Build a NERC CIP Compliance Program

Bulk electric providers risk penalties and grid disruption if they fail to meet NERC standards.
Complex IT/OT ecosystems lack centralized governance, hindering consistent compliance.
Ownership silos between control centers, substations, and corporate IT complicate controls.
Evolving NERC requirements and adoption of hybrid systems introduce new compliance risks.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

A solid foundation enables solid security. A control framework is the first key to cost-effective compliance. It enables you to meet multiple requirements by validating one control across several obligations.
Right-size your compliance environments. Environments are the second key to cost-effective security compliance. Environments allow you to apply a scope to your NERC CIP obligations and minimize your compliance costs.
Understand conformance to prioritize. Conformance levels are the third key to cost-effective security compliance. Conformance levels allow your organization to make informed business decisions on how your compliance resources will be allocated.
Ensure proactive, not reactive, audit readiness. Audit readiness is the final key to cost-effective security compliance. Take charge of your audit costs by preparing test scripts and evidence repositories in advance.

Impact and Result

Reduces complexity and cost by aligning NERC CIP efforts under a repeatable, integrated framework.
Enhances executive decision-making through structured compliance governance.
Supports sustainable compliance with automated monitoring and improved control visibility.

Build a NERC CIP Compliance Program Research & Tools

1. Build a NERC CIP Compliance Program Storyboard – Build a cost-effective NERC CIP compliance management program leveraging Info-Tech’s standardized approach.

The storyboard includes instruction and insight on the use of Info-Tech's standardized control framework to consolidate your NERC CIP and other compliance obligations. Following it provides a step by step approach through the activities of developing a compliance strategy and maximizing the effectiveness of your security controls.

2. NERC CIP Security Compliance Management Tool – An Excel tool to organize and track your NERC CIP compliance management framework and program.

This tool will enable you to quickly and easily define your full suite of compliance obligations and the operating environments they impact and directly track your progress in installing controls over time.

3. Security Compliance Processing Template – Use this template to help document your information security compliance management program.

Use this template to help document your information security compliance management program, including:

Roles and responsibilities
Compliance conformance levels
Audit test scripts and evidence repositories
Self-attestation forms

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 3-phase advisory process. You'll receive 6 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Establish NERC CIP Compliance Program

Call 1: Scope requirements, objectives, and your specific challenges.
Call 2: Establish a framework and roles.
Call 3: Identify operational environments.

Guided Implementation 2: Identify NERC CIP Compliance Obligations

Call 1: Identify compliance obligations and conformance levels.
Call 2: Map obligations into a control framework.

Guided Implementation 3: Implement NERC CIP Compliance Strategy

Call 1: Review policies and strategy.

Author

Evan Garland