Quick Overview
- 1#1: Dragos Platform - Provides comprehensive OT cybersecurity including asset visibility, threat detection, and incident response to ensure full NERC CIP compliance.
- 2#2: Claroty Platform - Delivers asset discovery, vulnerability management, and continuous threat detection tailored for NERC CIP standards in industrial control systems.
- 3#3: Nozomi Networks Vantage - Offers deep packet inspection, anomaly detection, and protocol analysis for OT networks to support NERC CIP-005 and CIP-007 compliance.
- 4#4: Tenable OT Security - Enables vulnerability assessment, threat detection, and configuration auditing specifically for OT environments to meet NERC CIP requirements.
- 5#5: Forescout Platform - Provides real-time visibility, network segmentation, and automated policy enforcement for OT/IoT assets to achieve NERC CIP compliance.
- 6#6: Armis Centrix - Offers agentless asset intelligence, risk prioritization, and mitigation workflows for connected devices supporting NERC CIP standards.
- 7#7: Microsoft Defender for IoT - Delivers passive monitoring, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence integration for OT networks to aid NERC CIP compliance.
- 8#8: Splunk Enterprise Security - Facilitates SIEM-based log analysis, threat hunting, and automated compliance reporting for NERC CIP audit requirements.
- 9#9: ServiceNow GRC - Streamlines governance, risk assessment, policy management, and control testing for comprehensive NERC CIP program management.
- 10#10: Archer Integrated Risk Management - Manages regulatory compliance workflows, evidence collection, audits, and reporting specifically for NERC CIP standards.
These tools were selected based on alignment with NERC CIP standards, depth of OT-focused features (including threat detection, vulnerability management, and reporting), usability in complex environments, and overall value in supporting end-to-end compliance workflows.
Comparison Table
This comparison table explores key NERC CIP compliance software tools, including Dragos Platform, Claroty Platform, Nozomi Networks Vantage, and more, to help readers assess features and capabilities. It provides a clear overview to identify the best fit for maintaining robust CIP compliance in operational technology environments.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragos Platform Provides comprehensive OT cybersecurity including asset visibility, threat detection, and incident response to ensure full NERC CIP compliance. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 2 | Claroty Platform Delivers asset discovery, vulnerability management, and continuous threat detection tailored for NERC CIP standards in industrial control systems. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 3 | Nozomi Networks Vantage Offers deep packet inspection, anomaly detection, and protocol analysis for OT networks to support NERC CIP-005 and CIP-007 compliance. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 4 | Tenable OT Security Enables vulnerability assessment, threat detection, and configuration auditing specifically for OT environments to meet NERC CIP requirements. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 5 | Forescout Platform Provides real-time visibility, network segmentation, and automated policy enforcement for OT/IoT assets to achieve NERC CIP compliance. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Armis Centrix Offers agentless asset intelligence, risk prioritization, and mitigation workflows for connected devices supporting NERC CIP standards. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 7 | Microsoft Defender for IoT Delivers passive monitoring, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence integration for OT networks to aid NERC CIP compliance. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Splunk Enterprise Security Facilitates SIEM-based log analysis, threat hunting, and automated compliance reporting for NERC CIP audit requirements. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 6.7/10 | 7.1/10 |
| 9 | ServiceNow GRC Streamlines governance, risk assessment, policy management, and control testing for comprehensive NERC CIP program management. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | Archer Integrated Risk Management Manages regulatory compliance workflows, evidence collection, audits, and reporting specifically for NERC CIP standards. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.4/10 |
Provides comprehensive OT cybersecurity including asset visibility, threat detection, and incident response to ensure full NERC CIP compliance.
Delivers asset discovery, vulnerability management, and continuous threat detection tailored for NERC CIP standards in industrial control systems.
Offers deep packet inspection, anomaly detection, and protocol analysis for OT networks to support NERC CIP-005 and CIP-007 compliance.
Enables vulnerability assessment, threat detection, and configuration auditing specifically for OT environments to meet NERC CIP requirements.
Provides real-time visibility, network segmentation, and automated policy enforcement for OT/IoT assets to achieve NERC CIP compliance.
Offers agentless asset intelligence, risk prioritization, and mitigation workflows for connected devices supporting NERC CIP standards.
Delivers passive monitoring, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence integration for OT networks to aid NERC CIP compliance.
Facilitates SIEM-based log analysis, threat hunting, and automated compliance reporting for NERC CIP audit requirements.
Streamlines governance, risk assessment, policy management, and control testing for comprehensive NERC CIP program management.
Manages regulatory compliance workflows, evidence collection, audits, and reporting specifically for NERC CIP standards.
