Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018) – A Comprehensive Guide

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, posing very real risks to organizations, and nowhere is this risk more pronounced than in entities that handle a nation’s critical infrastructure, as these attacks put public health and safety at risk, harm the environment, or disrupt critical services.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region plays a vital role in the petroleum industry, with Saudi Arabia ranking among the world’s top 10 oil producers by daily output. These factors add to the region’s attractiveness to bad actors. In fact, an analysis of advertisements and discussions on specialized dark web forums indicates that attackers show the greatest interest in the UAE (40%), with Saudi Arabia hot on its heels at 26%.

Introducing the Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018)

To help its businesses better manage these challenges, the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) of Saudi Arabia debuted the Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018) – a framework that provides a structured approach to protecting information assets. It aims to maintain regulatory compliance and mitigate cybersecurity threats.

The Essential Cybersecurity Controls act as a foundational cybersecurity standard for entities operating in Saudi Arabia, particularly those in operational Technology (OT) environments. The framework is designed to improve the security posture of government agencies, private sector businesses, and service providers operating in the Kingdom.

Who Must Comply with Essential Cybersecurity Controls?

The Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018) are mandatory for:

• Government entities, including ministries, authorities, and other public organizations.
• Private sector organizations that own, operate, or manage critical national infrastructure (CNI).
• Companies that provide services to national authorities.

While these controls are legally required for specific entities, other companies are encouraged to adopt them to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and align with international best practices.

How ECC-1:2018 is Structured

The Essential Cybersecurity Controls are structured into five primary areas, made up of 29 subdomains and 114 specific controls. They address Saudi Arabia’s governance and technical defenses:

Cybersecurity Governance

This section is all about implementing a strong governance framework to make sure cybersecurity efforts are well-managed and in line with organizational objectives. Key components include:

• Cybersecurity Strategy – Entities must develop a strategy aligned with their business objectives and risk tolerance.
• Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures – Clearly defined policies must be put in place to guide cybersecurity initiatives.
• Cybersecurity Roles and Responsibilities – A well-defined hierarchy for accountability and ownership of security functions.
• Cybersecurity Risk Management – Firms must assess risks continuously and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Cybersecurity Compliance – Ensuring alignment with local and international regulatory requirements is a critical aspect of governance.

By establishing strong governance, businesses can guarantee a proactive approach to information security, limiting vulnerabilities before they turn into threats.

Cybersecurity Defense

Measures under cybersecurity defense focus on technical and operational controls that protect a firm’s digital assets and cover:

• Asset Management – Maintaining an updated inventory of information assets and classifying them based on their criticality.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM) – Implementing strong authentication and authorization mechanisms to restrict access to sensitive data.
• Network Security Management – Deploying firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other measures to protect network traffic.
• Data and Information Protection – Encrypting sensitive data and ensuring secure storage and transmission.
• Cryptography – Using encryption protocols to protect data confidentiality and integrity.

Implementing these security measures ensures that unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyberattacks are minimized, significantly enhancing overall security resilience.

Cybersecurity Resilience

Because businesses need to be able to prevent cyber threats yet also be prepared to respond in the worst-case scenario, the cybersecurity resilience domain focuses on:

• Incident Response and Management – Establishing a well-defined process for identifying, reporting, and mitigating security incidents.
• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) – Developing and testing recovery plans to ensure operations continue even after cyber disruptions.
• Security Monitoring and Threat Detection – Implementing continuous monitoring tools to detect anomalies and respond to threats in real time.

By prioritizing resilience, companies can cut downtime, protect sensitive information, and recover rapidly from cyber events.

Third-Party and Cloud Computing Cybersecurity

With the growing dependence on cloud services and complex networks of third-party partners and other external vendors, firms must implement robust third-party security controls. This domain includes:

• Cloud Security Measures – Making sure that cloud-based services comply with security requirements, including data encryption and access controls.
• Third-Party Risk Management – Assessing vendors’ cybersecurity capabilities and seeing that security agreements are enforced.
• Supply Chain Security – Extending security measures to suppliers, partners, and other external stakeholders.

It’s imperative that companies see that their third-party services or partners do not introduce vulnerabilities, as supply chain attacks have become a critical cybersecurity concern.

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity

Industrial sectors, including energy, water, transportation, and manufacturing, are highly dependent on operational technology (OT). The ICS cybersecurity domain lays out measures to protect these critical infrastructures against cyber threats.

Key security measures include:

• Securing Industrial Networks – Implementing strict access controls, segmentation, and monitoring mechanisms.
• Protecting SCADA Systems – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems must be safeguarded from unauthorized access and cyberattacks.
• Threat Detection for Industrial Systems – Real-time monitoring solutions should be in place to detect abnormal behavior in industrial environments.

Given the increasing frequency of cyberattacks on critical national infrastructure, organizations must adopt strong ICS security controls to protect national interests.

Strengthening Cybersecurity Across Saudi Arabia

The Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018) play a critical role in strengthening cybersecurity across Saudi Arabia.

Implementing the Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018) promises several key benefits, starting with regulatory compliance. Entities that adhere to the NCA’s security mandates can avoid falling foul of regulators and, with that, penalties and legal risks. Also, a well-structured cybersecurity framework enhances cyber resilience, so businesses are able to withstand and recover from incidents more effectively.

Beyond compliance and resilience, strong security measures contribute to an enhanced reputation by increasing trust among customers, partners, and stakeholders. Moreover, proactive cybersecurity strategies help reduce cyber risks, minimizing the likelihood of data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other emerging threats.

Cybersecurity Best Practices

The Essential Cybersecurity Controls set a clear standard for cybersecurity best practices in Saudi Arabia. Entities that implement these controls will benefit from stronger security postures, lower risk exposure, and better compliance with national cybersecurity regulations.

Given the rising number of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, it is more important than ever for government agencies, private sector organizations, and service providers to adopt these controls. By doing so, they can protect sensitive data, ensure business continuity, and contribute to a safer digital environment.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of Fortra.