CIS RAM

What Is CIS RAM?

CIS RAM, or CIS Risk Assessment Method, is a free information security risk assessment framework developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS). It is designed to help organizations measure and communicate their information security risks in a way that is practical, defensible, and aligned with the CIS Controls — a prioritized set of cybersecurity best practices widely used across industries.

Description

CIS RAM provides organizations with a structured methodology for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing security risks based on the potential impact to the business and the likelihood of exploitation. Unlike compliance-only frameworks, CIS RAM is built around the concept of reasonable risk — helping organizations determine what level of risk is acceptable given their specific environment, resources, and obligations. It is particularly useful for organizations that have already adopted the CIS Controls and want a consistent, evidence-based way to assess how well those controls are reducing risk over time. CIS RAM is available in multiple versions, including editions tailored for enterprises and for smaller organizations with limited security resources.

Usage and Examples

A mid-sized financial services company might use CIS RAM to assess its current risk posture against the CIS Controls, identify which control gaps represent the highest risk exposure, and build a prioritized remediation roadmap to present to its board. A healthcare organization preparing for a HIPAA audit might use CIS RAM to document that its security investments are proportionate to the risks it faces — providing an auditable, defensible record of its risk decision-making process. CIS RAM is often used alongside penetration testing and vulnerability management programs to give organizations a complete picture of both their technical exposures and the business risk those exposures represent.