Skip to main content
Image coming soon

SEC9812 Mastering CIS Controls; A Step-by-Step Guide to Enterprise Security Validation

$199.00
Adding to cart… The item has been added

A tailored course, built for your situation

Mastering CIS Controls; A Step-by-Step Guide to Enterprise Security Validation

A complete system for producing audit-ready evidence, faster, with fewer cycles

$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning 30-day money-back guarantee Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
The final sprint to assemble compliance evidence still takes 80+ hours across most QA teams, even when testing is complete.

The situation this course is for

Despite strong test coverage, QA teams routinely face last-minute scrambles to compile evidence dossiers that meet auditor expectations. Version mismatches, missing control mappings, and fragmented artifact ownership stretch cycles and erode stakeholder trust. This course eliminates rework by aligning validation design with evidence-first delivery.

Who this is for

Senior QA and compliance validation practitioners in regulated tech environments who own or influence security control verification and audit package assembly.

Who this is not for

Entry-level testers, developers focused on unit testing only, or managers seeking high-level compliance overviews.

What you walk away with

  • Produce fully mapped, auditor-grade evidence packages in under 12 hours
  • Reduce cross-team chasing during audit prep cycles
  • Position QA-led validation as a source of strategic leverage in security budgeting
  • Automate recurring evidence collection for CIS Controls 1-6
  • Align test case design with control language to eliminate retesting

The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)

Module 1. Foundations of CIS Controls in Regulated QA
Establish a working knowledge of CIS Controls 1-20, with emphasis on which controls are most frequently validated in healthcare IT environments and how they map to common QA deliverables.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Understanding the structure of CIS Controls v8
  2. Why healthcare IT prioritizes Controls 1-6 and 13-16
  3. How QA analysts bridge technical testing and compliance language
  4. Mapping test scripts to control requirements
  5. Identifying overlap between SOC 2 and CIS Controls
  6. Common auditor expectations by control
  7. Version control practices for control evidence
  8. Differentiating preventative vs detective controls
  9. Role of automation in control validation
  10. Evidence thresholds for 'in place and effective'
  11. How QA fits within the broader security control framework
  12. Common misalignments between test execution and control reporting
Module 2. Control Mapping for Audit-Ready Outputs
Learn to design test cases that produce embedded control evidence, reducing downstream rework and version drift during compliance cycles.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Translating control language into testable conditions
  2. Building control-specific test plans
  3. Embedding evidence tags into test scripts
  4. Using timestamps and ownership markers for attestation
  5. Linking test results to control assertions
  6. Cross-walking between CIS and NIST CSF
  7. Validating evidence completeness pre-audit
  8. Creating reusable control mapping templates
  9. Versioning control evidence for multi-cycle use
  10. How to avoid over-testing low-risk controls
  11. Integrating control mapping into sprint planning
  12. Common evidence gaps in control 4 and 16
Module 3. Rapid Evidence Assembly Workflow
Build a repeatable 12-hour process for compiling audit-ready dossiers using predefined templates, automation triggers, and stakeholder sign-off protocols.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Designing the 12-hour evidence sprint
  2. Staging evidence in shared drives with access controls
  3. Automated checklist validation for completeness
  4. Template for control-by-control evidence index
  5. Ownership verification protocols
  6. Version lock procedures prior to submission
  7. Integrating evidence assembly into QA handoff
  8. Using naming conventions to prevent confusion
  9. Evidence retention standards by control
  10. Preparing backup files for auditor follow-up
  11. Standardizing file formats for audit tools
  12. Creating a final evidence manifest
Module 4. Automating Controls 1-6 Validation
Implement automated checks for inventory, secure configurations, and patch management validation to reduce manual retesting.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Automating hardware and software inventory tracking
  2. Scripting secure baseline configuration checks
  3. Integrating patch management logs into QA reports
  4. Validating admin account restrictions via scan
  5. Testing control 6 with automated permission review
  6. Scheduling recurring control checks
  7. Alerting on control deviations
  8. Integrating results into dashboards
  9. Linking automated tests to control language
  10. Handling false positives in automated scans
  11. Maintaining version control of test scripts
  12. Documenting automation scope for auditors
Module 5. Securing Network and Access Controls
Validate network segmentation, firewall rules, and access control policies with repeatable test designs that meet auditor standards.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Testing network segmentation via traffic simulation
  2. Validating firewall rule enforcement
  3. Auditing privileged access workflows
  4. Testing multi-factor authentication enforcement
  5. Checking for stale accounts in access reviews
  6. Validating encryption in transit and at rest
  7. Testing wireless network security configurations
  8. Reviewing remote access logs for anomalies
  9. Documenting test conditions for auditor review
  10. Handling exceptions in access control testing
  11. Aligning access policies with role-based models
  12. Evidence retention for access control reviews
Module 6. Endpoint and Mobile Device Security
Design test cases for endpoint protection, mobile device management, and anti-malware validation that produce clear control evidence.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Validating EDR installation and heartbeat
  2. Testing endpoint encryption enforcement
  3. Simulating malware detection with test files
  4. Auditing mobile device compliance policies
  5. Testing remote wipe functionality
  6. Checking for unauthorized applications
  7. Testing OS update enforcement
  8. Reviewing device locking policies
  9. Validating application whitelisting
  10. Documenting endpoint control testing
  11. Handling exceptions for legacy endpoints
  12. Producing clear evidence for auditor follow-up
Module 7. Vulnerability Management and Pen Testing
Integrate vulnerability scan results and penetration test findings into control validation workflows with clear auditor-facing reporting.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Scheduling recurring vulnerability scans
  2. Prioritizing findings by CIS Control relevance
  3. Validating scanner coverage of critical systems
  4. Testing patch deployment effectiveness
  5. Documenting penetration test conditions
  6. Mapping pen test findings to control gaps
  7. Creating remediation validation checklists
  8. Reporting false positive resolution
  9. Integrating scan data into evidence dossiers
  10. Handling critical findings between cycles
  11. Evidence standards for recurring vulnerabilities
  12. Communicating risk to technical and non-technical teams
Module 8. Incident Response and Logging
Validate logging coverage, alerting workflows, and incident response playbooks to meet auditor expectations for controls 8 and 10.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Testing log collection across systems
  2. Validating SIEM alerting rules
  3. Simulating incident response playbooks
  4. Testing backup and recovery procedures
  5. Documenting chain of custody for logs
  6. Reviewing log retention policies
  7. Validating encryption of stored logs
  8. Testing incident notification workflows
  9. Auditing response time SLAs
  10. Producing incident simulation reports
  11. Integrating results into control assertions
  12. Evidence formats acceptable to auditors
Module 9. Secure Development and Change Management
Ensure that QA validation includes secure coding practices, code review checks, and change control workflows for auditor-grade evidence.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Validating secure coding standards adoption
  2. Testing code review workflows
  3. Auditing version control and branching policies
  4. Checking for unauthorized changes
  5. Validating change advisory board approvals
  6. Testing emergency change controls
  7. Reviewing deployment rollback procedures
  8. Documenting test environments for audit
  9. Ensuring separation of duties
  10. Evidence collection for CI/CD pipeline changes
  11. Validating third-party code reviews
  12. Producing change control validation reports
Module 10. Data Protection and Encryption
Design test cases for data classification, encryption, and DLP controls that produce clear, repeatable audit evidence.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Testing data classification policies
  2. Validating encryption of sensitive data
  3. Auditing DLP rule enforcement
  4. Testing access to classified data stores
  5. Documenting data flow diagrams
  6. Reviewing data retention and disposal
  7. Testing backup encryption
  8. Validating cloud storage security
  9. Checking for unauthorized data transfers
  10. Evidence collection for data protection
  11. Handling data residency requirements
  12. Producing data protection validation reports
Module 11. Third-Party and Supply Chain Risk
Validate vendor security controls and supply chain assurance with structured QA-led assessments and evidence collection.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Auditing third-party SOC 2 reports
  2. Testing vendor access controls
  3. Validating contract security clauses
  4. Reviewing subcontractor risk
  5. Testing API security controls
  6. Auditing cloud provider configurations
  7. Validating certificate management
  8. Reviewing software bill of materials
  9. Testing open source license compliance
  10. Evidence collection for vendor reviews
  11. Producing third-party risk validation reports
  12. Handling high-risk vendor exceptions
Module 12. Sustaining Compliance with Continuous Validation
Implement ongoing control validation cycles that maintain readiness and reduce audit burden across fiscal periods.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Scheduling recurring control tests
  2. Integrating validation into sprint planning
  3. Automating evidence collection triggers
  4. Maintaining control mapping documentation
  5. Updating tests for control revisions
  6. Reviewing control effectiveness quarterly
  7. Reporting to security and compliance teams
  8. Handling control changes between cycles
  9. Preparing for auditor follow-up
  10. Reducing manual effort over time
  11. Scaling validation across teams
  12. Building a living compliance program

