Primary references
Use the original standards below to check terminology and requirements. These references explain the standards; they do not endorse CISGuard or independently verify its product coverage.
All frameworks
TISAX AL2 / AL3 Automation
TISAX Assessment Level 2,evidenced continuously.
CISGuard automates the technical Annex A controls that TISAX assessors validate, generating the continuous evidence VDA ISA requires for AL2 and AL3 certification.
Germany / European AutomotiveAutomotive (OEMs, Tier-1, Tier-2 suppliers)
- Source standard
- VDA ISA: Information Security Assessment
- Underlying framework
- ISO/IEC 27001 ISMS
- Assessment levels
- AL1 (self) / AL2 (remote) / AL3 (on-site)
- OEM requirement
- AL2 standard; AL3 for high-confidentiality data
- Assessment cycle
- Every 3 years; surveillance review annually
Overview
What is TISAX?
TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) is the German automotive industry's shared assessment framework, governed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and operated by ENX Association. TISAX assessments validate information security maturity using the VDA ISA (Information Security Assessment) questionnaire, which derives from ISO 27001 ISMS. Assessment Levels are AL1 (self-assessment), AL2 (remote audit with evidence review), and AL3 (on-site audit for high-confidentiality data). OEMs (Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Bosch) require TISAX certification (typically AL2) from their Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers. Failure to achieve TISAX threatens contract renewal.
How CISGuard automates TISAX evidence
TISAX assessors validate the VDA ISA questionnaire against evidence of operating ISO 27001 ISMS controls. The technical controls in Sections 6-9 are configuration-based and most often the source of audit non-conformities. CISGuard automates these through continuous CIS benchmark scanning and provides the operational evidence assessors expect for AL2 and AL3 assessments. CISGuard supports remediation programs that move TISAX findings to zero ahead of OEM-mandated AL2 deadlines.
Configuration evidence supports an assessment; it does not by itself establish certification, authorization or full compliance. Review coverage boundaries and evaluation evidence.
Control mapping
VDA ISA controls CISGuard automates.
Each CIS control is tagged with its framework reference. One scan produces the per-framework coverage report, with satisfied, partially satisfied and not-met status for every control.
| Control area | Controls | Mapped by |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Information Security Policies (ISO A.5) | A.5.10, A.5.15, A.5.16, A.5.17 | CIS access control + asset management benchmarks |
| Section 6: System and Application Security (ISO A.8) | A.8.2, A.8.5, A.8.7, A.8.8, A.8.9, A.8.20 | Full CIS benchmark scanning + drift detection |
| Section 7: Cryptography (ISO A.8.24) | A.8.24 | CIS Cryptography benchmarks |
| Section 8: Operations (ISO A.8.15, A.8.16) | A.8.15, A.8.16, A.8.28 | CIS Audit Policy + Logging benchmarks |
| Section 9: Communications Security (ISO A.8.20) | A.8.20, A.8.21 | CIS Network Security benchmarks |
Auditor evidence
Evidence artifacts CISGuard generates.
Auditor-grade outputs in PDF, HTML, JSON, CSV and SARIF. No spreadsheets, no screenshots, no manual cross-referencing.
- TISAX Framework Coverage Report mapping CIS controls to VDA ISA questionnaire sections
- ISO 27001 Annex A control satisfaction evidence (the underlying framework)
- Continuous monitoring posture across all manufacturing facility endpoints
- Per-site multi-tenant dashboards (Munich, Stuttgart, Bavaria, Saxony, etc.)
- German-language executive reports for VDA submission
- Exception register for documented manufacturing-system deviations
Frequently asked
TISAX questions, answered directly.
How does CISGuard help achieve TISAX Assessment Level 2 (AL2)?
AL2 requires evidence of operating ISO 27001 ISMS controls reviewed remotely by an assessor. CISGuard automates the technical Annex A controls in VDA ISA Sections 6-9 and provides the continuous evidence assessors validate. CISGuard supports remediation sprints toward AL2 readiness inside OEM-mandated windows.
Does CISGuard support TISAX AL3 (high-confidentiality)?
Yes. AL3 adds on-site audit and stricter evidence requirements for high-confidentiality data (e.g., prototype vehicle designs, IP). CISGuard's air-gapped deployment option supports AL3 environments where development networks are isolated. The evidence depth (per-asset hardening with timestamps) exceeds AL3 documentation requirements.
Can CISGuard be deployed across multiple manufacturing sites with isolated networks?
Yes. Multi-site deployment uses a central server with regional relay agents for sites with limited WAN bandwidth or air-gapped requirements. Each facility's scan data can be isolated for jurisdictional purposes, while the group CISO retains a consolidated dashboard. Per-facility dashboards support plant-manager scoping.
Does CISGuard produce German-language reports for VDA?
CISGuard's primary report language is English (the operational language of most TISAX assessors). For executive-level VDA submissions requiring German, customers typically use CSV exports as source data for German-language summaries. The technical evidence (control IDs, configurations) is accepted in English.
Will my contracted OEM accept CISGuard evidence for TISAX surveillance audits?
That is the assessor's decision. TISAX surveillance reviews (between full 3-year assessments) increasingly require continuous evidence rather than annual snapshots. CISGuard's posture trend across the audit period satisfies this. OEMs validate compliance through the ENX TISAX exchange portal; CISGuard evidence enters as part of the supplier's ISMS documentation.
TISAX readiness, on request.
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