Safeguard 10.2: Configure Automatic Anti-Malware Signature Updates

To meet the safeguard 10.2: configure automatic anti-malware signature updates requirement, you must set all anti-malware tools to pull signature/definition updates automatically, verify updates succeed, and retain evidence that coverage is continuous across in-scope endpoints and servers. Operationalize it by standardizing update channels, monitoring update freshness, and enforcing exceptions through ticketed, time-bound approvals. ¹

Key takeaways:

• Automatic signature updates must be configured, not left to user action or “best effort.” ¹
• The audit risk is usually evidence: prove update timeliness, coverage, and exception handling. ¹
• Centralize configuration and reporting so you can detect stale signatures quickly and remediate at scale. ¹

CIS Safeguard 10.2 sits in the “Malware Defenses” control family and focuses on a narrow but high-impact failure mode: endpoints and servers running anti-malware software with outdated signatures. Stale signatures mean detections lag behind active threats, and they also signal weak operational discipline (tools installed but not managed). For a Compliance Officer, CCO, or GRC lead, the fastest path to operationalizing this requirement is to define what “automatic updates” means in your environment, enforce it via centralized management, and collect recurring evidence that updates are occurring successfully.

This requirement is straightforward technically, but it regularly fails in audits because teams cannot show enterprise-wide coverage, cannot explain how remote/off-network devices update, or rely on manual processes that don’t scale. Your goal is to turn “we think it updates” into “we can prove it updates, we alert on staleness, and we have an exceptions process with time limits.” The guidance below is written to help you implement, evidence, and defend Safeguard 10.2 with minimal ambiguity. ¹

Regulatory text

Framework requirement (excerpt): “CIS Controls v8 safeguard 10.2 implementation expectation (Configure Automatic Anti-Malware Signature Updates).” ¹

Operator interpretation: configure your anti-malware solution so signature/definition updates happen automatically on all in-scope assets. Then prove the configuration is in place and operating, including for remote devices, segmented networks, and systems with change constraints. The practical compliance bar is “automatic + monitored + evidenced,” not “installed somewhere.” ¹

Plain-English interpretation (what this really requires)

You pass Safeguard 10.2 when:

1. Every covered system (endpoints, servers, and other devices where anti-malware is required by your standard) is set to automatically update signatures/definitions from an approved source.
2. Failures are visible: you can identify devices that haven’t updated recently and you have a defined remediation path.
3. Exceptions are controlled: systems that cannot update automatically have a documented compensating approach and a ticketed, time-bound approval.

This is a control about operational reliability. A policy saying “signatures should update” is not enough; you need configuration, monitoring, and evidence. ¹

Who it applies to

Entity scope

• Enterprises and technology organizations adopting CIS Controls v8, including regulated entities that use CIS as a security baseline. ¹

Operational scope (what systems you should assume are in)

Include, at minimum, systems where malware defenses are expected:

• Corporate endpoints (managed laptops/desktops)
• Servers (on-prem and cloud IaaS instances)
• VDI and shared workstation pools
• Jump hosts and admin workstations
• High-risk enclaves (finance, engineering, production support)

For OT/ICS, medical devices, or other constrained environments: you still need an approach, but implementation may rely on vendor-supported update channels and exceptions with compensating controls. Keep the decision documented. ¹

What you actually need to do (step-by-step)

Step 1: Define the standard (what “automatic” means here)

Create a short control standard that answers:

• Which anti-malware products are approved
• Where signatures come from (vendor cloud, internal update server, or security platform)
• Minimum expectations for update behavior (for example: updates enabled, check frequency configured, no user opt-out)
• How you handle off-network updates (VPN, direct-to-cloud, or split-tunnel exception)

Output: Anti-malware signature update standard mapped to Safeguard 10.2. ¹

Step 2: Configure centrally managed update policies

Implement policy-as-configuration in your endpoint/security tooling:

• Enable automatic definition updates
• Prevent end users from disabling updates
• Set update sources (primary and fallback) aligned to your network model
• Ensure the policy applies by device group (servers vs endpoints vs privileged workstations)

If you have multiple tools (e.g., server EDR differs from endpoint AV), document the mapping and make sure both are covered by the same evidence expectations. ¹

Step 3: Build “signature freshness” monitoring and alerting

You need a way to answer: “Which devices have stale signatures right now?”

• Turn on reporting fields for signature/definition version and last update time in the security console (or your SIEM)
• Create an alert workflow for stale or failed updates
• Route alerts to an operational queue with ownership (SecOps, IT Ops, or endpoint team)

Practical tip: auditors often accept screenshots, but operators need exports. Set up a recurring export or dashboard capture that shows counts of stale devices and trend. ¹

Step 4: Create a remediation playbook (fast and boring)

Document what happens when a device stops updating:

• Triage: off-network, disk full, service stopped, proxy/SSL inspection issue, expired license, broken agent
• Fix: re-enable service, reinstall agent, correct proxy, rejoin management
• Escalation: repeated failures, critical servers, or suspected tampering

Output: Runbook + ticket categories. ¹

Step 5: Formalize exceptions with constraints

Some assets will not support frequent updates (legacy OS, regulated appliances, segmented labs). Your exceptions process should require:

• Business justification
• Owner approval
• Compensating controls (network isolation, application allowlisting, restricted browsing, limited email access)
• A review trigger (at least on a recurring cadence aligned to your risk process)

