A tailored course, built for your situation
Deeper command of the CIS Controls framework for DevOps engineers
Master the control structure behind resilient infrastructure and cross-system compliance
$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.
Who this is for
Mid-career DevOps engineer working in a compliance-sensitive environment, tasked with implementing secure, auditable infrastructure patterns and control baselines.
Who this is not for
Engineers focused only on ephemeral deployments without compliance traceability, or those without influence over control implementation decisions.
What you walk away with
- Complete fluency in the CIS Controls v8 structure, including implementation tiers and prioritization logic
- Ability to map CIS Controls directly to infrastructure-as-code templates and CI/CD pipelines
- Confidence in justifying control decisions during audit reviews or cross-functional escalations
- Faster alignment with security and compliance teams through shared control language
- Proven methodology for maintaining control integrity across system updates and decommissioning
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Introduction to CIS Controls framework
Understand the origin, structure, and real-world application of the CIS Controls in enterprise environments.
12 chapters in this module
- What the CIS Controls are
- How they differ from ISO 27001
- Control tiers explained
- Implementation groups overview
- Mapping to NIST CSF
- Why DevOps owns IG1
- Role in audit readiness
- Control vs configuration
- Tools that support CIS
- Version 7 vs 8 changes
- Cross-framework alignment
- Engineering accountability
Module 2. Inventory and control of hardware assets
Master the first CIS Control with precision, ensuring complete asset traceability across environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining authoritative sources
- Automated discovery methods
- CMDB integration patterns
- Handling virtual assets
- Cloud inventory tracking
- Tagging standardization
- Decommissioning workflows
- Agent vs agentless
- Ownership assignment
- Baseline reconciliation
- Alerting on drift
- Audit evidence packaging
Module 3. Inventory and control of software assets
Implement rigorous software accountability across deployment pipelines and runtime environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Software bill of materials
- SBOM integration points
- Allowed list enforcement
- Package manager controls
- Container image tracking
- Binary provenance
- Open source inventory
- License compliance checks
- Version pinning policy
- Runtime process mapping
- Decommission validation
- Audit trail generation
Module 4. Continuous vulnerability management
Embed proactive scanning and remediation into CI/CD with CIS-aligned prioritization.
12 chapters in this module
- Scanning frequency rules
- Criticality thresholds
- CVSS integration
- Patch cadence standards
- Automated ticketing
- False positive handling
- Zero-day response
- Toolchain integration
- Vulnerability scoring
- Remediation validation
- Reporting to security teams
- Executive summary templates
Module 5. Controlled use of administrative privileges
Design least-privilege systems with audit-ready justification for elevated access.
12 chapters in this module
- Principle of least privilege
- Time-bound access
- Break glass procedures
- Session recording
- Privileged account inventory
- PAM integration
- Just in time access
- Role based permissions
- Access review frequency
- Escalation logging
- Dual control patterns
- Privilege revocation
Module 6. Secure configuration for hardware and software
Implement CIS Benchmarks as living baselines across infrastructure components.
12 chapters in this module
- Baseline vs custom
- CIS Benchmark sources
- Hardening automation
- Golden image process
- Drift detection
- Compliance scanning
- OS level controls
- Database configurations
- Middleware hardening
- Cloud platform settings
- Container security
- Firmware controls
Module 7. Maintenance, monitoring, and analysis of audit logs
Ensure complete, tamper-proof logging with rapid retrieval and analysis capability.
12 chapters in this module
- Log retention policies
- Centralized collection
- Immutable storage
- SIEM integration
- Log normalization
- Event correlation
- Retention across regions
- Access to logs
- Log integrity checks
- Querying techniques
- Incident detection
- Audit package creation
Module 8. Email and web browser protections
Apply CIS Controls to endpoint-facing systems even in headless infrastructure environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Browser configuration
- Email client hardening
- Phishing simulation
- URL filtering
- Attachment scanning
- Extension control
- Session timeout
- Credential exposure
- Sandboxing web content
- User training integration
- Malware detection
- Reporting mechanisms
Module 9. Malware defenses
Deploy layered protection strategies aligned with CIS Control 9 across environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Antivirus deployment
- Behavioral analysis
- Heuristic scanning
- Network level blocking
- EDR integration
- Threat intelligence feeds
- Ransomware response
- Quarantine workflows
- False positive tuning
- Signature updates
- Endpoint hardening
- Zero trust alignment
Module 10. Data recovery
Implement verifiable backup and recovery processes that satisfy CIS requirements.
12 chapters in this module
- Recovery point objectives
- Recovery time objectives
- Air-gapped backups
- Immutable storage
- Testing frequency
- Encryption in transit
- Access controls
- Chain of custody
- Audit logging
- Cross region recovery
- Ransomware resilience
- Documentation completeness
Module 11. Secure network architecture
Design networks that enforce segmentation and reduce attack surface per CIS guidance.
12 chapters in this module
- Network zoning
- Microsegmentation
- Firewall rules
- DMZ design
- Traffic filtering
- Service mesh controls
- Zero trust networking
- Encrypted tunnels
- VLAN isolation
- Ingress egress filtering
- Network monitoring
- Architecture diagrams
Module 12. Implementation and operational review
Operationalize the CIS Controls with confidence and continuous improvement.
12 chapters in this module
- Control ownership
- Review frequency
- Cross team coordination
- Metrics tracking
- Compliance reporting
- Audit preparation
- Gap remediation
- Framework updates
- Training integration
- Tooling evaluation
- Maturity assessment
- Stakeholder updates
How this maps to your situation
- Implementing controls in cloud-native environments
- Aligning DevOps practices with security standards
- Responding to auditor requests with documented evidence
- Improving collaboration with security teams
Before vs. after
Before
Navigating CIS Controls as a checklist exercise without deep structural understanding
After
Owning the framework with confidence, able to adapt and justify controls in real time
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 3-4 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside regular work over 6-8 weeks.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic compliance courses, this program focuses specifically on the CIS Controls framework as applied by DevOps practitioners in real-world environments, with implementation patterns tailored to infrastructure-as-code and CI/CD workflows.
Frequently asked
Is this course relevant for someone working in a cloud-heavy environment?
Yes. All modules include cloud-native implementation examples for AWS, GCP, and Azure.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will I receive a certification upon completion?
No. This course focuses on practical mastery, not exam preparation or credentialing.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3-4 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside regular work over 6-8 weeks..
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