NERC CIP-015-1
How iolite supports compliance with NERC-CIP-015-1 regulation
Where Organizations Struggle
CIP-015 introduces explicit requirements for internal network monitoring, not just north/south traffic or perimeter defenses.
Existing approaches to internal network monitoring often rely on heavy footprint IDS sensors, specialized monitoring agents and high-cost asset management systems.
Lack of Internal Visibility
Most OT environments were never designed for internal monitoring
Defining “Anomalous” Behavior
There is often no baseline of “normal” OT communications, and IT tools create false positives
Fragmented Tooling
Firewalls, SIEMs, and IDS tools each cover a slice of the network but don't talk to each other
Data Retention & Integrity
Storing the right data (not everything) is hard, and ensuring tamper-proof logs across environments is harder
Iolite’s continuous monitoring and detection capabilities support organizations in meeting NERC CIP 015-1 requirements.
Native Internal Network Visibility
- Continuous monitoring of OT, IT and IoT traffic
- Full visibility of Internal ESP (not just the perimeter)
Intelligent Anomaly Detection
- Behavioral baselining
- Reduced false positives with customizable detections
- Anomaly data retained for compliance records
Contextual Alerting & Evaluation
- Alerts mapped to operational processes and threat relevance
What is NERC CIP-015-1?
NERC CIP-015-1 is a part of the broader NERC CIP framework, which governs cybersecurity for North American electric utilities. It is a reliability standard designed to protect abnormal or unauthorized activity inside operational networks.
CIP-015-1 expands NERC monitoring expectations beyond perimeter defenses. Earlier CIP standards emphasized continuous security monitoring but were primarily focused on North/South traffic. CIP-015 introduces explicit requirements for internal network monitoring. Assume compromise is possible. Detect and respond to anomalous internal network behavior.
Who does it apply to?
- Balancing Authorities
- Distribution providers
- Generator Owner and Operators
- Transmission Owners and Operators
- Reliability Coordinators
- High Impact BES Cyber Systems, and Medium Impact BES Cyber Systems with External Routable Connectivity (ERC)
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