Why CIS IG 2 Might Be the Better Fit Than NIST CSF 2.0 for Your Business

Sayuri Velazco

Why CIS IG 2 Might Be the Better Fit Than NIST CSF 2.0 for Your Business

Cybersecurity frameworks are essential in today’s world, but let’s face it, most business owners aren’t cybersecurity experts nor should they have to be. Between NIST CSF 2.0 and CIS Controls IG2 and countless others, it’s easy to get lost in the alphabet soup. So which one should your business follow, and why should you care?

At Summit Business Technologies, we help simplify security so you can focus on growing your business. In this blog, we break down the difference between NIST CSF 2.0 and CIS IG2, and why a CIS IG2 assessment might be the best place to start securing your business the smart way.

What Is NIST CSF 2.0?

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 is a high-level strategy for managing cybersecurity risk. It’s designed for all organizations regardless of size or industry and is based on five broad functions:

Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover

NIST CSF helps you understand what to do, but not necessarily how to do it. It’s more of a guiding philosophy than a checklist. Think of it as the map of your security journey, but not the turn-by-turn GPS directions.

What Is CIS IG2?

CIS (Center for Internet Security) Controls are a concrete, prioritized set of cybersecurity actions that organizations can take to defend themselves. The CIS Controls are broken into three “Implementation Groups” (IGs), based on your organization’s complexity and exposure:

IG1 = basic cyber hygiene
IG2 = for organizations handling non-public data and facing moderate risk
IG3 = for high-risk environments (e.g., critical infrastructure)

IG2 is the sweet spot for most small to midsize businesses, even if they don’t realize it. If your company handles sensitive data like customer records or intellectual property, has internet-facing systems, or works with an outsourced IT provider, you’re already facing moderate risk in the eyes of the cybersecurity world. But here’s the critical piece many small businesses overlook:

You’re an ideal target.

Cybercriminals know that smaller companies are often under-protected, under-resourced, and under the radar. Attacks on SMBs are automated, frequent, and successful- not because the attackers are especially clever, but because the defenses are minimal or inconsistent.

So, while “moderate risk” might sound like a middle-of-the-road threat, it actually reflects how attractive your organization is to bad actors looking for easy wins.

NIST CSF 2.0 vs CIS IG2: What’s the Real Difference?

Here’s the bottom line:

If you want a philosophy, go with NIST.
If you want a checklist, start with CIS IG2.

There is plenty of overlap between the two which means, you don’t need to pick one forever- but if you’re just getting serious about cybersecurity, CIS IG2 offers a direct path to measurable improvement.

Why Start with a CIS IG2 Assessment?

If your organization doesn’t yet have a formal cybersecurity program, or if your current protections feel like a patchwork, a CIS IG2 assessment gives you structure, clarity, and action.

At Summit Business Technologies, we perform CIS IG2 assessments that help you:

✅ Identify gaps in your current controls
✅ Prioritize improvements based on actual risk
✅ Understand what tools and processes you already have
✅ Build a roadmap with realistic timelines and budgets

You’ll walk away with a clear picture of your current security posture- and a practical plan to strengthen it.

Why Work With Summit?

We’re not just IT support. We’re a cybersecurity-first MSP with deep experience in helping regulated businesses meet security standards without overcomplicating the process.

We specialize in: