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Baseline

What is Baseline?

A minimum set of security controls or configurations established as a starting point. Baselines can be tailored based on an organisation's risk profile and operating environment.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as baseline. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on baseline

Requirements naming baseline across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Baseline control principles for threat monitoring and analysis (required of every AI (minimum for a low inherent risk)). Processes monitor threat intelligence to discover emerging threats.

hkma-cyber-resilience-assessment-framework-c-raf::4.4.B · 4.4 Threat monitoring and analysis: baseline level →

Pipeline operators should develop and implement baseline security measures at all of their facilities, and both baseline and enhanced security measures at each critical facility, using Table 2 for the measures and Appendix A for the recurring actions.

tsa-pipeline-security::6.2 · 6.2 Baseline and enhanced security measures →
NIST SP 800-12819 controls

Develop, document, and maintain an approved baseline configuration of the information system as a basis for future builds and changes.

SP800-128-BASELINE · Baseline Configuration →
API 116417 controls

The plan must require periodic reviews validating that the monitoring program's detection mechanisms are configured to the baseline configuration and that its processes and activities are executed as the plan requires.

api-1164::DE.DP-2 · DE.DP-2 Periodic review that detection mechanisms and processes match the baseline and the plan →

When determining which SSRs belong to the baseline scenario, the proponent shall take into account the criteria it used for the project's SSRs, explain and apply any extra criteria required, and compare the project SSRs with the baseline SSRs.

iso-14064-greenhouse-gas-accounting-and-verification-parts-1-3::2:6.5 · 6.5 Identifying GHG SSRs relevant to the baseline scenario →

Questions people ask about baseline

What is Baseline?
A minimum set of security controls or configurations established as a starting point. Baselines can be tailored based on an organisation's risk profile and operating environment.
Why is Baseline important for compliance?
Baseline is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding baseline helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Baseline?
Baseline appears in the requirement text of FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT), HKMA Cyber Resilience Assessment Framework (C-RAF), TSA Pipeline Security, NIST SP 800-128, API 1164. Across these standards we have identified 250 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Baseline?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how baseline applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 1,016 frameworks.

See how Baseline applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.