NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker
Operational Visibility Starts Here The Shieldworkz Checklist to Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM)
Bulk Electric System environments are entering a new phase of regulatory and operational accountability. As utilities expand connectivity between control centers, substations, and enterprise environments, internal network visibility is no longer optional. The NERC CIP-015-1 standard formalizes this shift by requiring Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM) to detect anomalous activity inside trusted operational networks before it becomes operational disruption.
Shieldworkz developed this field-driven Compliance Checklist and KPI Tracker to help utilities translate CIP-015-1 from regulatory language into engineering reality. It provides a structured path to implement monitoring, validate evidence, and measure program maturity - without introducing risk to live grid operations.
This Checklist is built for organizations responsible for maintaining reliability, safety, and regulatory alignment across generation, transmission, and balancing environments.
What this checklist is, and what it’s not
This is an execution-focused operational Checklist, not a theoretical framework. It transforms CIP-015-1 requirements into clear, assignable actions across engineering, cybersecurity, and compliance teams.
Identification of BES Cyber Systems and Electronic Security Perimeters
Deployment of passive monitoring aligned to OT safety requirements
Creation of network baselines for anomaly detection
Data retention and integrity protections required for auditability
Defined evaluation workflows and escalation procedures
KPI-driven measurement of detection, response, and monitoring coverage
Audit-ready documentation mapped directly to R1, R2, and R3 obligations
The result is a repeatable process that integrates security monitoring into grid operations without disrupting deterministic control environments.
Why this checklist matters now
Electric utilities are confronting a convergence challenge: legacy control systems designed for isolation are now interconnected with digital infrastructure that demands visibility, analytics, and rapid response.
Without structured INSM:
Lateral movement inside ESPs can go undetected for extended periods
Engineering networks lack behavioral baselines to distinguish faults from threats
Monitoring deployments risk introducing latency or instability if not OT-aware
Evidence collection becomes fragmented, delaying compliance readiness
Security teams lack measurable performance indicators aligned to reliability goals
CIP-015-1 shifts the focus from perimeter defense to operational detection inside trusted zones.
This checklist ensures that monitoring strengthens resilience rather than creating operational friction.
Key takeaways from the Checklist
Establish monitoring aligned to system criticality: The checklist helps classify High and Medium Impact BES systems and map monitoring coverage to risk, ensuring resources are applied where reliability impact is greatest.
Build visibility without disrupting control processes: Guidance emphasizes passive collection methods, network-aware placement, and validation testing that respects deterministic OT communications.
Define what “normal” looks like before detecting abnormal: You’ll develop traffic baselines, protocol inventories, and behavioral profiles so anomaly detection reflects engineering reality rather than generic IT alerts.
Operationalize anomaly evaluation workflows: The Checklist includes steps to create investigation playbooks, escalation matrices, and defined evaluation timelines to ensure alerts translate into action.
Protect monitoring data as a reliability asset: Retention, integrity validation, segmentation, and access controls are addressed so collected telemetry remains trustworthy and audit-ready.
Measure effectiveness through KPIs, not assumptions: The KPI tracker enables utilities to monitor metrics such as detection latency, monitoring coverage, evaluation turnaround, and evidence completeness - allowing leadership to track progress quantitatively.
Prepare for future expansion of monitoring scope: The checklist anticipates broader monitoring requirements across supporting infrastructure, helping organizations design architectures that scale rather than require re-engineering.
How Shieldworkz supports your CIP-015-1 journey
Shieldworkz brings hands-on OT cybersecurity implementation experience across critical infrastructure environments where uptime and safety cannot be compromised.
We support organizations through:
INSM architecture design aligned with operational constraints
Deployment validation that avoids introducing latency or instability
Detection tuning based on industrial protocols and engineering workflows
Evidence development mapped directly to compliance expectations
KPI and reporting models that translate technical activity into executive insight
Training and operational enablement for sustained monitoring maturity
Our approach ensures compliance activities reinforce operational resilience rather than compete with it.
Take action now: Ready to strengthen monitoring across your BES environment?
Download the Shieldworkz NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker to turn regulatory requirements into measurable operational capability.
Complete the form to access the Checklist and receive a complimentary consultation focused on identifying your first three implementation priorities.
Download your copy today!
