# CIS 4.1 — Establish and Maintain a Secure Configuration Process

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/a_gen_cis_41_becdac5c26-cis-41-establish-and-maintain-a-secure-configuration-process
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [AWS Checks New Version](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/62000112673) › [Protect](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/f_gen_62000112673_protect)
- Last updated: 2026-05-30
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

CIS · Control 4.1 · Priority: critical · Component: Protect

### What this control covers

Establish and maintain a secure configuration process for enterprise assets (end-user devices, including portable and mobile, non-computing/IoT devices, and servers) and software (operating systems and applications). Review and update documentation annually, or when significant enterprise changes occur that could impact this Safeguard.

### Why it matters

Risk is the language an executive team understands; this control connects technical reality to board-level decisions and budget allocation.

### How to implement

#### AWS

Codify the policy intent as **SCPs, AWS Config conformance packs, and Security Hub standards** so the cloud enforces what the document says.

#### Azure

Codify in **Azure Policy initiatives** (built-in regulatory compliance for CIS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA) and assign at management-group level.

#### GCP

**Org Policy Service** for guardrails and **Config Validator** in CI to pre-check Terraform plans against policy as code (Rego).

#### Google Workspace

**Endpoint Management** (basic/advanced) for BYOD/COPE; require screen lock, disk encryption and OS minimum; block sign-in on jailbroken devices.

#### GitHub

**Dependabot** security updates + version updates, plus **CodeQL** for SAST and a renovate bot for major-version drift management.

#### On-premises

Maintain a policy library with a documented review cadence (annual minimum); store in your GRC tool with attestation tracking. Map each policy to controls so an audit pull cites the exact policy clause.

### Evidence to collect

-   `user_device_scan` — Output from your MDM/EDR (Intune, Jamf, Kandji) showing managed-device count, posture and last-check-in.
-   `policy_document` — A signed, version-controlled policy stating leadership intent and the named owner.

Endpoint compliance telemetry (Intune, Jamf) proves managed coverage. Signed policy or standard documents the safeguard. Focus: Establish and Maintain a Secure Configuration Process.

### Quick checklist

-   Establish And Maintain — End User / Portable
-   Protect — End User / Portable

### Related articles on this site

-   [NIST 800-171 3.4.1 Establish and maintain baseline configurations and inventories of organizational systems (including hardware, software, firmware, and documentation) throughout the respective system development life cycles.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229280-nist-800-171-3-4-1-establish-and-maintain-baseline-configurations-and-inventories-of-organizational-s)
-   [CMMC 2.0 CM.2.061 Establish and maintain baseline configurations and inventories of organizational systems (including hardware, software, firmware, and documentation) throughout the respective system development life cycles.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229465-cmmc-2-0-cm-2-061-establish-and-maintain-baseline-configurations-and-inventories-of-organizational-sy)
-   [NIST 800-171 3.1.1 Limit information system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, or devices (including other information systems).](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229223-nist-800-171-3-1-1-limit-information-system-access-to-authorized-users-processes-acting-on-behalf-of)
-   [NIST 800-171 3.1.19 Encrypt CUI on mobile devices and mobile computing platforms.\[23\]](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229257-nist-800-171-3-1-19-encrypt-cui-on-mobile-devices-and-mobile-computing-platforms-23-)

## Related compliance guidance

- [SOC 2 compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): Configuration checks like this one are the technical half of a SOC 2 / ISO 27001 programme — the guide shows where they fit, what else an auditor expects, and how to evidence them.
- [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): ISO 27001 Annex A.8 (technological controls) is where cloud hardening evidence lands; the guide shows how to run the ISMS around it.