C2M2 v2.1 — Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model

Why it Matters

C2M2 v2.1 provides a structured approach for organizations to assess and advance their cybersecurity maturity across critical operational domains.

Key benefits include:

• Strengthen cybersecurity governance

Establish consistent practices for oversight and accountability across operational areas, improving decision-making at all organizational levels.

• Improve risk management effectiveness

Support identification and prioritization of cybersecurity risks, enabling targeted risk reduction initiatives and better resource allocation.

• Enhance supply chain security

Address third-party risks by assessing and improving vendor and supply chain cybersecurity practices aligned with industry benchmarks.

• Support regulatory and audit readiness

Align internal controls with industry standards, simplifying compliance efforts and preparing organizations for regulatory reviews or audits.

• Promote continuous improvement

Facilitate regular self-assessments and benchmarking, ensuring ongoing advancement and adaptation of cybersecurity capabilities over time.

How it Works

C2M2 v2.1 structures cybersecurity into capability domains and maturity indicator levels that collectively form a maturity model for energy and utilities organizations. The framework outlines domain-specific practices and objectives, aligns those practices with risk management processes, and maps security controls and governance activities to progressively higher maturity tiers.

Organizations apply C2M2 v2.1 by conducting baseline assessments, scoring maturity across domains, and performing gap analyses to prioritize security controls and remediation. Teams integrate results into governance and compliance programs, use the model to guide resource allocation and continuous monitoring, and tie improvements to incident response and regulatory reporting to strengthen overall security practices.

Within SmartSuite, C2M2 v2.1 is operationalized by importing control libraries, maintaining a centralized risk register, and governing policies against maturity targets. SmartSuite supports evidence collection, compliance tracking, and automated remediation workflows, while dashboards and audit-ready reports enable continuous monitoring, executive oversight, and measurable progress toward higher maturity levels.

Key Elements

• Domain Structure

Organizes cybersecurity activities into distinct operational domains such as asset management, risk assessment, and supply chain.

• Maturity Indicator Levels

Defines progressive capability stages for each domain, describing activities from foundational to advanced maturity.

• Assessment Objectives

Specifies clear criteria for evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of cybersecurity practices within each domain.

• Management Practices

Describes structured security practices that guide the establishment and improvement of cybersecurity processes.

• Enterprise Risk Alignment

Establishes a linkage between cybersecurity maturity and broader organizational risk management frameworks.

• Self-Assessment Tools

Provides formal tools for structured evaluation and benchmarking of cybersecurity capabilities 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 technical environments such as information systems, operational technology, and supply chains. It is typically implemented when improving cybersecurity maturity, managing risk exposure, and supporting assurance programs for critical operations.

Framework Objectives

C2M2 v2.1 provides a structured approach for organizations to evaluate and enhance their cybersecurity maturity and risk management capabilities.

Enable organizations to identify and address cybersecurity strengths and gaps

Strengthen governance and oversight of cybersecurity practices across key operational domains

Enhance resilience to cyber threats and disruptions affecting critical infrastructure

Support regulatory compliance and alignment with security standards and best practices

Improve data protection through security controls and risk management processes

Promote continuous improvement of cybersecurity posture and audit readiness C2M2 v2.1 assesses cybersecurity capability maturity and is commonly mapped to NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, with mappings to MITRE ATT&CK for threat-focused insights. Organizations use C2M2 for maturity benchmarking, regulatory compliance, security governance, and prioritizing operational security improvements and investment decisions.

Framework in Context

C2M2 v2.1 assesses cybersecurity capability maturity and is commonly mapped to NIST CSF,NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, with mappings to MITRE ATT&CK for threat-focused insights. Organizations use C2M2 for maturity benchmarking, regulatory compliance, security governance, and prioritizing operational security improvements and investment decisions.

Common Framework Mappings

Organizations map C2M2 to complementary frameworks to align maturity assessments with technical controls, regulatory requirements, and threat models, enabling simpler audits, risk management, and operational 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