Partially Ready — CMMC Level 2
70% NIST 800-171 coverage. 4 control gaps identified.
CMMC Status
Partially Ready
Target Level
Level 2
NIST Coverage
70%
Abnormal Security Government
by Abnormal Security
Overview
Abnormal Security Government by Abnormal Security is an email & messaging solution pursuing FedRAMP authorization targeting CMMC Level 2 compliance. It provides 70% coverage of NIST 800-171 controls for defense contractors handling CUI.
What This Means for Defense Contractors
Abnormal Security Government meets the architectural requirements for CMMC Level 2. However, CMMC compliance depends on your entire system boundary — not just individual tools. There are 4 NIST 800-171 control gaps that need remediation before assessment. Defense contractors using Abnormal Security Government should verify that their System Security Plan (SSP) documents how this tool fits within their authorization boundary.
NIST 800-171 Coverage
Control Gaps
Using Abnormal Security Government without addressing these NIST 800-171 controls may result in findings during a CMMC assessment:
Strengths
Using Abnormal Security Government in a CMMC Environment
Defense contractors using Abnormal Security Government should be aware that its 70% NIST 800-171 coverage leaves 30% of controls unaddressed. While Abnormal Security Government can be part of your CMMC environment, you will need compensating controls and supplementary tools to close the 4 identified gaps before a C3PAO assessment. Document all compensating controls in your POA&M and ensure your SSP accurately reflects the shared responsibility model.
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CMMC Compliance Analysis for Abnormal Security Government
Abnormal Security Government demonstrates strong foundational security for email protection in CMMC environments, particularly excelling in Access Control (AC) and System and Communications Protection (SC) control families through its role-based access controls and STIG-hardened configurations. The platform's dedicated government data centers and pursuit of FedRAMP authorization indicate serious commitment to federal compliance requirements. However, critical gaps in Audit and Accountability (3.1.20), Awareness and Training (3.3.1), Configuration Management (3.3.8), and Identification and Authentication (3.4.1) present significant challenges for C3PAO assessment. During a Level 2 assessment, evaluators will scrutinize how the platform handles CUI within email workflows, particularly focusing on user activity monitoring, security awareness integration, baseline configuration management, and multifactor authentication implementation. The tool can potentially exist within a CMMC authorization boundary if properly configured and gaps are remediated through compensating controls. Compared to competitors like Microsoft 365 GCC High or Proofpoint Government Solutions, Abnormal Security Government offers advanced AI-driven threat detection but lacks the mature compliance posture of established FedRAMP High solutions. The 70% NIST coverage is respectable but insufficient for full CMMC Level 2 compliance without additional security controls and documentation.
Remediation Plan
Immediate remediation should focus on implementing comprehensive audit logging capabilities to address 3.1.20, ensuring all email security events, user actions, and administrative changes are captured and retained according to NIST requirements. For 3.3.1, establish formal security awareness training integration with email security policies, creating user education modules specific to phishing prevention and CUI handling. Address 3.3.8 by documenting baseline configurations for all Abnormal Security Government components, implementing configuration change control procedures, and establishing automated configuration monitoring. Remediate 3.4.1 through mandatory multifactor authentication for all user accounts and privileged access functions. Deploy compensating controls including enhanced monitoring through SIEM integration, documented security procedures in the System Security Plan, and regular compliance validation processes. Timeline estimate: 8-12 weeks for technical implementation, 4-6 weeks for documentation and testing. Establish continuous monitoring through quarterly configuration reviews, monthly audit log analysis, and semi-annual security awareness assessments. Prepare evidence packages including configuration screenshots, audit logs, training records, and policy documentation for C3PAO review. Maintain compliance through automated compliance scanning and regular internal assessments.
Remediation Checklist
- 1ISSO to configure comprehensive audit logging for all email security events to satisfy NIST 3.1.20 requirements
- 2Security team to implement SIEM integration for centralized audit log collection and monitoring
- 3ISSO to develop and document baseline configurations for all Abnormal Security Government components per 3.3.8
- 4System administrator to enforce mandatory multifactor authentication across all user accounts addressing 3.4.1
- 5Training coordinator to establish security awareness program integration with email security policies for 3.3.1
- 6ISSO to document compensating controls in SSP sections AC-2, AU-12, CM-6, and IA-2
- 7C3PAO liaison to prepare evidence packages including configuration screenshots and audit logs
- 8System administrator to implement automated configuration monitoring and change detection
- 9ISSO to establish quarterly compliance review procedures and continuous monitoring processes
- 10Contracts team to verify FedRAMP authorization status and update vendor risk assessments
Estimated Compliance Cost
Initial remediation costs range from $75,000-$125,000, including professional services for gap closure implementation, SIEM integration, audit logging configuration, and comprehensive documentation development. Additional licensing for enhanced monitoring and compliance features may add $15,000-$25,000 annually. Ongoing compliance maintenance costs approximately $35,000-$50,000 per year, covering continuous monitoring tools, quarterly compliance assessments, security awareness training updates, and policy maintenance. Professional C3PAO preparation services typically cost $20,000-$35,000 for evidence package development and mock assessments. Implementation timeline spans 12-16 weeks total, with technical remediation requiring 8-12 weeks and documentation preparation needing 4-6 weeks. Consider additional costs for backup email security solutions during transition periods and potential integration expenses with existing security infrastructure.
Compliance Cross-References
DFARS 252.204-7012 requires adequate security measures for covered defense information, which Abnormal Security Government's current gaps in 3.1.20 (audit events) and 3.4.1 (identifier management) directly compromise. DFARS 252.204-7021 mandates NIST 800-171 compliance, making the four identified control gaps potential contract compliance violations. The missing controls span critical CMMC assessment domains: Audit and Accountability (AU), Configuration Management (CM), Identification and Authentication (IA), and Security Awareness and Training (AT). Non-compliance creates cascading findings across CMMC Level 2 practices, particularly affecting AU.L2-3.1.20, CM.L2-3.4.8, IA.L2-3.5.3, and AT.L2-3.2.1. FedRAMP authorization pursuit indicates understanding of federal requirements, but current partial compliance status means the solution cannot fully satisfy CMMC Level 2 without remediation. Email systems processing CUI require complete NIST 800-171 implementation, making these gaps critical blockers for CMMC certification and potential sources of findings during C3PAO assessment across multiple assessment objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abnormal Security Government CMMC compliant?
Abnormal Security Government partially meets CMMC requirements with 70% coverage. 4 control gaps need remediation.
What NIST 800-171 controls does Abnormal Security Government cover?
Abnormal Security Government covers 70% of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls, with 4 gaps primarily in 3.1.20 and 3.3.1 control families.
What are the CMMC compliance gaps for Abnormal Security Government?
The primary gaps are in controls 3.1.20, 3.3.1, 3.3.8, 3.4.1. These require supplementary tools or process controls to achieve full CMMC Level 2 compliance.
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