NERC CIP Compliance

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.

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.

• 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