Benchmark-led hardening across Microsoft estates - assess, remediate, and produce an evidence pack aligned to relevant CIS Benchmarks and your governance model.
CIS Benchmarks are consensus-based, prescriptive configuration recommendations designed to harden technologies against common attack paths. They are widely used as an objective baseline for secure configuration across operating systems, cloud platforms, and key vendor services. For Microsoft cloud estates, Microsoft provides built-in initiatives and mappings for CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations Benchmark through Azure Policy’s regulatory compliance content, and Defender for Cloud surfaces standards and benchmarks through its regulatory compliance experience.
LW IT Solutions delivers CIS remediation as a programme, not a spreadsheet exercise. We baseline your posture against the relevant CIS benchmark(s), identify gaps and ownership boundaries, and implement remediation in controlled sprints with pilots and exception governance. You receive an evidence pack and an ongoing control model so hardening remains effective as your tenant evolves - covering Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, Windows, and Azure scopes as agreed.
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Service Overview
Highlights
- Applies to Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, Windows, and Azure scopes
- Benchmark-led delivery aligned to CIS guidance
- Sprint-based remediation with change control and validation
- Includes formal exception handling and decision logging
- Evidence outputs suitable for audits, customers, and regulators
Business Benefits
- Reduced attack surface through benchmark-led hardening
- A defensible baseline for assurance conversations and internal governance
- Faster remediation through prioritised, sprint-based delivery
- Sustainable compliance posture via exception governance and drift control
Typical use cases
- Responding to audit or customer security assurance requirements
- Following a CIS benchmark assessment that identified material gaps
- Improving security posture ahead of regulatory or certification activity
- Standardising security controls across multiple Microsoft platforms
- Moving from ad-hoc hardening to a governed remediation programme
Objectives & deliverables
What Success Looks Like
- Remediate configuration gaps identified against CIS benchmarks
- Deliver measurable security improvement without unnecessary disruption
- Provide clear, auditable evidence of implemented controls
- Establish governance to manage exceptions and prevent drift
- Create a repeatable model for ongoing benchmark alignment
What You Get
- CIS posture baseline report (by benchmark/control area)
- Prioritised remediation backlog with sequencing and dependencies
- Implementation plan (phased) with pilot/rollout approach and governance
- Evidence pack: configuration proof (exports/screenshots), decision log, and exception register
- Runbook and sustainment guidance: periodic review cadence and onboarding guardrails to prevent drift
How It Works
- Scope and benchmark selection - confirm the benchmarks/standards in scope and your assurance goals.
- Baseline assessment - measure current posture using available tooling (e.g., Azure Policy mappings where applicable) and configuration review.
- Remediation planning - build and prioritise a backlog; define roll-out strategy, owners, and change control.
- Remediation sprints - implement changes in controlled phases with pilots and validation.
- Evidence and governance - deliver evidence pack, exception register, and a sustainment cadence to prevent drift.
Engagement Options
- Remediation Programme - Full benchmark-led remediation with evidence pack
- Remediation Sprints - Targeted remediation for selected CIS control areas
- Re-Assessment - Post-remediation validation and updated evidence pack
Common Bundles
Customers who use this service often bundle with these services
CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations Benchmark Assessment
Assess Azure tenant and subscription configuration against CIS Benchmark guidance, identifying gaps and producing a prioritised remediation backlog.
CIS Intune Benchmark Assessment
Assess Microsoft Intune against CIS Benchmark guidance, identifying configuration gaps and delivering a prioritised hardening backlog with staged remediation.
Secure Score Assessment & Remediation
Baseline Microsoft Secure Score, prioritise improvement actions, and deliver a staged remediation backlog that drives measurable security posture uplift.
Azure Landing Zones (CAF-aligned)
Build a secure, scalable Azure foundation using CAF-aligned landing zones with clear governance, identity, networking, and management baselines.
Azure Network Architecture (Hub/Spoke, DNS, Private Link)
Azure network architecture services covering hub and spoke design, DNS, routing and Private Link to support secure, scalable connectivity.
MDR/SOC Integration & Operating Model
Integrate Microsoft security tools with SOC or MDR providers, establishing triage, escalation paths, reporting and SLAs for consistent incident handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
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