CMMC Ready — CMMC Level 2
85% NIST 800-171 coverage. 2 control gaps identified.
CMMC Status
CMMC Ready
Target Level
Level 2
NIST Coverage
85%
Ping Identity Government
by Ping Identity
Overview
Ping Identity Government by Ping Identity is an identity & access management solution with FedRAMP authorization targeting CMMC Level 2 compliance. It provides 85% coverage of NIST 800-171 controls for defense contractors handling CUI.
What This Means for Defense Contractors
Ping Identity 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 Ping Identity 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 Ping Identity Government without addressing these NIST 800-171 controls may result in findings during a CMMC assessment:
Strengths
Using Ping Identity Government in a CMMC Environment
For defense contractors already using Ping Identity 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 Ping Identity Government's security controls align with your authorization boundary. With 85% NIST 800-171 coverage, Ping Identity Government provides a strong compliance foundation, though the 2 remaining control gaps will need compensating controls or supplementary tools.
CMMC-Ready Identity & Access Management Alternatives
CMMC Compliance Analysis for Ping Identity Government
Ping Identity Government demonstrates strong CMMC Level 2 readiness with FedRAMP authorization providing a solid compliance foundation for defense contractors handling CUI. The solution excels in NIST 800-171 control families 3.5 (Identification and Authentication) and 3.1 (Access Control) through robust multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, and zero-trust architecture implementation. Its audit logging capabilities effectively address 3.3 (Audit and Accountability) requirements, while encryption at rest and in transit supports 3.13 (System and Communications Protection). However, gaps in controls 3.3.8 (audit record protection) and 3.4.1 (configuration management baseline) present assessment risks. During a C3PAO Level 2 assessment, evaluators will scrutinize the solution's ability to protect audit logs from unauthorized access and maintain secure configuration baselines. The FedRAMP authorization enables Ping Identity Government to operate within CMMC authorization boundaries, unlike non-authorized cloud solutions that require boundary exclusion. Compared to competitors like Okta Federal or Microsoft Azure AD Government, Ping Identity Government offers superior zero-trust capabilities and government-specific compliance features. However, SailPoint IdentityIQ may provide better privileged access management for highly regulated environments. The 85% NIST coverage positions it favorably against most identity solutions, but the specific gaps in audit protection and configuration management require careful remediation planning and compensating controls documentation.
Configuration Guide
Configure Ping Identity Government's audit log protection by enabling tamper-evident logging with cryptographic hashing and implementing log forwarding to a SIEM solution with restricted administrative access to address control 3.3.8. For control 3.4.1, establish configuration baselines using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) templates for all Ping Identity components and implement automated configuration drift detection. Document compensating controls in the SSP including network segmentation protecting audit infrastructure and change management procedures governing configuration modifications. Implementation timeline requires 6-8 weeks including 2 weeks for audit log protection configuration, 3 weeks for baseline establishment, and 3 weeks for testing and documentation. Maintain compliance through continuous monitoring using automated configuration scanning tools and monthly audit log integrity verification. Configure Ping's native monitoring capabilities to alert on authentication anomalies and access policy violations. Prepare C3PAO evidence including configuration screenshots, audit log samples demonstrating protection mechanisms, baseline configuration documentation with change tracking, and SIEM integration proof showing protected log forwarding. Document all compensating controls with risk assessments and implementation details. Schedule quarterly reviews of access policies and user provisioning workflows to ensure ongoing compliance alignment.
Configuration Checklist
- 1ISSO: Configure tamper-evident audit logging with cryptographic hashing to address NIST 3.3.8 requirements
- 2Sysadmin: Implement automated log forwarding to centralized SIEM with restricted administrative access controls
- 3ISSO: Establish Infrastructure as Code templates for all Ping Identity Government components per NIST 3.4.1
- 4Sysadmin: Deploy automated configuration drift detection and alerting mechanisms
- 5ISSO: Document compensating controls for gaps 3.3.8 and 3.4.1 in System Security Plan sections AC-2 and AU-9
- 6ISSO: Create POA&M entries for ongoing configuration management process improvements
- 7Sysadmin: Configure native monitoring for authentication anomalies and policy violations
- 8ISSO: Establish quarterly access policy review procedures with change management integration
- 9C3PAO: Validate audit log protection mechanisms and configuration baseline documentation during assessment
- 10ISSO: Maintain evidence repository including configuration screenshots, baseline documentation, and SIEM integration proof
Estimated Compliance Cost
Initial setup and remediation costs range from $75,000-$150,000 including professional services for configuration baseline implementation, SIEM integration, and compensating controls documentation. Annual ongoing costs approximate $25,000-$50,000 covering licensing, configuration management tools, and quarterly compliance reviews. Continuous monitoring expenses add $15,000-$30,000 annually for automated scanning tools, log management infrastructure, and ISSO time allocation. Implementation timeline spans 6-8 weeks requiring dedicated ISSO and system administrator resources. Additional costs may include third-party penetration testing ($10,000-$20,000) and external compliance consulting for SSP development ($15,000-$25,000). Budget considerations should include staff training on Ping Identity Government features and potential integration costs with existing security tools.
Compliance Cross-References
Ping Identity Government's FedRAMP authorization directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for adequate security on contractor information systems, while its government cloud deployment model aligns with DFARS 252.204-7021 cloud computing security requirements. The solution's strong performance in NIST 800-171 control families 3.1 (Access Control) and 3.5 (Identification and Authentication) addresses core CMMC Level 2 assessment domains including Access Control (AC) and Identification and Authentication (IA). However, gaps in controls 3.3.8 (audit record protection) and 3.4.1 (configuration management baseline) impact the Audit and Accountability (AU) and Configuration Management (CM) domains respectively. The FedRAMP authorization provides reciprocal compliance benefits, reducing assessment burden for organizations already operating in FedRAMP environments. Ping Identity Government's encryption capabilities support both DFARS and NIST 800-171 requirements for protecting CUI in transit and at rest. Organizations leveraging this solution can reference the FedRAMP authorization as evidence of baseline security controls while focusing remediation efforts on the specific NIST 800-171 gaps identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ping Identity Government CMMC compliant?
Ping Identity Government meets CMMC Level 2 requirements with 85% NIST 800-171 control coverage.
What NIST 800-171 controls does Ping Identity Government cover?
Ping Identity Government covers 85% of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls, with 2 gaps primarily in 3.3.8 and 3.4.1 control families.
What are the CMMC compliance gaps for Ping Identity Government?
The primary gaps are in controls 3.3.8, 3.4.1. These require supplementary tools or process controls to achieve full CMMC Level 2 compliance.
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