NERC CIP VERSION 7 TEST REAL QUESTIONS + DETAILED ANSWERS -
LATEST VERSION - TOP RATED 2026/2027
# Standard Question Answer
1 CIP-002 What is the purpose of CIP-002 requires
NERC CIP-002? responsible entities to
identify and categorize
BES Cyber Systems and
their associated BES
Cyber Assets to ensure
appropriate protection.
2 CIP-002 What are the three impact High Impact, Medium
categories for BES Cyber Impact, and Low Impact
Systems? BES Cyber Systems.
3 CIP-002 What qualifies a BES BES Cyber Systems
Cyber System as High associated with Control
Impact? Centers that perform the
functional obligations of the
RC, BA, or TOP that
monitor or control at or
above specific thresholds
defined in Attachment 1 of
CIP-002.
4 CIP-002 What is a BES Cyber A Cyber Asset that, if
Asset (BCA)? rendered unavailable,
degraded, or misused,
would adversely impact the
reliable operation of the
BES within 15 minutes of
the compromise.
5 CIP-002 What is a BES Cyber One or more BES Cyber
System (BCS)? Assets logically grouped by
a responsible entity to
perform one or more
,# Standard Question Answer
reliability tasks for a
functional entity.
6 CIP-002 What is the 15-minute rule A Cyber Asset must be
in CIP-002? capable of adversely
impacting BES reliable
operation within 15
minutes if rendered
unavailable, degraded, or
misused to qualify as a
BES Cyber Asset.
7 CIP-002 How often must BES At least once every 15
Cyber System calendar months and
categorizations be within 60 days whenever
reviewed? there is a change that
could impact the
categorization.
8 CIP-002 Who must approve the A CIP Senior Manager or
BES Cyber System their delegate must review
categorization? and approve the
categorization.
9 CIP-002 What is Attachment 1 of Attachment 1 provides the
CIP-002? categorization criteria for
High Impact and Medium
Impact BES Cyber
Systems, based on system
type and operational
thresholds.
10 CIP-002 What is a Protected Cyber A Cyber Asset connected
Asset (PCA)? to a network within an ESP
that is not part of the
highest impact BES Cyber
System in the ESP, but
requires protection.
11 CIP-002 What is an Electronic The logical border
Security Perimeter (ESP)? surrounding a network to
which BES Cyber Systems
,# Standard Question Answer
are connected using a
routable protocol.
12 CIP-002 Can a responsible entity Yes. If a responsible entity
have zero BES Cyber determines it has no BES
Systems? Cyber Assets, it must
document that
determination.
13 CIP-002 What is the difference A BES Cyber Asset is an
between a BES Cyber individual asset; a BES
Asset and a BES Cyber Cyber System is one or
System? more BCAs logically
grouped to perform a
reliability task.
14 CIP-002 What is a Low Impact BES A BCS that does not meet
Cyber System? the criteria for High or
Medium Impact but is used
by and located at assets
identified in Attachment 1.
15 CIP-002 What is a Control Center One or more facilities
as defined in CIP? hosting operating
personnel that monitor and
control the BES in real
time.
16 CIP-003 What is the purpose of CIP-003 requires
CIP-003? responsible entities to
implement consistent and
sustainable security
management controls that
establish responsibility for
protecting BES Cyber
Systems.
17 CIP-003 What must a CIP Senior A CIP Senior Manager
Manager do? must provide direction for
and oversight of CIP
activities, approve the
entity's CIP cybersecurity
, # Standard Question Answer
policies, and may delegate
certain tasks.
18 CIP-003 How often must CIP At least once every 15
cybersecurity policies be calendar months.
reviewed?
19 CIP-003 What areas must be Topics include personnel
addressed in the CIP and training, electronic
cybersecurity policy? security perimeters,
physical security, system
security management,
incident reporting, recovery
plans, and supply chain
risk management.
20 CIP-003 What is required for Low Entities must have
Impact BES Cyber documented policies
Systems under CIP-003? covering cybersecurity
awareness, physical
security controls, electronic
access controls, and
incident response for Low
Impact BCS.
21 CIP-003 What is CIP-003 R2 requires the CIP Senior
Requirement R2? Manager to delegate in
writing when assigning
specific roles and
responsibilities related to
CIP compliance.
22 CIP-003 What is a CIP Exceptional A situation that involves or
Circumstance? threatens risk to human life
or significant risks to the
reliability of the BES that
may justify deviation from
standard CIP procedures.
