The CIS Critical Security Controls are a practical, prioritized framework for reducing real-world risk across your entire security program, from asset visibility and secure configuration to access control, logging, incident response, and recovery. This page includes two complementary resources: a free, audio-first course that teaches the full CIS Controls framework end to end, and a companion book that helps you apply it with structured guidance and implementation-ready reference. The audio course is not an audio version of the book, it’s standalone education for learning on the move, while the book is the tool you use when you’re ready to execute and track progress.
CIS Critical Security Controls
Free Audio Course
The CIS Critical Security Controls Audio Course is a comprehensive, audio-first training series that guides listeners through all eighteen CIS Controls, transforming one of the world’s most respected cybersecurity frameworks into clear, actionable learning. Designed for professionals, students, and auditors alike, this series explains each control in practical, plain language—focusing on how to implement, assess, and sustain them in real environments. With eighty-three structured episodes, the course walks you step by step through the safeguards that define effective cybersecurity, helping you understand not only what to do but why each measure matters.
The CIS Controls, maintained by the Center for Internet Security, represent a globally recognized set of prioritized actions proven to reduce the most common and dangerous cyber risks. Organized across eighteen control families—from inventory and configuration management to incident response and data recovery—the framework provides a practical roadmap for building defensible, risk-aligned security programs. This course explores how organizations can adopt the controls incrementally, measure maturity over time, and map them to other standards such as NIST, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS for comprehensive alignment.
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Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense is a comprehensive, strategy-driven guide to implementing the Center for Internet Security’s CIS 18 Controls—the industry-standard framework for protecting organizations against modern cyber threats. Designed for IT professionals, security leaders, and anyone charged with safeguarding digital infrastructure, this book delivers a detailed yet accessible walkthrough of each control, from foundational measures to advanced defense strategies.
Written by cybersecurity strategist Dr. Jason Edwards, this guide demystifies the CIS 18 Controls by offering clear explanations, practical implementation insights, and real-world relevance. Each chapter explores the purpose of a specific control, its strategic value in today’s threat landscape, and the best methods for integrating it into your environment. With contemporary concerns like remote work, cloud-based infrastructure, and evolving compliance requirements in mind, the book highlights how each control addresses real-world vulnerabilities that organizations face every day.
Readers will gain a deeper understanding of how to identify cyber risks, implement control-based countermeasures, and prioritize actions that reduce exposure. The book provides extensive coverage of control lifecycle management, training approaches, and simplified security measures tailored for varying organizational needs. It also includes expert guidance on how to maintain control effectiveness over time, foster stakeholder buy-in, and ask the right questions to evaluate existing security practices. Legal, operational, and policy perspectives are woven throughout to ensure a well-rounded approach to enterprise defense.
This guide is particularly valuable for CISOs, IT directors, consultants, and government security professionals, as well as students preparing for cybersecurity roles or certifications. Whether you are building your security posture from the ground up or seeking to benchmark your current efforts against a proven global standard, this book provides the context and clarity needed to act with confidence.
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