A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering CIS Controls for Senior Quality Assurance Engineers
Build defensible, source-backed security validation practices aligned with engineering rigor
$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.
Most QA teams treat compliance controls as checkbox tasks, reactive, shallow, and easily challenged.
The situation this course is for
When auditors or engineers question test scope or control coverage, practitioners without deep reference points fall back on policy quotes or procedural compliance. That leads to repeated reviews, diluted ownership, and missed opportunities to influence design upstream.
Who this is for
Senior QA Engineer in manufacturing or industrial tech, responsible for validating compliance-critical systems with limited access to security architecture teams.
Who this is not for
Entry-level testers, auditors without engineering context, or practitioners focused solely on functional regression without security control validation.
What you walk away with
- Map CIS Controls to specific test cases with reference to MITRE ATT&CK and NIST 800-53 mappings
- Cite real-world breach analyses (e.g., SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline) when defending control scope
- Justify the order and depth of control validation using documented risk weighting models
- Reference authoritative sources like the CIS Benchmarks, Center for Internet Security mappings, and CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- Construct defensible test narratives that preempt cross-functional challenges
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. CIS Controls Overview and QA Integration
Understand the 18 CIS Controls and how QA teams integrate them into test planning and execution cycles.
12 chapters in this module
- Introduction to CIS Controls
- Control structure and prioritization
- QA's role in control validation
- Mapping controls to test phases
- Security vs functional test balance
- Common misalignments in QA teams
- Benchmarking against CIS v8
- Control families and grouping
- Version tracking and updates
- Integrating CIS into QA workflows
- Cross-team collaboration points
- Documentation standards
Module 2. Control 1 Inventory and Asset Management
Validate asset discovery and management practices using testable criteria and source references.
12 chapters in this module
- Asset inventory requirements
- Active vs passive discovery
- Hardware and firmware tracking
- Test for completeness
- NIST 800-53 comparison
- Known exploited vulnerabilities
- CISA KEV catalog usage
- Version validation techniques
- Patch status verification
- Test automation integration
- False positive handling
- Reporting chain alignment
Module 3. Control 2 Secure Configurations
Develop test cases for secure baseline configurations using CIS Benchmarks and DISA STIGs.
12 chapters in this module
- Secure configuration principles
- CIS Benchmark structure
- Hardening levels defined
- OS and application baselines
- DISA STIG alignment
- Golden image validation
- Drift detection testing
- Configuration drift root causes
- Automated compliance scanning
- Remediation test design
- Toolchain integration
- Reporting findings
Module 4. Control 3 Continuous Vulnerability Management
Design test cycles that verify continuous scanning, prioritization, and remediation workflows.
12 chapters in this module
- Vulnerability lifecycle overview
- Scan frequency standards
- Criticality scoring models
- CVSS usage in QA
- Integration with ticketing
- Remediation tracking tests
- False negative detection
- Pen test result integration
- CISA KEV alignment
- Zero-day response testing
- Patch validation workflow
- Cross-team handoff checks
Module 5. Control 4 Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges
Validate privilege management through test scenarios that simulate abuse and detection.
12 chapters in this module
- Admin access principles
- Privilege tiers defined
- Session monitoring tests
- Just-in-time access validation
- Break-glass procedure checks
- Session logging depth
- Privilege escalation paths
- Time-limited access tests
- Audit log completeness
- SIEM integration checks
- Role-based access reviews
- Exception management testing
Module 6. Control 5 Secure Authentication
Verify multi-factor and password policies with reference to NIST 800-63B and CIS guidance.
12 chapters in this module
- Authentication policy review
- MFA implementation types
- NIST 800-63B alignment
- Password policy testing
- Biometric validation
- SSO integration checks
- Session timeout tests
- Credential stuffing simulations
- Phishing resilience
- Recovery process testing
- Certificate-based auth
- Access revocation tests
Module 7. Control 6 Boundary Defense
Test firewall, segmentation, and DMZ configurations using CIS and NIST references.
12 chapters in this module
- Network segmentation basics
- Firewall rule validation
- Ingress and egress rules
- DMZ configuration tests
- VLAN isolation checks
- NAT rule audits
- Traffic filtering testing
- Zone-based policies
- Micro-segmentation review
- Router hardening checks
- Network monitoring depth
- Log correlation testing
Module 8. Control 7 Wireless Access Control
Validate secure wireless configuration and rogue access point detection workflows.
12 chapters in this module
- Wireless policy review
- SSID configuration
- WPA3 implementation
- Rogue AP detection
- Wireless segmentation
- Authentication flow tests
- Signal leakage checks
- Monitoring tool validation
- Device registration testing
- Guest network isolation
- Controller security
- Wireless incident response
Module 9. Control 8 Malware Defense
Test endpoint protection and malicious code detection using real-world attack patterns.
12 chapters in this module
- Antivirus coverage scope
- Malware signature updates
- Behavioral detection
- Phishing email simulation
- Malicious attachment tests
- Ransomware simulation
- Sandbox evasion checks
- EDR integration
- Quarantine verification
- Threat intel integration
- Incident response testing
- User reporting workflows
Module 10. Control 9 Security Skills Training
Evaluate the effectiveness of security training programs through testable engagement metrics.
12 chapters in this module
- Training policy review
- Role-based curriculum
- Phishing test integration
- Knowledge retention tests
- Certification alignment
- Secure coding basics
- Incident reporting tests
- Simulated social engineering
- Training frequency checks
- Compliance tracking
- Manager involvement
- Feedback loop testing
Module 11. Control 10 Incident Response
Validate IR playbooks, detection, and escalation paths using documented breach examples.
12 chapters in this module
- Incident classification
- Detection timeline testing
- Escalation path validation
- Playbook completeness
- Tabletop exercise design
- Cross-team coordination
- Notification testing
- Forensic readiness
- Log retention checks
- Containment validation
- Eradication test cases
- Recovery verification
Module 12. Control 11 Data Recovery
Verify backup integrity, restoration speed, and recovery testing using real recovery scenarios.
12 chapters in this module
- Backup policy review
- Frequency validation
- Offsite storage checks
- Encryption validation
- Restoration testing
- Point-in-time recovery
- RTO verification
- RPO testing
- Automated test triggers
- Disaster simulation
- Chain of custody
- Audit log integration
How this maps to your situation
- Validating control implementation in QA cycles
- Responding to engineering challenges on test scope
- Supporting audit readiness with defensible evidence
- Informing architecture decisions through test feedback
Before vs. after
Before
QA validation of security controls lacks depth and reference points, leading to reactive reviews and challenged scope.
After
Every test case is tied to authoritative sources, real-world breaches, or framework mappings, making validation defensible and proactive.
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 hours per module, designed for integration into existing QA cycles.
If nothing changes
Without structured reference to standards and real-world incidents, QA teams risk being sidelined in security discussions, seen as checkers rather than validators.
How this compares to the alternatives
Most compliance training focuses on auditor needs or policy writing. This course is built exclusively for senior QA engineers who must validate controls with engineering rigor and defend test design under peer review.
Frequently asked
Is this course focused on auditing or engineering teams?
It's designed for senior QA engineers who validate security controls and must justify test design to cross-functional teams.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Can I apply this to non-CIS frameworks?
Yes. The defensible reasoning model works for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and NIST CSF with minor adaptation.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed for integration into existing QA cycles..
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