A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering CIS Controls for Principal Software Engineers
Build security into engineering leadership at scale
$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.
Security mandates often bypass engineering leadership, leaving implementers to reconcile compliance demands with system design.
The situation this course is for
Teams waste cycles translating vague control language into working code. Architects get pulled into firefights because baselines weren’t operationalized early. The gap isn’t effort, it’s shared understanding between security frameworks and engineering practice.
Who this is for
Principal engineers in regulated tech environments who lead innovation while being accountable for secure design at scale.
Who this is not for
Entry-level developers, auditors, or compliance staff looking for policy templates. This is not a certification prep course.
What you walk away with
- Translate CIS Controls into executable engineering tasks
- Lead cross-team rollout of security baselines without central mandate
- Anticipate audit expectations during design phase, not post-deployment
- Standardize secure configurations across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments
- Speak confidently to security teams using the CIS framework structure
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding CIS Controls Structure
Break down the three implementation groups and 20 critical controls. Map each to engineering responsibilities.
12 chapters in this module
- Control taxonomy overview
- IG1 vs IG2 vs IG3 differences
- Mapping to software engineering roles
- Prioritization logic by system type
- Versioning and update cycle
- Relationship to NIST CSF
- How CIS differs from ISO 27001
- Control families and grouping
- Automatable vs manual controls
- Benchmark adoption trends
- Vendor tool alignment
- Common misinterpretations
Module 2. Secure Configuration Foundations
Turn control 4 and 5 into standard build profiles for developer environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Baseline OS hardening
- Default admin account rules
- Unnecessary service removal
- Standard image creation
- Golden image validation
- Version control for configs
- Integration with CI pipeline
- Patch cadence alignment
- Inventory of allowed software
- Approved configuration drift
- Change logging baseline
- Rollback procedures
Module 3. Access Control Engineering
Implement least privilege and role-based access at code level.
12 chapters in this module
- User role taxonomy
- Default deny principle
- Multi-factor enforcement points
- Credential rotation automation
- Session timeout defaults
- API key lifecycle
- SSH key management
- Break-glass account design
- Privileged access workflows
- Just-in-time elevation
- Audit trail capture
- Role review automation
Module 4. Network Defense Patterns
Embed segmentation and monitoring into application architecture.
12 chapters in this module
- Micro-segmentation design
- Firewall rule standardization
- DNS filtering integration
- NTP configuration
- Email protection settings
- SPF, DKIM, DMARC setup
- VPNs and zero trust
- Remote access logging
- Wireless network policies
- Network segmentation rules
- Traffic encryption standards
- Router configuration audit
Module 5. Continuous Vulnerability Management
Integrate scanning and remediation into development lifecycle.
12 chapters in this module
- Scan frequency benchmarks
- Asset inventory sync
- Vulnerability scoring alignment
- Remediation SLAs by severity
- Patch validation process
- False positive triage
- Third-party component tracking
- Critical update alerts
- Penetration test coordination
- Automated rescan workflow
- Reporting cadence
- Cloud-native tooling
Module 6. Audit Log Integration
Design systems that generate useful logs by default.
12 chapters in this module
- Log event standardization
- Central collection design
- Retention period rules
- Encryption in transit
- Integrity protection
- Access control for logs
- Correlation across systems
- Timestamp synchronization
- Log parsing templates
- Anomaly detection triggers
- Retention compliance
- Incident response linkage
Module 7. Email Protection Hardening
Secure messaging infrastructure against modern threats.
12 chapters in this module
- Anti-phishing settings
- Attachment filtering
- URL rewriting rules
- Sender authentication
- Quarantine policies
- End-user notification setup
- External sharing controls
- Reply-all guardrails
- Mailbox auditing
- Spoofing protection
- Domain reputation monitoring
- Incident reporting workflow
Module 8. Malware Defense Integration
Build antivirus and EDR into deployment pipelines.
12 chapters in this module
- Endpoint agent standards
- Auto-updates enforcement
- Real-time scanning rules
- Behavioral monitoring
- Threat intelligence feeds
- Isolation protocols
- Quarantine automation
- Signature update frequency
- Cloud workload protection
- Container scanning
- Serverless protection
- Mobile endpoint policies
Module 9. Security Software Enforcement
Ensure consistent tooling across environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Approved tool list
- Installation automation
- Configuration baselines
- Version compliance
- License tracking
- Patch verification
- Agent health monitoring
- Unapproved software blocking
- Remote wipe protocols
- Mobile device management
- Cloud security posture
- Agentless fallback
Module 10. Data Protection Engineering
Design encryption and access rules into data flows.
12 chapters in this module
- Data classification schema
- Encryption in transit
- Encryption at rest
- Key management design
- Data loss prevention
- Storage location rules
- Backup encryption
- Database access logging
- PII handling standards
- Data retention policies
- Cross-border transfer rules
- Third-party data sharing
Module 11. Boundary Defense Automation
Operationalize firewall, proxy, and gateway rules.
12 chapters in this module
- Baseline rule set
- Change approval workflow
- Emergency bypass
- Rule review frequency
- Proxy logging
- Web filtering categories
- DNS protection
- Geolocation blocking
- Rate limiting rules
- DDoS mitigation
- Incident escalation
- Cloud-native gateway
Module 12. Incident Response Readiness
Ensure systems are built to support fast response.
12 chapters in this module
- Detection capability map
- Playbook integration
- System isolation triggers
- Forensic data preservation
- Communication templates
- Chain of custody
- Legal hold process
- Post-mortem workflow
- Staging environment access
- Threat intelligence use
- External reporting
- Regulator coordination
How this maps to your situation
- Initial security baseline rollout
- Post-breach process review
- New region or product line launch
- Third-party audit preparation
Before vs. after
Before
Security controls are interpreted by others and handed down as mandates.
After
You lead the technical translation of controls into working engineering patterns adopted across teams.
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 4 hours per module, with self-paced completion over 6-8 weeks recommended.
If nothing changes
Without structured knowledge of CIS Controls, influence remains confined to your immediate team. Cross-functional initiatives will continue to bypass engineering leadership, leading to misaligned security rollouts and increased rework.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic compliance courses, this is structured specifically for principal engineers in regulated environments who need to lead secure design, not just follow mandates. It skips certification prep fluff and focuses on executable knowledge.
Frequently asked
Is this course focused on audit preparation?
No. It focuses on engineering implementation of security baselines so audits become a documentation exercise, not a fire drill.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help me lead security adoption across teams?
Yes. The course gives you the framework and templates to standardize and scale secure engineering practices across departments.
$199 one-time. Approximately 4 hours per module, with self-paced completion over 6-8 weeks recommended..
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