Dragos Platform
specializedProvides comprehensive OT cybersecurity including asset visibility, threat detection, and incident response to ensure full NERC CIP compliance.
Proprietary OT Recursive Threat Separator for protocol-aware, passive monitoring that identifies anomalies and threats with forensic precision without network decryption or downtime.
Dragos Platform is a leading OT cybersecurity solution designed for industrial control systems, providing deep visibility, threat detection, and vulnerability management tailored for NERC CIP compliance in the energy sector. It excels in asset inventory (CIP-002), configuration management (CIP-010), system security (CIP-007), and incident response (CIP-008) through protocol-aware monitoring and automated reporting. The platform delivers forensic-level insights without disrupting operations, leveraging bidirectional translators and recursive threat detection for precise compliance evidence collection.
Pros
- Comprehensive OT asset discovery and inventory mapping directly to CIP-002 requirements
- Automated compliance reporting and evidence gathering for CIP audits with customizable templates
- Industry-leading OT threat intelligence and low false-positive detection for CIP-008 incident analysis
Cons
- High cost may be prohibitive for smaller utilities
- Complex initial deployment requiring OT expertise
- Primarily focused on OT/ICS, with less emphasis on hybrid IT-OT integrations
Best For
Large electric utilities and bulk power system operators needing enterprise-grade OT security for stringent NERC CIP compliance.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $500,000+ annually based on asset count, sensors, and support level.
Claroty Platform
specializedDelivers asset discovery, vulnerability management, and continuous threat detection tailored for NERC CIP standards in industrial control systems.
Agentless, protocol-aware OT asset mapping and continuous monitoring that decodes proprietary ICS protocols for precise BES Cyber Asset categorization.
Claroty Platform is a leading OT cybersecurity solution that provides deep visibility, asset discovery, and threat detection for industrial control systems and operational technology environments. Tailored for critical infrastructure, it helps organizations identify, monitor, and protect BES Cyber Assets as required by NERC CIP standards. Key capabilities include continuous network monitoring, vulnerability management, and automated compliance reporting without disrupting legacy OT operations.
Pros
- Exceptional passive OT asset discovery and inventory for CIP-002 compliance
- Real-time anomaly detection and threat hunting optimized for ICS protocols
- Robust compliance reporting and audit trail generation for NERC CIP requirements
Cons
- Enterprise-level pricing can be prohibitive for smaller utilities
- Requires OT expertise for optimal configuration and tuning
- Limited native support for full IT/OT convergence compared to hybrid platforms
Best For
Large electric utilities and BES operators needing specialized OT visibility and monitoring to achieve and maintain NERC CIP compliance.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription pricing, typically $100K+ annually based on assets monitored and deployment scale; contact sales for quote.
Nozomi Networks Vantage
specializedOffers deep packet inspection, anomaly detection, and protocol analysis for OT networks to support NERC CIP-005 and CIP-007 compliance.
Protocol-aware behavioral analytics that baselines and detects anomalies in ICS traffic without signatures
Nozomi Networks Vantage is a SaaS-based OT/IoT security platform designed for deep visibility and threat detection in operational technology environments. It supports NERC CIP compliance through automated asset inventory, protocol analysis, vulnerability assessment, and anomaly detection tailored to industrial control systems. Vantage enables utilities to meet requirements like CIP-005 (Electronic Security Perimeter monitoring), CIP-007 (system security), and CIP-010 (configuration management) with real-time analytics and reporting.
Pros
- Exceptional deep packet inspection for OT protocols like Modbus and DNP3, crucial for NERC CIP monitoring
- Automated compliance reporting and evidence collection for audits
- Scalable cloud deployment with AI-driven threat intelligence
Cons
- Higher cost for smaller utilities due to enterprise-scale pricing
- Steeper learning curve for non-OT security teams
- Limited native integration with some general IT GRC tools
Best For
Large electric utilities and grid operators needing advanced OT network visibility to streamline NERC CIP-005 and CIP-007 compliance.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing based on sensors/assets monitored, typically $50K+ annually for mid-sized deployments.
Tenable OT Security
specializedEnables vulnerability assessment, threat detection, and configuration auditing specifically for OT environments to meet NERC CIP requirements.
Passive OT protocol decoding and deep packet inspection for real-time, non-intrusive compliance monitoring
Tenable OT Security is a specialized cybersecurity platform for operational technology (OT) environments, offering asset discovery, vulnerability management, and threat detection tailored for industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA networks. It supports NERC CIP compliance by providing detailed inventory of critical cyber assets, configuration auditing, and automated reporting for standards like CIP-002, CIP-005, CIP-007, and CIP-010. The solution emphasizes passive monitoring to avoid disrupting live OT operations while delivering actionable insights for risk mitigation.
