CMMC Ready — CMMC Level 2
80% NIST 800-171 coverage. 2 control gaps identified.
CMMC Status
CMMC Ready
Target Level
Level 2
NIST Coverage
80%
Cohesity Government
by Cohesity
Overview
Cohesity Government by Cohesity is a backup & recovery solution with FedRAMP authorization targeting CMMC Level 2 compliance. It provides 80% coverage of NIST 800-171 controls for defense contractors handling CUI.
What This Means for Defense Contractors
Cohesity Government meets the architectural requirements for CMMC Level 2. However, CMMC compliance depends on your entire system boundary — not just individual tools. There are 2 NIST 800-171 control gaps that need remediation before assessment. Defense contractors using Cohesity 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 Cohesity Government without addressing these NIST 800-171 controls may result in findings during a CMMC assessment:
Strengths
Using Cohesity Government in a CMMC Environment
For defense contractors already using Cohesity Government, the path to CMMC compliance involves documenting the tool in your System Security Plan (SSP), ensuring proper access controls are configured, and validating that Cohesity Government's security controls align with your authorization boundary. With 80% NIST 800-171 coverage, Cohesity Government provides a strong compliance foundation, though the 2 remaining control gaps will need compensating controls or supplementary tools.
CMMC-Ready Backup & Recovery Alternatives
CMMC Compliance Analysis for Cohesity Government
Cohesity Government demonstrates strong CMMC readiness through its FedRAMP Moderate authorization and dedicated government cloud infrastructure. For CUI handling, the platform provides enterprise-grade backup and recovery capabilities within government data centers, ensuring CUI remains within authorized boundaries during backup operations. The solution excels in Access Control (AC), System and Information Integrity (SI), and Audit and Accountability (AU) families through robust RBAC, encryption standards, and comprehensive audit logging. However, gaps in 3.5.1 (identification and authentication organizational users) and 3.5.3 (multifactor authentication) present notable compliance challenges that require compensating controls. During a Level 2 C3PAO assessment, evaluators will scrutinize the authentication mechanisms for administrative access and verify that backup data containing CUI maintains proper access controls throughout the data lifecycle. The platform can exist within a CMMC authorization boundary due to its government-dedicated infrastructure and FedRAMP authorization, unlike commercial backup solutions that would require boundary exclusion. Compared to competitors like Veeam or Rubrik, Cohesity Government's FedRAMP authorization and government-specific deployment model provide superior CMMC alignment, though the identified authentication gaps require more extensive compensating controls than some alternatives that have addressed these requirements natively.
Configuration Guide
Configure Cohesity Government for optimal CMMC compliance by implementing privileged access management integration with government-approved identity providers supporting MFA requirements. Deploy compensating controls including network segmentation to isolate backup traffic, implement time-based access controls for administrative functions, and establish continuous monitoring of authentication events. Document SSP compensating controls for 3.5.1 by detailing integration with Active Directory Federation Services or similar government-approved identity management systems. For 3.5.3 gaps, implement hardware tokens or CAC-based authentication for all administrative access, documenting this as a compensating control in POA&M entries. Timeline estimate: 6-8 weeks for initial configuration including identity integration testing, network segmentation implementation, and policy documentation. Ongoing maintenance requires quarterly access reviews, monthly backup integrity testing with CUI handling verification, and continuous monitoring of authentication logs through SIEM integration. Prepare evidence including configuration screenshots, access control matrices, audit log samples, and compensating control documentation for C3PAO review. Establish automated compliance reporting to demonstrate continuous adherence to backup data protection requirements and maintain audit trail documentation for all CUI backup and recovery operations.
Configuration Checklist
- 1ISSO: Configure integration with government-approved identity provider supporting MFA for administrative access to address control gaps 3.5.1 and 3.5.3
- 2Sysadmin: Implement network segmentation isolating Cohesity backup traffic within dedicated VLAN with documented access controls
- 3ISSO: Document compensating controls in SSP Section 3.5 detailing authentication mechanisms and access control procedures
- 4Sysadmin: Enable comprehensive audit logging for all backup and recovery operations involving CUI data
- 5ISSO: Configure SIEM integration for real-time monitoring of Cohesity authentication events and access violations
- 6Sysadmin: Establish automated backup integrity verification procedures with documented CUI handling protocols
- 7ISSO: Create POA&M entries for identified control gaps with specific remediation timelines and responsible parties
- 8C3PAO: Prepare evidence package including configuration documentation, audit logs, and compensating control implementation proof
- 9ISSO: Implement quarterly access reviews documenting all administrative accounts and privilege assignments
- 10Sysadmin: Configure encryption key management procedures ensuring CUI backup data protection throughout lifecycle
Estimated Compliance Cost
Initial CMMC compliance configuration costs range $45,000-$65,000 including identity integration, compensating control implementation, network segmentation, and documentation development. Annual ongoing costs approximate $18,000-$25,000 covering quarterly access reviews, continuous monitoring tools, and compliance documentation maintenance. Continuous monitoring implementation adds $12,000-$18,000 annually for SIEM integration, automated reporting tools, and dedicated compliance monitoring capabilities. Timeline spans 6-8 weeks for initial remediation, followed by ongoing quarterly compliance validation cycles. Additional costs may include external consulting for SSP documentation ($8,000-$12,000) and C3PAO preparation activities ($5,000-$8,000). Budget for annual third-party penetration testing of backup infrastructure ($15,000-$20,000) and compliance training for backup administrators ($3,000-$5,000 annually).
Compliance Cross-References
Cohesity Government's FedRAMP Moderate authorization directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for adequate security controls protecting CUI in contractor information systems. The government-dedicated infrastructure satisfies DFARS 252.204-7021 cloud computing security requirements by maintaining CUI within approved government facilities. Control gaps 3.5.1 and 3.5.3 impact CMMC Level 2 assessment domains AC.L2-3.5.1 (organizational user identification and authentication) and AC.L2-3.5.3 (multifactor authentication), requiring documented compensating controls and continuous monitoring procedures. The platform's strong coverage in System and Information Integrity (SI) and Audit and Accountability (AU) families supports multiple CMMC domains including SI.L2-3.14.1 through SI.L2-3.14.7 and AU.L2-3.3.1 through AU.L2-3.3.9. FedRAMP authorization provides inherited controls supporting CMMC assessment evidence requirements, particularly for physical and environmental protections. Integration capabilities support NIST 800-171 Incident Response (IR) and Risk Assessment (RA) families through automated monitoring and reporting features, though implementation requires specific configuration for CUI handling workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cohesity Government CMMC compliant?
Cohesity Government meets CMMC Level 2 requirements with 80% NIST 800-171 control coverage.
What NIST 800-171 controls does Cohesity Government cover?
Cohesity Government covers 80% of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls, with 2 gaps primarily in 3.5.1 and 3.5.3 control families.
What are the CMMC compliance gaps for Cohesity Government?
The primary gaps are in controls 3.5.1, 3.5.3. These require supplementary tools or process controls to achieve full CMMC Level 2 compliance.
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