST CSF mappings)

  • Enterprise clients (security questionnaires & vendor risk reviews)

How Big Water Tech Uses CIS in Every Engagement

Every BIGview and Huron client benefits from embedded CIS alignment, whether we fully manage your IT or co-manage alongside your internal team.

Here’s how our service tiers map to CIS maturity levels:

Product

BIGview / Huron

BIGview Secure / Huron Secure

BIGview Secure Plus

Mapped CIS Groups(s)

Group 1

Groups 1–2

Groups 1–3

What It Means for You

Foundational security: MFA, patching, backups, asset control

Adds 24/7 SOC, vulnerability mgmt, phishing training, EDR

Full-stack security, SIEM/SOAR, advanced compliance reporting

This structured approach ensures your IT operations aren’t just reactive; they’re aligned to an industry-recognized framework that supports business growth, compliance, and insurance renewals, all backed by Big Water Technologies in Southfield, MI.

Why CIS Works for Southfield and Throughout Metro Detroit SMBs

Other frameworks like NIST, ISO, or CMMC are powerful, but far too complex for smaller teams without a dedicated CISO. CIS offers the same protection value while remaining realistic for smaller teams to implement.

CIS Controls are:

  1. Actionable — Each control maps to specific steps your business or organization can take

  2. Scalable — You don’t need to do everything at once. Start at IG1 and mature over time

  3. Recognized — Trusted by insurers, underwriters, and regulators

  4. Mapped — Ties directly into HIPPA, NIST CSF 2.0, CMMC 2.1, and more

  5. Proven — Reduces real-world threats like ransomware, phishing & vendor risk

What You Get With Our CIS-Aligned Managed Security Services

This service turns CIS Controls, CIS Benchmarks, and industry standard practices into real protection, without overwhelming your Southfield or Michigan team.

You get:

  • CIS baseline assessment

  • Customized CIS roadmap

  • Device & server hardening (CIS Benchmarks)

  • 24/7 monitoring & SOC

  • Patch & vulnerability management

  • MFA enforcement & identity protection

  • Email & endpoint threat defense

  • Compliance-ready reporting

  • Strategic business reviews tied to CIS program progress

  • Support for both internal and external user requirements

  • Services to proactively safeguard your environment

  • Implementation guidance from a collaborative group of experts

  • CIS-aligned policy development

  • Clear action steps to achieve maturity targets

  • Help organizations design and implement stronger defenses

  • A platform built to use CIS as your guiding standard

Our structured, CIS-aligned solution makes the connected world a safer place. Ultimately, CIS makes the connected world a safer place for people, including your team, your clients, and every institution that relies on modern IT in Southfield or throughout Metro Detroit.

From Discovery to Strategy: How CIS Powers the BIGview Experience

Our CIS-Driven Security Process

1. Risk Discovery

Using our internal tools and the BIGreport baseline, we identify your current risks, exposures, and security gaps.

2. CIS Controls Gap Analysis

We map your environment against the appropriate CIS Implementation Group (IG1, IG2, or IG3) to determine maturity and priorities.

3. Remediation Planning

We create a strategic remediation plan tied directly to your insurance requirements, HIPAA needs, regulatory goals, and business objectives.

4. Ongoing Strategic Business Reviews

We meet regularly to review progress, demonstrate ROI, update your CIS maturity score, and align IT strategy to business goals.

Who This Service Is For

This service is ideal for SMBs who want to:

  • Simplify cybersecurity

  • Prepare for a cyber insurance renewal

  • Meet HIPAA or regulatory expectations

  • Answer client/vendor security questionnaires

  • Strengthen their foundational security posture

  • Replace reactive IT with proactive, standards-driven protection

CIS Compliance: Prove It, Defend It, and Pass Every Review

Turn cybersecurity best practices into documented, audit-ready proof—without checkbox chaos or guesswork.

CIS alignment is powerful, but CIS compliance is what insurers, auditors, and enterprise partners actually look for. Big Water Tech doesn’t just help you implement CIS Controls; we help you demonstrate and defend them with clear documentation, evidence, and reporting that stands up to scrutiny.

Our CIS-aligned Managed Security Services are designed to make compliance practical and provable. Every safeguard we deploy is tracked against CIS Controls v8.1 and mapped to real-world requirements like cyber insurance underwriting, HIPAA audits, vendor security questionnaires, and regulatory reviews. You don’t just say you follow a framework, you can show exactly how, where, and why.