How this maps to your situation

  • Regulated healthcare IT
  • QA-led compliance validation
  • Audit preparation cycles
  • Evidence package assembly

Before vs. after

Before
Spending 80+ hours in final sprints to assemble, verify, and reconcile compliance evidence across teams, often under auditor pressure.
After
Assembling a complete, auditor-ready evidence package in 12 hours using repeatable templates, automation, and embedded control mapping.

What's included with your purchase

  • 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
  • Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Delivery and format

  • Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access

Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.

Time investment: Approximately 6-8 hours total, designed to be consumed in focused sessions with immediate implementation steps.

If nothing changes
Without a structured approach, QA teams will continue to face last-minute evidence scrambles, increasing the risk of auditor findings, delayed sign-offs, and budget cuts due to perceived inefficiency.

How this compares to the alternatives

Unlike generic compliance training, this course is built specifically for QA practitioners in regulated environments who must turn test results into audit-ready evidence , not just understand controls.

Frequently asked

Is this course about CIS Controls only, or does it cover other frameworks?
The course focuses on CIS Controls as the primary framework, with mappings to NIST CSF and SOC 2 where relevant. The goal is depth, not breadth.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help me if I’m not in security?
Yes. The course is designed for QA analysts who own validation and evidence , not security engineers. It bridges testing and compliance.
$199 one-time. Approximately 6-8 hours total, designed to be consumed in focused sessions with immediate implementation steps..

Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.

30-day money-back guarantee· 144 chapters· Hand-built playbook included· Account access within 24 hours
!