Partially Ready — CMMC Level 2
75% NIST 800-171 coverage. 4 control gaps identified.
CMMC Status
Partially Ready
Target Level
Level 2
NIST Coverage
75%
Arista Networks Government
by Arista Networks
Overview
Arista Networks Government by Arista Networks is a network security solution pursuing FedRAMP authorization targeting CMMC Level 2 compliance. It provides 75% coverage of NIST 800-171 controls for defense contractors handling CUI.
What This Means for Defense Contractors
Arista Networks 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 Arista Networks 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 Arista Networks Government without addressing these NIST 800-171 controls may result in findings during a CMMC assessment:
Strengths
Using Arista Networks Government in a CMMC Environment
Defense contractors using Arista Networks Government should be aware that its 75% NIST 800-171 coverage leaves 25% of controls unaddressed. While Arista Networks 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.
Need a Compliant Alternative?
Arista Networks Government doesn't meet CMMC Level 2. Get real-time alerts when compliant alternatives become available, plus AI-matched contract opportunities for your NAICS codes.
CMMC-Ready Network Security Alternatives
CMMC Compliance Analysis for Arista Networks Government
Arista Networks Government demonstrates strong capabilities for network infrastructure within CMMC environments, particularly excelling in continuous monitoring (AC-6, SI-4) and network segmentation (SC-7) that directly support CUI protection in defense contractor networks. The solution's automated compliance reporting strengthens assessment preparation by providing audit trails for network traffic and access controls. However, critical gaps in 3.5.7 (privileged access management), 3.8.1 (audit log protection), 3.8.3 (audit review), and 3.10.1 (malicious code protection) significantly impact CMMC Level 2 readiness. A C3PAO assessor would evaluate Arista's network segmentation capabilities positively, as proper isolation of CUI processing systems is fundamental to CMMC compliance. The solution can operate within a CMMC authorization boundary when properly configured, but the identified gaps require immediate remediation. Compared to competitors like Cisco ISE or Palo Alto Networks, Arista Networks Government offers superior network visibility and segmentation but lags in integrated privileged access management and comprehensive audit capabilities. The FedRAMP authorization pursuit indicates enterprise-grade security controls, but defense contractors cannot rely solely on FedRAMP compliance for CMMC requirements. The 75% NIST coverage is insufficient for Level 2 certification, as CMMC requires 100% implementation of applicable controls. Defense contractors using Arista Networks Government must implement compensating controls or additional solutions to address the four control gaps, particularly around audit log protection and privileged user management, which are frequent C3PAO focus areas during assessments.
Remediation Plan
Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4): Address 3.5.7 by implementing privileged access management integration with existing identity providers, configuring role-based access controls within Arista EOS, and documenting privileged user workflows in the SSP. Phase 2 (Weeks 3-6): Remediate 3.8.1 by enabling secure audit log storage with encryption, implementing log integrity protection mechanisms, and establishing centralized SIEM integration for tamper-evident logging. Phase 3 (Weeks 5-8): Close 3.8.3 gap through automated audit review procedures, configuring alerting for security events, and establishing regular audit analysis workflows with documented reviewer assignments. Phase 4 (Weeks 6-10): Address 3.10.1 by integrating malware detection capabilities, implementing network-based threat detection, and establishing coordinated incident response procedures. Compensating controls documentation should include network segmentation as defense-in-depth for malware containment, continuous monitoring for privilege escalation detection, and automated compliance reporting for audit oversight. Maintain compliance through quarterly configuration reviews, monthly privileged access audits, and continuous log monitoring. Prepare evidence including configuration baselines, audit log samples, privileged access matrices, threat detection reports, and SSP updates documenting all compensating controls. Establish POA&M entries for each gap with specific milestones and responsible parties to demonstrate remediation progress during C3PAO assessment.
Remediation Checklist
- 1ISSO must conduct gap analysis mapping Arista Networks Government capabilities to NIST 800-171 controls 3.5.7, 3.8.1, 3.8.3, and 3.10.1
- 2Sysadmin shall configure privileged access management integration with Arista EOS and document in SSP Section 2.3
- 3ISSO must implement secure audit log storage with encryption and integrity protection mechanisms for control 3.8.1
- 4Sysadmin shall establish centralized SIEM integration and configure automated audit review procedures for control 3.8.3
- 5ISSO must integrate network-based malware detection capabilities and establish threat response workflows for control 3.10.1
- 6Contracts team shall verify FedRAMP authorization status and ensure contract language addresses CMMC Level 2 requirements
- 7ISSO must update SSP documenting all compensating controls and network segmentation implementation
- 8Sysadmin shall establish continuous monitoring baselines and quarterly configuration review procedures
- 9C3PAO must validate remediation evidence including audit logs, privileged access matrices, and threat detection reports
- 10ISSO must create POA&M entries for each control gap with specific milestones and remediation timelines
Estimated Compliance Cost
Initial remediation costs range from $75,000-$125,000 including privileged access management integration, SIEM deployment, audit automation tools, and security consulting for gap analysis. Annual ongoing costs approximate $35,000-$50,000 for licensing additional security modules, compliance monitoring tools, and quarterly security assessments. Continuous monitoring implementation requires $15,000-$25,000 annually for automated compliance reporting, audit log management, and security event correlation. Implementation timeline spans 10-12 weeks with parallel workstreams for different control families. Additional costs may include staff training ($5,000-$8,000), C3PAO pre-assessment activities ($15,000-$25,000), and potential infrastructure upgrades for enhanced logging capabilities. Organizations should budget for ongoing maintenance and annual compliance validation activities to maintain CMMC certification once achieved.
Compliance Cross-References
Arista Networks Government's partial compliance creates cascading impacts across DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for adequate security on covered contractor information systems. The 3.5.7 privileged access gap directly violates DFARS mandated access controls, while 3.8.1 and 3.8.3 audit deficiencies compromise required system monitoring capabilities. DFARS 252.204-7021 cyber incident reporting becomes problematic without proper audit capabilities (3.8.1, 3.8.3) and malware protection (3.10.1). Within NIST 800-171 control families, the AC (Access Control) family shows strong performance through network segmentation, but IA (Identification and Authentication) gaps in 3.5.7 create assessment risks. The AU (Audit and Accountability) family demonstrates significant weaknesses in controls 3.8.1 and 3.8.3, requiring immediate attention. CMMC Level 2 assessment domains most affected include Access Control (AC.L2) and Audit and Accountability (AU.L2), where partial implementation cannot achieve certification. The pursuit of FedRAMP authorization indicates alignment with federal security requirements, but FedRAMP controls don't directly map to NIST 800-171, creating compliance gaps. Defense contractors must address these gaps independently of FedRAMP status to achieve CMMC Level 2 certification and maintain DFARS compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arista Networks Government CMMC compliant?
Arista Networks Government partially meets CMMC requirements with 75% coverage. 4 control gaps need remediation.
What NIST 800-171 controls does Arista Networks Government cover?
Arista Networks Government covers 75% of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls, with 4 gaps primarily in 3.5.7 and 3.8.1 control families.
What are the CMMC compliance gaps for Arista Networks Government?
The primary gaps are in controls 3.5.7, 3.8.1, 3.8.3, 3.10.1. These require supplementary tools or process controls to achieve full CMMC Level 2 compliance.
Check Your Full Tech Stack
See CMMC readiness scores for 80+ enterprise vendors.
Open CMMC Readiness CheckTrack Arista Networks Government CMMC readiness updates with AI-powered intelligence
Signals matches SAM.gov opportunities to your profile, monitors regulatory changes, and alerts you before competitors. Free for 90 days.
Start Free — 90 Days