Keep exceptions rare, visible, and expiring. ¹

Step 6: Evidence the control on a recurring basis

Make evidence collection part of operations:

• A recurring report (or snapshot) showing update compliance across in-scope groups
• A sample of endpoint/server configurations showing auto-update enabled
• A sample of incident/ticket records showing remediation of stale signature alerts
• An exceptions register with approvals and compensating controls

If you use Daydream to manage control mappings, make Safeguard 10.2 a discrete control objective with recurring evidence tasks (console export, dashboard snapshot, exception review record) so audit readiness does not depend on one engineer’s memory. ¹

Required evidence and artifacts to retain

Use this as your audit evidence checklist:

Evidence item	What it proves	Good enough format
Anti-malware policy/config export	Auto-updates enabled by policy	Console export, configuration baseline, MDM profile
Fleet compliance report	Coverage and current update status	CSV export, dashboard screenshot with timestamp
Alert/ticket samples	Failures are detected and remediated	Ticket records, incident notes, closure evidence
Exceptions register	Controlled deviations	Register + approvals + compensating controls
Asset scope list	What “in-scope” means	CMDB export, endpoint inventory, group membership

Focus on recurring evidence capture. A single screenshot from last year does not show operation. ¹

Common exam/audit questions and hangups

• “Show me that signature updates are automatic for endpoints and servers.” Expect to produce the policy plus proof it is applied.
• “How do remote laptops update when they’re off VPN?” Have a defined path (direct-to-cloud or documented requirement to connect).
• “How do you detect stale signatures?” Produce a dashboard/report and an alert workflow.
• “What systems are excluded and why?” Produce the exception register with approvals and compensating controls.
• “Who owns remediation?” Name the team, show the queue, show closure.

Most hangups come from unclear scope and weak evidence hygiene, not from the technology. ¹

Frequent implementation mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Manual updates allowed as the default.
   Fix: enforce automatic updates via central policy; remove local admin ability to disable where possible. ¹

2. Assuming “agent installed” equals “updating.”
   Fix: monitor signature freshness and alert on staleness; validate with periodic exports. ¹

3. Remote workforce blind spot.
   Fix: ensure devices can update off-network; document the method and test it with a pilot group. ¹

4. Servers treated as special and left behind.
   Fix: create a server-specific policy with maintenance windows, but keep updates automatic and monitored. ¹

5. Exceptions become permanent.
   Fix: require expiry/review and compensating controls; track exceptions as risk items. ¹

Risk implications (what failure looks like in practice)

If signature updates fail silently, you get:

• Higher likelihood of malware evasion on endpoints and servers
• Slower detection and response because the endpoint tool misses known indicators
• Audit findings framed as “control not operating,” especially if you cannot prove update currency

CIS positions this as a baseline hygiene requirement; treat it like patching. The operational risk is predictable and preventable with monitoring and evidence discipline. ¹

Practical 30/60/90-day execution plan

First 30 days (stabilize and define)

• Publish your Safeguard 10.2 control standard (approved tools, update sources, scope, exception criteria). ¹
• Confirm auto-update policies exist for endpoints and servers; remediate obvious gaps in high-risk groups. ¹
• Stand up a basic fleet report for signature freshness and coverage; assign an owner. ¹

By 60 days (operationalize)

• Turn on alerting for stale signatures and route to tickets with SLAs defined internally. ¹
• Document the remediation runbook and train the team that closes the tickets. ¹
• Build the initial exceptions register and obtain approvals for any constrained assets. ¹

By 90 days (prove and sustain)

• Start recurring evidence capture (scheduled exports/snapshots + ticket samples + exception review record). ¹
• Run an internal mini-audit: pick a sample across endpoints, servers, and remote devices; verify policy applied and signatures current. ¹
• Map the control and evidence tasks in Daydream (or your GRC system) so audits pull from a predictable evidence trail. ¹

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Safeguard 10.2 require real-time or hourly signature updates?

CIS Safeguard 10.2 requires that updates are automatic, but the provided excerpt does not set a specific frequency. Define a frequency standard that fits your tooling and risk, then prove it operates. ¹

We use EDR, not “traditional AV.” Does this still apply?

Yes. If your endpoint tool relies on signatures/definitions, configure automatic updates and monitor freshness. Document how your EDR handles content updates and how you evidence it. ¹

How do we handle laptops that rarely connect to VPN?

Configure updates that work off-network (often direct-to-cloud) and monitor for stale devices. If a subset cannot update off-network, document a constrained exception and compensating controls. ¹

Can we meet the requirement with screenshots only?

Screenshots can support point-in-time proof, but auditors often want repeatable evidence of operation. Keep exports or recurring snapshots plus tickets showing remediation activity. ¹

What’s the minimum evidence set you’d keep for an audit?

Keep (1) the policy/config showing auto-updates enabled, (2) a recurring fleet compliance report showing signature freshness, and (3) tickets or alerts showing you fix update failures. Add exceptions documentation if anything is excluded. ¹

We have segmented networks with no internet access. Are we automatically non-compliant?

Not automatically. You need an approved update path (internal mirror/update server) or a documented exception with compensating controls and an approval trail. Your evidence must show how those assets stay current or why they are exempt. ¹

Footnotes

1. CIS Controls v8; CIS Controls Navigator v8