With Big Water Tech, CIS compliance means:

  • Clear evidence of control implementation by CIS Control and Safeguard

  • Compliance-ready reporting for insurers, auditors, and regulators

  • Alignment with HIPAA, NIST CSF, GLBA, and other mapped frameworks

  • Ongoing validation—not one-time assessments or stale reports

  • Executive-level summaries that translate security into business risk

Unlike providers who stop at “best effort,” we help your Southfield and Metro Detroit business operate within the controls, mature over time, and prove compliance when it matters most, during renewals, audits, incidents, or due diligence reviews.

CIS compliance isn’t about checking boxes.

It’s about reducing risk, protecting revenue, and standing confidently behind your security posture.

Benefits of CIS-Aligned Managed Security

  • Proven protection against modern threats

  • Insurance-ready documentation

  • Clear roadmap for security maturity

  • Predictable monthly investment

  • Michigan and Metro Detroit-focused support

  • Business-first, compliance-driven approach

Ready to Align Your IT to What Really Matters?

Whether you're facing a cyber insurance renewal, HIPAA pressure, client due diligence, or just want peace of mind, aligning your IT with the CIS Controls is a smart, proven path forward. Big Water Technologies, based in Southfield, MI, provides professional outsourced IT support throughout Michigan. Our expert team will help you strengthen your security posture, ensure compliance, and prepare for audits or insurer reviews.

We make it simple.

  • Business-first IT

  • Compliance built-in

  • Metro Detroit and Michigan-focused support

  • Strategic alignment, not just technical fixes

Book a CIS Security Assessment today and take the first step toward securing your business!

Client Reviews: Real Results. Success Stories.

"Fantastic IT support! Fast, knowledgeable, and always willing to help. They keep our systems running smoothly. Five stars well deserved!"

Samantha Nieuwenbroek

"Big Water is a great IT company, they are spot on and always available when needed. If you’re looking for a great IT department, look no further Big Water is great and you won’t be disappointed."

"Kudos to Big Water Tech. We have been a customer for many years. Big Water Tech has been an amazing partner. They have built and maintained our network. They are on top on any issues that come up immediately and have done all of this great work at an affordable price. We would highly recommend them."

Eric Gunderson

"Very responsive and proactive! Our experience with Big Water was exceptional. Definitely recommend for your IT needs."

Amanda J. Revels

"I have been a customer of BigWater Technologies for over 10 years. They are professional and their technicians know their stuff! They are price competitive and you will not find a better IT solutions company out there. They have taken wonderful care of our non-profit and we have been lucky to have them over the years!"

Big Water Technologies' Southfield Office:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CIS MANAGED CYBERSECURITY SERVICES

What are the CIS Controls?

The CIS Controls are a set of 18 prioritized cybersecurity best practices created by the Center for Internet Security. They help organizations reduce risk, improve security hygiene, and meet insurance or compliance requirements. They’re widely used by SMBs, auditors, insurers, and security teams worldwide.

Why do SMBs in Southfield and across Metro Detroit need CIS Controls?

SMBs use CIS Controls because they provide an actionable, simplified roadmap to better security, without requiring a full IT department or cybersecurity staff. CIS is often used as a baseline for cyber insurance, vendor reviews, and regulatory compliance.

What is the difference between CIS Controls and CIS Benchmarks?

CIS Controls = the “what”: 18 cybersecurity safeguards.

CIS Benchmarks = the “how”: technical configuration standards for devices, servers, and cloud systems.
An MSP like Big Water Tech uses both to secure your environment end-to-end.

What are CIS Implementation Groups (IG1, IG2, IG3)?

CIS Implementation Groups help organizations adopt the Controls in stages:

IG1: Basic cyber hygiene for SMBs

IG2: Enhanced protection and monitoring

IG3: Advanced analytics and governance
Big Water Tech maps your service tier directly to the right Implementation Group.

Can we use CIS if we already have an internal IT team?

Absolutely. Many Southfield and Metro Detroit organizations partner with us in a co-managed IT model. Your internal team handles daily tasks while we handle CIS alignment, hardening, monitoring, compliance, and strategic guidance.

Is CIS too technical for small businesses?

Not with the right partner. CIS Controls are designed to be actionable and scalable. Big Water Tech handles the technical work while providing clear, non-technical reporting and guidance for your leadership team.