Get our free NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker and make sure you’re covering every critical control in your industrial network
Operational Visibility Starts Here The Shieldworkz Checklist to Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM)
Bulk Electric System environments are entering a new phase of regulatory and operational accountability. As utilities expand connectivity between control centers, substations, and enterprise environments, internal network visibility is no longer optional. The NERC CIP-015-1 standard formalizes this shift by requiring Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM) to detect anomalous activity inside trusted operational networks before it becomes operational disruption.
Shieldworkz developed this field-driven Compliance Checklist and KPI Tracker to help utilities translate CIP-015-1 from regulatory language into engineering reality. It provides a structured path to implement monitoring, validate evidence, and measure program maturity - without introducing risk to live grid operations.
This Checklist is built for organizations responsible for maintaining reliability, safety, and regulatory alignment across generation, transmission, and balancing environments.
What this checklist is, and what it’s not
This is an execution-focused operational Checklist, not a theoretical framework. It transforms CIP-015-1 requirements into clear, assignable actions across engineering, cybersecurity, and compliance teams.
Identification of BES Cyber Systems and Electronic Security Perimeters
Deployment of passive monitoring aligned to OT safety requirements
Creation of network baselines for anomaly detection
Data retention and integrity protections required for auditability
Defined evaluation workflows and escalation procedures
KPI-driven measurement of detection, response, and monitoring coverage
Audit-ready documentation mapped directly to R1, R2, and R3 obligations
The result is a repeatable process that integrates security monitoring into grid operations without disrupting deterministic control environments.
Why this checklist matters now
Electric utilities are confronting a convergence challenge: legacy control systems designed for isolation are now interconnected with digital infrastructure that demands visibility, analytics, and rapid response.
Without structured INSM:
Lateral movement inside ESPs can go undetected for extended periods
Engineering networks lack behavioral baselines to distinguish faults from threats
Monitoring deployments risk introducing latency or instability if not OT-aware
Evidence collection becomes fragmented, delaying compliance readiness
Security teams lack measurable performance indicators aligned to reliability goals
CIP-015-1 shifts the focus from perimeter defense to operational detection inside trusted zones.
This checklist ensures that monitoring strengthens resilience rather than creating operational friction.
Key takeaways from the Checklist
Establish monitoring aligned to system criticality: The checklist helps classify High and Medium Impact BES systems and map monitoring coverage to risk, ensuring resources are applied where reliability impact is greatest.
Build visibility without disrupting control processes: Guidance emphasizes passive collection methods, network-aware placement, and validation testing that respects deterministic OT communications.
Define what “normal” looks like before detecting abnormal: You’ll develop traffic baselines, protocol inventories, and behavioral profiles so anomaly detection reflects engineering reality rather than generic IT alerts.
Operationalize anomaly evaluation workflows: The Checklist includes steps to create investigation playbooks, escalation matrices, and defined evaluation timelines to ensure alerts translate into action.
Protect monitoring data as a reliability asset: Retention, integrity validation, segmentation, and access controls are addressed so collected telemetry remains trustworthy and audit-ready.
Measure effectiveness through KPIs, not assumptions: The KPI tracker enables utilities to monitor metrics such as detection latency, monitoring coverage, evaluation turnaround, and evidence completeness - allowing leadership to track progress quantitatively.
Prepare for future expansion of monitoring scope: The checklist anticipates broader monitoring requirements across supporting infrastructure, helping organizations design architectures that scale rather than require re-engineering.
How Shieldworkz supports your CIP-015-1 journey
Shieldworkz brings hands-on OT cybersecurity implementation experience across critical infrastructure environments where uptime and safety cannot be compromised.
We support organizations through:
INSM architecture design aligned with operational constraints
Deployment validation that avoids introducing latency or instability
Detection tuning based on industrial protocols and engineering workflows
Evidence development mapped directly to compliance expectations
KPI and reporting models that translate technical activity into executive insight
Training and operational enablement for sustained monitoring maturity
Our approach ensures compliance activities reinforce operational resilience rather than compete with it.
Take action now: Ready to strengthen monitoring across your BES environment?
Download the Shieldworkz NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker to turn regulatory requirements into measurable operational capability.
Complete the form to access the Checklist and receive a complimentary consultation focused on identifying your first three implementation priorities.
Download your copy today!
