March 3, 2026
Big changes are here for the NERC CIP world!
If you’ve been working with the Evidence Request Tool (ERT), it’s time to update your bookmarks: Version 10 has officially dropped!
What are the Updated Changes to NERC CIP ERT V10
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has released Version 10 (v10) of the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Evidence Request Tool (ERT). This updated version incorporates changes related to several revised CIP standards and tool improvements. These changes are crucial for entities preparing for compliance audits, as the tool is used by auditors to request evidence.
I’ve been digging through the change notes, and here is a quick breakdown of what you need to know to stay audit-ready:
- New Standard Versions are Live: v10 now includes evidence requests for a whole suite of updated standards (CIP-002-7, CIP-003-10, CIP-004-8, CIP-005-8, CIP-006-7, CIP-007-7, CIP-008-7, CIP-009-7, CIP-010-5, CIP-011-4, and CIP-013-3), bringing the tool in line with the latest Reliability Standards.
- Cleaner Data: Validation fields have moved to a consistent TRUE/FALSE format across almost every worksheet, from BES Assets to Procurement.
- Precision for Sample Sets: Level 2 requests now separate “Index” and “Date” columns, making it much clearer to track exactly what (and when) you’re reporting.
- A Better Roadmap: The User Guide got a major overhaul. It’s much more specific about what evidence is expected and uses new formatting to show exact values from the tool’s drop-downs.
How AssurX Can Help
While the transition to NERC CIP ERT v10 introduces more structured documentation requirements, it also increases the administrative burden of hunting for and formatting evidence. AssurX simplifies this process by providing a centralized AssurX Energy Compliance System (ECOS) that automatically transposes raw compliance data into the exact format required by the Evidence Request Tool (ERT). By linking workflows for asset management, patch management, access control, and change management directly to NERC requirements, AssurX allows users to generate audit-ready evidence packages – transforming what used to be a days-long preparation into a matter of hours.
Why The NERC CIP ERT V10 Updates Matter
The bottom line: The tool is getting more granular, especially around network topology and physical access connectivity. If you’re in the compliance space, it’s definitely worth a deep dive into the new User Guide before your next submission.
To learn more about these changes, go to the NERC website, NERC Resources page.
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.
