NERC CIP Compliance V5

NERC CIP Compliance V5 Cyber Security Standards

Simplify NERC CIP Compliance

Complying with NERC CIP standards is essential. Violation of these mandates can be extremely expensive – costing you up to $1 million per day in fines. Many companies find that there are certain barriers they must overcome to not only comply, but comply in an effective and efficient way. Efficient and effective compliance management can be achieved through the process of automation.

Automate NERC CIP Processes

In a bulk-power system, BES Cyber Assets support critical functions and processes that are needed to maintain the reliability of service and data. The NERC CIP 002-010 Standards provide a change control and asset management framework for the identification and protection of BES Cyber Assets.

It is possible to meet the NERC CIP standards using manual tracking and management, but it can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient. For this reason, many organizations choose an effective and automated Change and Configuration Management software solution to achieve compliance. Change and Configuration Management software can help simplify compliance and the management of your BES Cyber Assets by providing security policy enforcement, process documentation, workflow automation, and reporting capabilities for audit purposes. The following NERC CIP standards can be simplified and automated by an effective Change and Configuration Management software:

CIP-002-5.1 Cyber Security BES Cyber System Categorization

To identify and categorize BES Cyber Systems and their associated BES Cyber Assets for the application of cyber security requirements commensurate with the adverse impact that loss, compromise, or misuse of those BES Cyber Systems could have on the reliable operation of the BES. Identification and categorization of BES Cyber Systems support appropriate protection against compromises that could lead to misoperation or instability in the BES. Change and Configuration Management software can assist with the initial discovery of BES Cyber Assets, documentation of configuration information, tracking of service history, and automation of future discoveries.

CIP-003-5 Cyber Security Security Management Controls

To specify consistent and sustainable security management controls that establish responsibility and accountability to protect BES Cyber Systems against compromise that could lead to misoperation or instability in the BES. Change and Configuration Management software helps you implement a secure process of change control for the tracking of modifications, additions, or removal of BES Cyber Assets within your IT infrastructure. You can simplify compliance using pre-defined security permissions, automated workflows, enforceable approval, and notification plans.

CIP-007-5 Cyber Security Systems Security Management

To manage system security by specifying select technical, operational, and procedural requirements in support of protecting BES Cyber Systems against compromise that could lead to misoperation or instability in the BES. Change and Configuration Management software allows you to automate processes and continually assess and manage the vulnerability of all BES Cyber Assets. With current configuration information at your fingertips, an impact analysis can be done prior to the change to be sure that the BES Cyber Assets are not negatively affected.

CIP-008-5 Cyber Security Incident Reporting and Response Planning

To mitigate the risk to the reliable operation of the BES as the result of a Cyber Security Incident by specifying incident response requirements. Change and Configuration Management software allows you to automatically create incident tickets from both authorized and unauthorized changes. With the ability to quickly escalate incidents stemming from a change, you can ensure that your incident reporting and response planning is always up to date with the latest information available.

CIP-009-5 Cyber Security Recovery Plans for BES Cyber Systems

To recover reliability functions performed by BES Cyber Systems by specifying recovery plan requirements in support of the continued stability, operability, and reliability of the BES. Change and Configuration Management software allows you to track all changes made across your organization. This allows you to quickly apply recovery plans against BES Cyber Assets with all of the needed information from the BES Cyber Asset’s audit history at a moment’s notice.

CIP-010-2 Cyber Security Configuration Change Management and Vulnerability Assessments

To prevent and detect unauthorized changes to BES Cyber Systems by specifying configuration change management and vulnerability assessment requirements in support of protecting BES Cyber Systems from compromise that could lead to misoperation or instability in the Bulk Electric System (BES). Change and Configuration Management software allows you to document, track, and maintain configuration and assessment requirements for critical BES Cyber Systems. This allows you to track changes to all key BES variables, helping eliminate unforeseen drift and avoid compromise and instability.

Serviceaide’s ChangeGear Solution

ChangeGear is a web-based, best-of-breed Change and Configuration Management software solution that is easy to use and can be deployed quickly into your environment. Based on ITIL best practices, ChangeGear tightly integrates technology with process. ChangeGear simplifies change control and gives you the tools you need to track, manage, and control your critical infrastructure.

In order to ensure compliance with NERC CIP 002-5 through CIP-010-2, ChangeGear provides change management to make certain that every change introduced into the IT infrastructure follows a regulated process and provides a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) for discovering, managing, and monitoring all of your BES Cyber Assets.

ChangeGear Change Manager

ChangeGear’s Change Manager ensures that every change introduced into the IT infrastructure follows a regulated process. The following key features can be found in this change management solution:

• Change Control: ChangeGear enables IT organizations to track, manage, and control all aspects of the change lifecycle.
• Automated Approvals & Notifications: ChangeGear’s customizable approval and notification system automates communication.
• Process & Workflow Automation: IT organizations can define their own change management processes and automate.
• Dashboard & Workspace: Provides real-time insight and complete visibility.
• Change & Audit Reporting: ChangeGear tracks all aspects of historical and current change activity.

ChangeGear Configuration Management Database

ChangeGear’s Configuration Management Database (CMDB) allows you to discover, manage, and monitor all of your Cyber Assets.

• Cyber Asset Management: Greater control of BES Cyber Assets throughout their operational lifecycles.
• Auto-Discovery of Cyber Assets: Comprehensive solution for collecting and managing IT assets.
• Risk Management & Impact Analysis: Unparalleled visibility into the IT infrastructure.
• Asset Reporting: Captures a complete audit-trail of changes and services.

Help Shape Compliant Automation For The Grid!

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