What is the primary purpose of CIS benchmarks?

The primary purpose of CIS benchmarks is to establish hardening measures for computing devices and services. These benchmarks serve as best practice guidelines developed by the Center for Internet Security, aimed at enhancing the security posture of systems and applications. They provide specific, actionable recommendations to secure various technologies, including operating systems, server software, cloud environments, and more. By adhering to these benchmarks, organizations can systematically reduce vulnerabilities and improve their overall security framework.

While the other options might touch on important aspects of cybersecurity, they do not encapsulate the primary function of CIS benchmarks. For example, the focus on compliance regulations and network security solutions, while relevant, does not specifically address the goal of hardening measures. Automating cloud security tasks is also a distinct practice that can benefit from the guidelines offered by CIS benchmarks, but it is not their main purpose. The benchmarks are fundamentally about strengthening the security configurations of systems rather than enforcing compliance or automating processes.