Pros
- Excellent OT asset visibility and protocol-aware scanning for accurate NERC CIP asset categorization
- Non-disruptive passive monitoring ideal for live industrial environments
- Robust compliance reporting and evidence collection for audits
Cons
- Complex setup and configuration for users new to OT security
- Higher cost compared to general IT vulnerability tools
- Limited native support for some niche legacy OT protocols
Best For
Energy sector organizations managing critical infrastructure who need deep OT visibility and NERC CIP compliance reporting without operational downtime.
Pricing
Subscription-based enterprise pricing, typically $50,000+ annually depending on assets/sensors; custom quotes required.
Forescout Platform
specializedProvides real-time visibility, network segmentation, and automated policy enforcement for OT/IoT assets to achieve NERC CIP compliance.
Passive, real-time discovery of all connected devices including shadow IT/OT without agents or credentials
Forescout Platform is a leading network detection and response solution providing agentless visibility, classification, and control over IT, OT, IoT, and unmanaged devices across hybrid environments. For NERC CIP compliance, it automates asset inventory (CIP-002), vulnerability assessments (CIP-005, CIP-007), and network segmentation to protect BES Cyber Systems. It generates detailed compliance reports and supports automated policy enforcement, reducing manual audit efforts in critical infrastructure.
Pros
- Exceptional agentless device discovery and classification for comprehensive asset management
- Robust compliance reporting and automation tailored to NERC CIP standards
- Seamless integration with SIEM, vulnerability scanners, and OT security tools
Cons
- Complex initial deployment requiring network expertise and tuning
- High cost for large-scale environments with per-device licensing
- Limited out-of-box OT protocol depth without custom modules
Best For
Large utilities and energy operators needing deep visibility into OT/IT convergence for NERC CIP asset protection and auditing.
Pricing
Quote-based enterprise licensing, typically $50K-$500K+ annually based on device count and modules; perpetual options available with maintenance.
Armis Centrix
specializedOffers agentless asset intelligence, risk prioritization, and mitigation workflows for connected devices supporting NERC CIP standards.
Agentless passive asset discovery that identifies and classifies every device in air-gapped OT networks without performance impact
Armis Centrix is a SaaS-based cyber exposure management platform specializing in agentless asset discovery, visibility, and security for IT, OT, IoT, and unmanaged devices. It supports NERC CIP compliance by automating asset inventory (CIP-002), vulnerability assessments (CIP-005, CIP-007), and configuration baseline monitoring (CIP-010), providing evidence collection and risk prioritization for critical infrastructure operators. The platform uses passive monitoring to minimize disruptions in operational environments while generating compliance-ready reports.
Pros
- Agentless discovery and continuous monitoring of all assets, including hard-to-reach OT/IoT devices
- Strong vulnerability prioritization and risk scoring aligned with NERC CIP requirements
- Automated compliance reporting and evidence generation for audits
Cons
- Complex setup and configuration for highly customized OT environments
- Premium pricing may not suit smaller utilities
- Limited native support for some legacy SCADA protocols without integrations
Best For
Mid-to-large electric utilities and grid operators needing comprehensive asset visibility and OT risk management to meet NERC CIP standards.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription pricing, typically starting at $100,000+ annually based on asset volume and deployment scale.
Microsoft Defender for IoT
enterpriseDelivers passive monitoring, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence integration for OT networks to aid NERC CIP compliance.
Passive, protocol-aware asset discovery and mapping that auto-generates NERC CIP-compliant inventories without network disruption
Microsoft Defender for IoT is a cloud-native security platform tailored for operational technology (OT) and industrial IoT environments, offering passive asset discovery, vulnerability management, and real-time threat detection via deep packet inspection of industrial protocols. It provides comprehensive visibility into OT networks without requiring agents, enabling anomaly detection and behavioral analytics critical for compliance. For NERC CIP standards, it supports requirements like asset inventory (CIP-002), perimeter security (CIP-005), and system monitoring (CIP-007) through automated reporting and integration with SIEM tools.
Pros
- Agentless deployment for non-disruptive OT monitoring
- Deep protocol analysis for ICS/OT-specific threats
- Strong integration with Microsoft ecosystem for unified compliance reporting
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply for large sensor deployments
- Requires Azure connectivity for full functionality
- Steep learning curve for non-Microsoft admins
Best For
Energy sector utilities with hybrid IT/OT infrastructures needing scalable OT visibility for NERC CIP audits.
Pricing
Subscription-based at approximately $15,000+ per sensor annually, plus per-asset fees; enterprise pricing via Microsoft sales.
Splunk Enterprise Security
enterpriseFacilitates SIEM-based log analysis, threat hunting, and automated compliance reporting for NERC CIP audit requirements.