Get our free NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker and make sure you’re covering every critical control in your industrial network
Operational Visibility Starts Here The Shieldworkz Checklist to Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM)
Bulk Electric System environments are entering a new phase of regulatory and operational accountability. As utilities expand connectivity between control centers, substations, and enterprise environments, internal network visibility is no longer optional. The NERC CIP-015-1 standard formalizes this shift by requiring Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM) to detect anomalous activity inside trusted operational networks before it becomes operational disruption.
Shieldworkz developed this field-driven Compliance Checklist and KPI Tracker to help utilities translate CIP-015-1 from regulatory language into engineering reality. It provides a structured path to implement monitoring, validate evidence, and measure program maturity - without introducing risk to live grid operations.
This Checklist is built for organizations responsible for maintaining reliability, safety, and regulatory alignment across generation, transmission, and balancing environments.
What this checklist is, and what it’s not
This is an execution-focused operational Checklist, not a theoretical framework. It transforms CIP-015-1 requirements into clear, assignable actions across engineering, cybersecurity, and compliance teams.
Identification of BES Cyber Systems and Electronic Security Perimeters
Deployment of passive monitoring aligned to OT safety requirements
Creation of network baselines for anomaly detection
Data retention and integrity protections required for auditability
Defined evaluation workflows and escalation procedures
KPI-driven measurement of detection, response, and monitoring coverage
Audit-ready documentation mapped directly to R1, R2, and R3 obligations
The result is a repeatable process that integrates security monitoring into grid operations without disrupting deterministic control environments.
Why this checklist matters now
Electric utilities are confronting a convergence challenge: legacy control systems designed for isolation are now interconnected with digital infrastructure that demands visibility, analytics, and rapid response.
Without structured INSM:
Lateral movement inside ESPs can go undetected for extended periods
Engineering networks lack behavioral baselines to distinguish faults from threats
Monitoring deployments risk introducing latency or instability if not OT-aware
Evidence collection becomes fragmented, delaying compliance readiness
Security teams lack measurable performance indicators aligned to reliability goals
CIP-015-1 shifts the focus from perimeter defense to operational detection inside trusted zones.
This checklist ensures that monitoring strengthens resilience rather than creating operational friction.
Key takeaways from the Checklist
Establish monitoring aligned to system criticality: The checklist helps classify High and Medium Impact BES systems and map monitoring coverage to risk, ensuring resources are applied where reliability impact is greatest.
Build visibility without disrupting control processes: Guidance emphasizes passive collection methods, network-aware placement, and validation testing that respects deterministic OT communications.
Define what “normal” looks like before detecting abnormal: You’ll develop traffic baselines, protocol inventories, and behavioral profiles so anomaly detection reflects engineering reality rather than generic IT alerts.
Operationalize anomaly evaluation workflows: The Checklist includes steps to create investigation playbooks, escalation matrices, and defined evaluation timelines to ensure alerts translate into action.
Protect monitoring data as a reliability asset: Retention, integrity validation, segmentation, and access controls are addressed so collected telemetry remains trustworthy and audit-ready.
Measure effectiveness through KPIs, not assumptions: The KPI tracker enables utilities to monitor metrics such as detection latency, monitoring coverage, evaluation turnaround, and evidence completeness - allowing leadership to track progress quantitatively.
Prepare for future expansion of monitoring scope: The checklist anticipates broader monitoring requirements across supporting infrastructure, helping organizations design architectures that scale rather than require re-engineering.
How Shieldworkz supports your CIP-015-1 journey
Shieldworkz brings hands-on OT cybersecurity implementation experience across critical infrastructure environments where uptime and safety cannot be compromised.
We support organizations through:
INSM architecture design aligned with operational constraints
Deployment validation that avoids introducing latency or instability
Detection tuning based on industrial protocols and engineering workflows
Evidence development mapped directly to compliance expectations
KPI and reporting models that translate technical activity into executive insight
Training and operational enablement for sustained monitoring maturity
Our approach ensures compliance activities reinforce operational resilience rather than compete with it.
Take action now: Ready to strengthen monitoring across your BES environment?
Download the Shieldworkz NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker to turn regulatory requirements into measurable operational capability.
Complete the form to access the Checklist and receive a complimentary consultation focused on identifying your first three implementation priorities.
Download your copy today!
Get our free NERC CIP-015-1 Compliance Checklist & KPI Tracker and make sure you’re covering every critical control in your industrial network
