C2M2 v2.1 — Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model

Why it Matters

C2M2 v2.1 provides a structured approach for organizations to assessand advance their cybersecurity maturity across critical operationaldomains.

Key benefits include:

• Strengthen cybersecurity governance

Establishconsistent practices for oversight and accountability acrossoperational areas, improving decision-making at all organizationallevels.

• Improve risk management effectiveness

Supportidentification and prioritization of cybersecurity risks, enablingtargeted risk reduction initiatives and better resource allocation.

• Enhance supply chain security

Addressthird-party risks by assessing and improving vendor and supply chaincybersecurity practices aligned with industry benchmarks.

• Support regulatory and audit readiness

Align internalcontrols with industry standards, simplifying compliance efforts andpreparing organizations for regulatory reviews or audits.

• Promote continuous improvement

Facilitateregular self-assessments and benchmarking, ensuring ongoingadvancement and adaptation of cybersecurity capabilities over time.

How it Works

C2M2 v2.1 structures cybersecurity into capability domains andmaturity indicator levels that collectively form a maturity model forenergy and utilities organizations. The framework outlinesdomain-specific practices and objectives, aligns those practices withrisk management processes, and maps security controls and governanceactivities to progressively higher maturity tiers.

Organizations apply C2M2 v2.1 by conducting baseline assessments,scoring maturity across domains, and performing gap analyses toprioritize security controls and remediation. Teams integrate resultsinto governance and compliance programs, use the model to guideresource allocation and continuous monitoring, and tie improvementsto incident response and regulatory reporting to strengthen overallsecurity practices.

Within SmartSuite, C2M2 v2.1 is operationalized by importing controllibraries, maintaining a centralized risk register, and governingpolicies against maturity targets. SmartSuite supports evidencecollection, compliance tracking, and automated remediation workflows,while dashboards and audit-ready reports enable continuousmonitoring, executive oversight, and measurable progress towardhigher maturity levels.

Key Elements

• Domain Structure

Organizescybersecurity activities into distinct operational domains such asasset management, risk assessment, and supply chain.

• Maturity Indicator Levels

Definesprogressive capability stages for each domain, describing activitiesfrom foundational to advanced maturity.

• Assessment Objectives

Specifies clearcriteria for evaluating the implementation and effectiveness ofcybersecurity practices within each domain.

• Management Practices

Describesstructured security practices that guide the establishment andimprovement of cybersecurity processes.

• Enterprise Risk Alignment

Establishes alinkage between cybersecurity maturity and broader organizationalrisk management frameworks.

• Self-Assessment Tools

Provides formaltools for structured evaluation and benchmarking of cybersecuritycapabilities and maturity.

Framework Scope

C2M2 v2.1 supports entities managing critical infrastructure,including utilities and organizations overseeing essential services,by assessing cybersecurity practices across operational and technicalenvironments such as information systems, operational technology, andsupply chains. It is typically implemented when improvingcybersecurity maturity, managing risk exposure, and supportingassurance programs for critical operations.

Framework Objectives

C2M2 v2.1 provides a structured approach for organizations toevaluate and enhance their cybersecurity maturity and risk managementcapabilities.

Enable organizations to identify and address cybersecurity strengthsand gaps

Strengthen governance and oversight of cybersecurity practices acrosskey operational domains

Enhance resilience to cyber threats and disruptions affectingcritical infrastructure

Support regulatory compliance and alignment with security standardsand best practices

Improve data protection through robust security controls and riskmanagement processes

Promote continuous improvement of cybersecurity posture and auditreadiness C2M2 v2.1 assesses cybersecurity capability maturity and iscommonly mapped to NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, withmappings to MITRE ATT&CK for threat-focused insights.Organizations use C2M2 for maturity benchmarking, regulatorycompliance, security governance, and prioritizing operationalsecurity improvements and investment decisions.

Framework in Context

C2M2 v2.1 assessescybersecurity capability maturity and is commonly mapped to NIST CSF,NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, with mappings to MITRE ATT&CKfor threat-focused insights. Organizations use C2M2 for maturitybenchmarking, regulatory compliance, security governance, andprioritizing operational security improvements and investmentdecisions.

Common Framework Mappings

Organizations map C2M2 to complementary frameworks to align maturityassessments with technical controls, regulatory requirements, andthreat models, enabling streamlined audits, risk management, andoperational cybersecurity improvements.

Mapped frameworks include:

CIS Critical Security Controls

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27002

ISO/IEC 27701

MITRE ATT&CK

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-171

NIST SP 800-53