23 CIP-003 What does EACM stand Electronic Access Control
for? or Monitoring System — a
Cyber Asset that performs
LATEST VERSION - TOP RATED 2026/2027
# Standard Question Answer
1 CIP-002 What is the purpose of CIP-002 requires
NERC CIP-002? responsible entities to
identify and categorize
BES Cyber Systems and
their associated BES
Cyber Assets to ensure
appropriate protection.
2 CIP-002 What are the three impact High Impact, Medium
categories for BES Cyber Impact, and Low Impact
Systems? BES Cyber Systems.
3 CIP-002 What qualifies a BES BES Cyber Systems
Cyber System as High associated with Control
Impact? Centers that perform the
functional obligations of the
RC, BA, or TOP that
monitor or control at or
above specific thresholds
defined in Attachment 1 of
CIP-002.
4 CIP-002 What is a BES Cyber A Cyber Asset that, if
Asset (BCA)? rendered unavailable,
degraded, or misused,
would adversely impact the
reliable operation of the
BES within 15 minutes of
the compromise.
5 CIP-002 What is a BES Cyber One or more BES Cyber
System (BCS)? Assets logically grouped by
a responsible entity to
perform one or more
,# Standard Question Answer
reliability tasks for a
functional entity.
6 CIP-002 What is the 15-minute rule A Cyber Asset must be
in CIP-002? capable of adversely
impacting BES reliable
operation within 15
minutes if rendered
unavailable, degraded, or
misused to qualify as a
BES Cyber Asset.
7 CIP-002 How often must BES At least once every 15
Cyber System calendar months and
categorizations be within 60 days whenever
reviewed? there is a change that
could impact the
categorization.
8 CIP-002 Who must approve the A CIP Senior Manager or
BES Cyber System their delegate must review
categorization? and approve the
categorization.
9 CIP-002 What is Attachment 1 of Attachment 1 provides the
CIP-002? categorization criteria for
High Impact and Medium
Impact BES Cyber
Systems, based on system
type and operational
thresholds.
10 CIP-002 What is a Protected Cyber A Cyber Asset connected
Asset (PCA)? to a network within an ESP
that is not part of the
highest impact BES Cyber
System in the ESP, but
requires protection.
11 CIP-002 What is an Electronic The logical border
Security Perimeter (ESP)? surrounding a network to
which BES Cyber Systems
,# Standard Question Answer
are connected using a
routable protocol.
12 CIP-002 Can a responsible entity Yes. If a responsible entity
have zero BES Cyber determines it has no BES
Systems? Cyber Assets, it must
document that
determination.
13 CIP-002 What is the difference A BES Cyber Asset is an
between a BES Cyber individual asset; a BES
Asset and a BES Cyber Cyber System is one or
System? more BCAs logically
grouped to perform a
reliability task.
14 CIP-002 What is a Low Impact BES A BCS that does not meet
Cyber System? the criteria for High or
Medium Impact but is used
by and located at assets
identified in Attachment 1.
15 CIP-002 What is a Control Center One or more facilities
as defined in CIP? hosting operating
personnel that monitor and
control the BES in real
time.
16 CIP-003 What is the purpose of CIP-003 requires
CIP-003? responsible entities to
implement consistent and
sustainable security
management controls that
establish responsibility for
protecting BES Cyber
Systems.
17 CIP-003 What must a CIP Senior A CIP Senior Manager
Manager do? must provide direction for
and oversight of CIP
activities, approve the
entity's CIP cybersecurity
, # Standard Question Answer
policies, and may delegate
certain tasks.
18 CIP-003 How often must CIP At least once every 15
cybersecurity policies be calendar months.
reviewed?
19 CIP-003 What areas must be Topics include personnel
addressed in the CIP and training, electronic
cybersecurity policy? security perimeters,
physical security, system
security management,
incident reporting, recovery
plans, and supply chain
risk management.
20 CIP-003 What is required for Low Entities must have
Impact BES Cyber documented policies
Systems under CIP-003? covering cybersecurity
awareness, physical
security controls, electronic
access controls, and
incident response for Low
Impact BCS.
21 CIP-003 What is CIP-003 R2 requires the CIP Senior
Requirement R2? Manager to delegate in
writing when assigning
specific roles and
responsibilities related to
CIP compliance.
22 CIP-003 What is a CIP Exceptional A situation that involves or
Circumstance? threatens risk to human life
or significant risks to the
reliability of the BES that
may justify deviation from
standard CIP procedures.
23 CIP-003 What does EACM stand Electronic Access Control
for? or Monitoring System — a
Cyber Asset that performs
