CMMC Ready — CMMC Level 2
87% NIST 800-171 coverage. 2 control gaps identified.
CMMC Status
CMMC Ready
Target Level
Level 2
NIST Coverage
87%
Qualys Government
by Qualys
Overview
Qualys Government by Qualys is a cybersecurity solution with FedRAMP authorization targeting CMMC Level 2 compliance. It provides 87% coverage of NIST 800-171 controls for defense contractors handling CUI.
What This Means for Defense Contractors
Qualys 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 Qualys 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 Qualys Government without addressing these NIST 800-171 controls may result in findings during a CMMC assessment:
Strengths
Using Qualys Government in a CMMC Environment
For defense contractors already using Qualys 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 Qualys Government's security controls align with your authorization boundary. With 87% NIST 800-171 coverage, Qualys Government provides a strong compliance foundation, though the 2 remaining control gaps will need compensating controls or supplementary tools.
CMMC-Ready Cybersecurity Alternatives
CMMC Compliance Analysis for Qualys Government
Qualys Government demonstrates strong CMMC Level 2 readiness with its FedRAMP High authorization and dedicated government infrastructure. The platform excels in vulnerability management (3.11.x controls), system monitoring (3.3.x controls), and configuration management (3.4.x controls) through automated scanning, STIG compliance validation, and continuous monitoring capabilities. Its DoD SRG IL4/IL5 support directly addresses CUI protection requirements by ensuring government-controlled data centers and enhanced security controls. However, critical gaps exist in Access Control (3.1.5 - session lock enforcement) and Identification and Authentication (3.1.12 - session termination), which require compensating controls or third-party integration. During a C3PAO assessment, evaluators will scrutinize Qualys Government's role in the authorization boundary, particularly its cloud-based architecture and data flows. The platform can exist within the CMMC boundary as it processes vulnerability data that may reveal CUI system configurations. Compared to competitors like Tenable.sc or Rapid7 InsightVM, Qualys Government's FedRAMP authorization and dedicated government cloud provide superior compliance posture for defense contractors. C3PAO assessors will appreciate the automated compliance reporting features that generate evidence for multiple NIST controls simultaneously. The platform's strength lies in its ability to demonstrate continuous monitoring (3.3.7) and vulnerability remediation (3.11.1-3.11.3), critical for CMMC Level 2 evidence requirements. Integration with existing Active Directory environments supports identity management controls, though additional tools are needed for complete 3.1.x coverage.
Configuration Guide
Configure Qualys Government for optimal CMMC compliance by implementing dedicated CUI scanning policies that exclude sensitive data from vulnerability reports while maintaining security visibility. Enable role-based access controls (RBAC) to ensure only authorized personnel access vulnerability data related to CUI systems, documenting these controls in SSP Section 3.1.2. Configure automated compliance dashboards to generate monthly NIST 800-171 compliance reports for C3PAO evidence collection. For gaps 3.1.5 and 3.1.12, implement compensating controls through integration with endpoint management tools like Microsoft SCCM or Group Policy for session management, documenting these as inherited controls in the SSP. Establish scanning schedules that align with CMMC continuous monitoring requirements (quarterly authenticated scans for CUI systems, monthly for supporting infrastructure). Configure alert thresholds for critical vulnerabilities affecting CUI systems with escalation procedures documented in incident response plans. Timeline estimate: 6-8 weeks for initial configuration and integration, 2-4 weeks for SSP documentation updates. Maintain compliance through weekly vulnerability trending reports, monthly control effectiveness reviews, and quarterly compliance posture assessments. Prepare evidence packages including scan reports, remediation tracking spreadsheets, and configuration screenshots for C3PAO review. Document all scanning exclusions and their security justifications in the Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
Configuration Checklist
- 1ISSO configures dedicated CUI system scanning policies excluding sensitive data collection per NIST 800-171 3.4.2 requirements
- 2Sysadmin integrates Qualys Government with Active Directory for centralized authentication supporting SSP Section 3.5.1
- 3ISSO documents role-based access controls in SSP Section 3.1.1 limiting vulnerability data access to authorized personnel only
- 4ISSO establishes compensating controls for 3.1.5 session lock through Group Policy integration, documenting in POA&M
- 5Sysadmin configures automated scanning schedules (quarterly authenticated, monthly unauthenticated) per CMMC continuous monitoring
- 6ISSO creates monthly NIST 800-171 compliance dashboard for C3PAO evidence collection supporting 3.3.7 requirements
- 7Contracts team validates FedRAMP authorization inheritance in SSP Section 10.1 for cloud service provider controls
- 8ISSO implements vulnerability remediation tracking workflow supporting NIST 3.11.1 and 3.11.2 control evidence
- 9C3PAO preparation includes scanning exclusion documentation and security justification in SSP Appendix
- 10ISSO schedules quarterly compliance posture reviews with automated report generation for continuous CMMC readiness
Estimated Compliance Cost
Initial implementation costs range from $25,000-$40,000, including professional services for CMMC-specific configuration, integration with existing Active Directory, and SSP documentation updates. Annual ongoing costs include Qualys Government licensing ($15,000-$30,000 depending on asset count), quarterly compliance assessments ($8,000-$12,000), and dedicated security analyst time (0.25 FTE, approximately $25,000 annually). Continuous monitoring costs include monthly vulnerability trending analysis ($2,000-$3,000) and quarterly control effectiveness reviews ($5,000-$8,000). Timeline for ROI typically 12-18 months through reduced manual compliance efforts and streamlined C3PAO assessment preparation. Additional costs may include compensating controls implementation for gaps 3.1.5 and 3.1.12 ($10,000-$20,000).
Compliance Cross-References
Qualys Government directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements through continuous vulnerability monitoring and remediation tracking of contractor information systems. The platform's FedRAMP High authorization aligns with DFARS 252.204-7021 cloud security requirements, providing approved cloud service provider status for CUI processing. For NIST 800-171 compliance, Qualys Government addresses multiple control families including System and Information Integrity (3.14.x) through vulnerability scanning, Configuration Management (3.4.x) through baseline compliance monitoring, and Risk Assessment (3.11.x) through automated vulnerability analysis. The identified gaps in Access Control (3.1.5) and Identification and Authentication (3.1.12) require integration with identity management systems or documented compensating controls. CMMC Level 2 assessment domains benefit from Qualys Government's automated evidence collection for Situational Awareness (SA) and Asset Management (AM) domains. The platform's audit logging capabilities support the Audit and Accountability (AU) domain requirements. FedRAMP inheritance allows defense contractors to leverage pre-approved security controls, reducing SSP documentation burden and C3PAO assessment scope for cloud-related controls, particularly in the System and Communications Protection family.
Related Compliance Assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qualys Government CMMC compliant?
Qualys Government meets CMMC Level 2 requirements with 87% NIST 800-171 control coverage.
What NIST 800-171 controls does Qualys Government cover?
Qualys Government covers 87% of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls, with 2 gaps primarily in 3.1.5 and 3.1.12 control families.
What are the CMMC compliance gaps for Qualys Government?
The primary gaps are in controls 3.1.5, 3.1.12. These require supplementary tools or process controls to achieve full CMMC Level 2 compliance.
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