A Purpose-built Software Solution is Essential for NERC Compliance

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards play a critical role in safeguarding the reliability and security of the Bulk Electric System (BES) throughout North America. Compliance with these standards, particularly the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and Operations & Planning (O&P) requirements, demands rigorous management of complex workflows, meticulous evidence collection, and ongoing audit preparedness to prevent penalties and support grid stability.

Utilities face highly individualized compliance landscapes shaped by their regional registrations, functional roles, and additional federal, state, and local obligations. Many also align with multiple cybersecurity frameworks, further intensifying the challenge. Compliance extends beyond mere document tracking; it requires clear accountability, defined responsibilities, risk-based controls, and coordination across diverse organizational structures, policies, personnel, and technology environments.

SharePoint Falls Short as a Standalone Solution for NERC Compliance

While SharePoint is adequate as a general document storage, sharing, and collaboration, it is not designed to handle the specialized demands of NERC compliance. Key limitations include:

• No built-in workflows tailored to NERC-specific processes.
• Insufficient automation for evidence gathering, collection, and management.
• Lack of real-time monitoring, advanced reporting, and continuous audit readiness tools.
• Inability to effectively manage dynamic regulatory changes and multifaceted compliance obligations.
• Limited support for risk-based internal controls and process automation.
• Challenges in creating a non-duplicative, centralized repository tied directly to compliance activities.
• Poor integration with dedicated compliance systems.
• Absence of comprehensive dashboards for visibility into compliance status and risks.
• Inadequate handling of multiple cybersecurity frameworks alongside NERC.
• Difficulty providing a unified view of responsibilities across varied teams and structures.
• Relying primarily on SharePoint exposes organizations to heightened risks of non-compliance, violations, and significant penalties.

Recent NERC Audit Findings Highlight Risks of Relying on SharePoint

Public NERC audit data and reports reveal recurring issues when entities depend heavily on SharePoint for compliance-related storage and management:

• Vulnerability Management and Patching (CIP-007): In 2026, audits continue to scrutinize delays in applying emergency patches, especially following the 2025 “ToolShell” exploit chain that targeted SharePoint zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-53770 and CVE-2025-53771). Entities have faced findings for failing to remediate on-premises SharePoint servers within required timelines.
• Access Control and Permissions (CIP-004): Common citations involve overly permissive access rights, with failures to conduct quarterly user permission reviews on SharePoint sites holding sensitive Bulk Electric System Cyber System Information (BCSI).
• Information Protection (CIP-011): Issues often arise from inadequate labeling, encryption, or access tracking for BCSI in SharePoint, including underutilization of audit logs.
• Evidence and Documentation Challenges: Auditors frequently note administrative inefficiencies when entities submit large volumes of disorganized SharePoint data during audits.
• Retention and Logging Gaps: Default settings (e.g., 180-day log retention in some Microsoft 365 configurations) often fall short of NERC’s longer audit-period requirements.

These patterns underscore that depending on SharePoint libraries and manual tools like Excel trackers increases the likelihood of major findings or fines in upcoming audits. A purpose-built compliance management platform, with immutable audit trails, enforced workflows, and extended retention, is vital for robust, defensible compliance.

A Purpose-Built Compliance Management Platform, Not a Repurposed Collaboration Tool

For effective NERC compliance, organizations must adopt a dedicated compliance management platform such as AssurX ECOS. This purpose-built solution delivers:

• Preconfigured workflows, forms, and dashboards aligned specifically with NERC standards.
• Automation of compliance processes, evidence management, and risk-based internal controls.
• Real-time visibility into compliance posture and enhanced audit readiness.
• Seamless adaptation to evolving regulations.
• Reduced administrative burden on compliance teams and lower non-compliance risks.

AssurX ECOS integrates compliance data organization-wide. It serves as a central hub that coordinates with sources of truth (including existing repositories) while managing sensitive information like BCSI securely and efficiently. It provides the structured oversight and accountability essential for NERC’s multifaceted requirements.

Prioritize a Dedicated Platform for NERC Compliance Success

SharePoint is a general-purpose tool, but it cannot meet the rigorous, specialized needs of NERC compliance. To strengthen programs, reduce risks, and protect critical infrastructure reliability, utilities must implement a dedicated compliance management platform like AssurX ECOS. This investment delivers comprehensive, automated, and auditable compliance management and positions organizations for sustained regulatory success and operational resilience.

Read more by downloading the report “Why SharePoint is Not a Compliance Strategy“.

About the Author

Kathryn Wagner is Vice President, Industry Solutions, Energy & Utilities at AssurX. Kathryn brings more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing systems integration and compliance while being responsible for the development and evolution of product offerings for NERC compliance and related systems that focus on reliability and resilience.