In today’s fast-changing threat landscape, organizations of every size face increasing pressure to manage cybersecurity risks effectively. To respond, many teams are turning to trusted frameworks like the CIS Risk Assessment Method (CIS RAM) — a practical guide developed by the Center for Internet Security to help organizations assess, prioritize, and manage security risks in a balanced way.
At Riskmetis, we often get asked how technology providers like Cloudflare fit into this picture. The short answer: Cloudflare’s solutions directly support many of the principles in CIS RAM, helping organizations improve security without creating unnecessary disruption to business operations.
What is CIS RAM?
CIS RAM provides organizations with a structured approach to risk assessment and decision-making. Instead of just focusing on technical controls, it emphasizes:
Reasonable Safeguards: Security measures should be appropriate to business needs and resources.
Balance: Safeguards should reduce risk without making it impossible to deliver services.
Defensible Decisions: Risk assessments should be documented and justifiable.
This framework is especially valuable for businesses that want to implement cybersecurity practices aligned with CIS Controls, while still keeping operations efficient.
How Cloudflare Supports CIS RAM
Cloudflare’s global platform offers a wide range of security and performance tools that map neatly to the CIS RAM approach:
1. Protecting Against External Threats
Cloudflare’s DDoS mitigation, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and bot management provide safeguards against some of the most common and disruptive attacks. These controls reduce risk exposure in a way that CIS RAM defines as “reasonable” and “measurable.”
2. Reducing Complexity with Managed Safeguards
Many organizations struggle with limited staff or expertise. Cloudflare simplifies the implementation of advanced security safeguards, which directly supports CIS RAM’s guidance to make security “practical and sustainable.”
3. Zero Trust Access & Identity Protection
CIS RAM emphasizes defending sensitive information while keeping users productive. Cloudflare’s Zero Trust Access solution enforces strong authentication, least-privilege access, and traffic inspection — balancing protection with usability.
4. Visibility & Monitoring for Defensible Decisions
Risk decisions must be defensible. Cloudflare provides detailed logs, analytics, and monitoring tools that make it easier for security teams to document risks, justify controls, and respond to incidents in a structured way.
5. Alignment with CIS Controls
CIS RAM is built to help organizations implement CIS Critical Security Controls responsibly. Cloudflare maps closely to these controls, particularly in areas like:
Boundary defense
Secure configuration
Continuous monitoring
Controlled access
Why This Matters for Canadian Businesses
For organizations in Ontario and across Canada, aligning with CIS RAM is more than just a best practice — it’s increasingly expected by partners, regulators, and customers. Cloudflare’s solutions give companies a cost-effective and scalable way to adopt strong cybersecurity safeguards, while CIS RAM ensures those safeguards are implemented in a way that makes sense for business realities.
At Riskmetis, we help organizations bridge the gap between security frameworks and real-world operations. Cloudflare’s platform is one of the tools we trust to deliver that balance.
If your organization is looking to strengthen cybersecurity while aligning with CIS RAM and other global frameworks, our team at Riskmetis can help. We combine consulting expertise with SaaS risk assessment software to simplify compliance and protect your business.
Contact us today or book a consultation.