Risk-Based Alerting with ML-powered scoring that prioritizes NERC CIP-relevant threats based on asset criticality and compliance context
Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) is a robust SIEM platform built on Splunk Enterprise, specializing in real-time security monitoring, threat detection, and compliance reporting by ingesting and analyzing machine data from across IT environments. For NERC CIP compliance, it supports key requirements like event logging (CIP-007), configuration management (CIP-010), and electronic perimeter monitoring (CIP-005) through customizable dashboards, correlation searches, and audit-ready reports. It enables utilities to correlate BES Cyber System events, detect anomalies, and automate responses, though it requires configuration for optimal CIP alignment.
Pros
- Powerful data analytics and correlation for comprehensive NERC CIP event monitoring and reporting
- Machine learning-driven anomaly detection tailored to BES Cyber Assets
- Extensive integrations with compliance tools and automation for incident response
Cons
- Steep learning curve and requires Splunk expertise for CIP-specific setups
- High costs driven by data ingestion volume, less ideal for smaller utilities
- Resource-intensive deployment and ongoing maintenance needs
Best For
Large electric utilities with complex, high-volume environments seeking an enterprise-grade SIEM for NERC CIP alongside broader SecOps.
Pricing
Usage-based licensing starting at ~$10,000+/year for small deployments, scaling to $100,000+ for enterprise volumes; custom quotes required.
ServiceNow GRC
enterpriseStreamlines governance, risk assessment, policy management, and control testing for comprehensive NERC CIP program management.
Integrated Continuous Monitoring and Diagnostics (CMD) with real-time evidence automation tailored to NERC CIP-010 and CIP-013 requirements
ServiceNow GRC is an enterprise-grade governance, risk, and compliance platform that automates NERC CIP compliance processes for electric utilities, including risk assessments, control monitoring, policy management, and audit workflows. It maps directly to NERC CIP standards with pre-built content packs for requirements like CIP-002 through CIP-014, enabling evidence collection, testing, and reporting. Integrated with ServiceNow's IT Service Management (ITSM), it provides a unified view of cybersecurity and operational risks in critical infrastructure.
Pros
- Comprehensive pre-built NERC CIP content and mapping for all 14 standards
- Powerful automation for continuous monitoring, evidence collection, and exception management
- Seamless integration with ServiceNow ITSM and security operations for holistic compliance
Cons
- Complex implementation requiring significant customization and expertise
- Steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with ServiceNow platform
- High cost may not suit smaller utilities or those without existing ServiceNow deployment
Best For
Large electric utilities with existing ServiceNow ecosystems needing scalable, integrated NERC CIP compliance management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise subscription pricing, typically starting at $100,000+ annually based on users, modules, and implementation scope.
Archer Integrated Risk Management
enterpriseManages regulatory compliance workflows, evidence collection, audits, and reporting specifically for NERC CIP standards.
Pre-configured NERC CIP Content Library with automated evidence mapping and regulatory update tracking
Archer Integrated Risk Management (ArcherIRM) is a robust enterprise GRC platform that supports NERC CIP compliance through configurable modules for risk assessment, policy management, incident response, and audit evidence collection tailored to CIP-002 through CIP-014 standards. It enables utilities to automate workflows, track regulatory changes, and generate detailed reporting for Bulk Electric System cybersecurity requirements. The platform integrates with existing IT systems to provide a centralized view of compliance status, helping organizations demonstrate adherence to NERC auditors.
Pros
- Highly customizable workflows and content library pre-built for NERC CIP standards
- Strong integration with enterprise tools like SIEM and asset management systems
- Proven scalability for large utilities with real-time dashboards and reporting
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial configuration requiring expert implementation
- High enterprise pricing with lengthy deployment timelines
- Less intuitive user interface compared to more modern SaaS-native GRC tools
Best For
Large energy utilities and asset owners needing a comprehensive, enterprise-grade GRC platform for NERC CIP program management across multiple standards.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically $100K+ annually for mid-sized deployments, scaling with users and modules (SaaS or on-premises options).
Conclusion
The top tools reviewed deliver strong options for NERC CIP compliance, with the Dragos Platform leading as the top choice, offering comprehensive OT cybersecurity from asset visibility to incident response. Claroty Platform follows, excelling in tailored threat detection for industrial control systems, while Nozomi Networks Vantage rounds out the top three with deep packet inspection and protocol analysis for OT networks. Whether prioritizing full-stack protection, specific compliance standards, or automated workflows, the top three tools highlight the evolving needs of securing critical infrastructure.
Begin your journey toward robust NERC CIP compliance by exploring the Dragos Platform—designed to address your unique OT cybersecurity challenges and ensure seamless audit readiness.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
