Glossary

NERC CIP Compliance

Compliance and Regulations

What is NERC CIP Compliance?

NERC CIP compliance refers to meeting the security requirements defined by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards. These federally enforceable regulations apply to registered entities in the bulk electric system (BES) across North America and are designed to ensure the cybersecurity and reliability of critical electric infrastructure.

The CIP standards require organizations to implement access control, audit, change management, and cyber hygiene measures for BES Cyber Systems, especially where remote access or elevated privileges are involved.

Why is NERC CIP Compliance Important?

The NERC CIP standards are mandatory for utilities and grid operators that manage critical electric infrastructure in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Mexico. Violations can result in significant regulatory fines and operational restrictions. Several NERC CIP requirements directly address how access to critical systems is controlled, monitored, and audited:

Access control is a central focus of several IEC 62443 components:

CIP-005-7 (Electronic Security Perimeter): Requires control of remote access into the Electronic Security Perimeter (ESP), including interactive sessions, two-factor authentication, session termination, and logging of all access attempts.
CIP-007-6 (System Security Management): Covers account management, password policies, and logging of system events, including privileged access activity and audit trail retention.
CIP-011-2 (Information Protection): Contains requirements for controls for Information Protection for handling cyber system information for BES Cyber Systems.

These controls aim to prevent unauthorized access, reduce insider risk, and ensure rapid detection and response to cyber incidents within the electric grid.

How Does Xona Help with NERC CIP Compliance?

Xona helps regulated utilities meet NERC CIP access control requirements by delivering secure, identity-based access to BES Cyber Systems without exposing credentials or relying on vulnerable remote access methods like VPNs or jump servers.

Xona enforces:

Two-factor authentication (2FA/MFA).
Identity-, role- and time-based access control.
Credential injection, eliminating shared account use.
Session logging and video recording.
Protocol-isolated, browser-based access to OT systems.
Session supervision and termination controls.

These capabilities align directly with CIP-005, CIP-007, and CIP-011 technical requirements for remote access control, audit trail integrity, and information protection. By enabling secure remote access while maintaining full oversight, Xona reduces compliance complexity and enhances audit readiness for NERC-regulated entities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What organizations are required to comply with NERC CIP standards?

NERC CIP compliance is mandatory for registered entities involved in the bulk electric system (BES) across the U.S., Canada, and parts of Mexico. This includes utilities, transmission operators, balancing authorities, and reliability coordinators responsible for managing critical electric infrastructure. Compliance is overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the U.S. and equivalent regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions.

What are the core cybersecurity requirements under NERC CIP?

The NERC CIP standards define cybersecurity controls across multiple domains, with specific focus on access management, remote access control, system security, change management, and auditability. Key standards include: CIP-005-7: controls on interactive remote access, two-factor authentication, and session monitoring within the Electronic Security Perimeter (ESP); CIP-007-6: requirements for account management, password control, and event logging; and CIP-011-2: mandates around information protection.

Why is remote access a critical compliance focus under NERC CIP?

Remote access introduces significant risk to BES Cyber Systems, particularly if unmanaged or unmonitored. CIP-005 mandates strict control of interactive remote sessions, including 2FA, session termination, and full audit logging, to ensure that remote connections do not compromise the security or integrity of the ESP.

How does Xona help electric utilities comply with NERC CIP-005 requirements?

Xona enforces MFA, identity-based access, time-bound and role-based access policies, and browser-based, protocol-isolated sessions that eliminates the need for VPNs and reduces exposure to lateral movement and malware/ransomware spread. All access is logged, tied to individual user identities, and recorded with optional video playback, directly supporting CIP-005 requirements for secure remote access into the ESP.

Can Xona support NERC CIP requirements for audit trails and privileged access tracking (CIP-007)?

Yes. Xona creates immutable logs and full session recordings of all privileged access, satisfying CIP-007 controls around account management, privileged session tracking, and audit trail integrity. Access logs and metadata can be exported to SIEM or compliance platforms for long-term retention and auditor review.

How does Xona help fulfill CIP-011 requirements around information protection?

CIP-011 focuses on protecting BES Cyber System Information (BCSI). Xona employs encrypted browser-based thin client access to its critical system gateway using mutual transport layer security and ensures that Cyber System Information is not exposed to the endpoint. Xona only transmits the pixels of the data, which supports the protecting and securing Cyber System Information.