CMMC Ready — CMMC Level 2
89% NIST 800-171 coverage. 2 control gaps identified.
CMMC Status
CMMC Ready
Target Level
Level 2
NIST Coverage
89%
Tanium Government
by Tanium
Overview
Tanium Government by Tanium is an endpoint security solution with FedRAMP authorization targeting CMMC Level 2 compliance. It provides 89% coverage of NIST 800-171 controls for defense contractors handling CUI.
What This Means for Defense Contractors
Tanium 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 Tanium 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 Tanium Government without addressing these NIST 800-171 controls may result in findings during a CMMC assessment:
Strengths
Using Tanium Government in a CMMC Environment
For defense contractors already using Tanium 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 Tanium Government's security controls align with your authorization boundary. With 89% NIST 800-171 coverage, Tanium Government provides a strong compliance foundation, though the 2 remaining control gaps will need compensating controls or supplementary tools.
CMMC-Ready Endpoint Security Alternatives
CMMC Compliance Analysis for Tanium Government
Tanium Government demonstrates strong CMMC Level 2 readiness with its FedRAMP High authorization and dedicated government cloud infrastructure. For CUI handling, the platform excels in monitoring endpoint activities involving sensitive documents through its real-time visibility capabilities, ensuring controlled unclassified information remains within authorized boundaries. Tanium Government particularly excels in NIST 800-171 control families 3.1 (Access Control), 3.3 (Audit and Accountability), and 3.4 (Configuration Management) through its comprehensive endpoint visibility, RBAC implementation, and STIG-hardened baseline configurations. However, gaps in controls 3.5.7 (Split tunneling restrictions) and 3.8.1 (Media protection policies) require compensating controls, as Tanium Government focuses on endpoint monitoring rather than network traffic segregation or removable media management. During a C3PAO assessment, evaluators will examine Tanium Government's boundary protection mechanisms, encrypted communications channels, and access logging capabilities. The platform's government-dedicated infrastructure and FedRAMP authorization support inclusion within CMMC authorization boundaries, unlike commercial endpoint solutions. Compared to competitors like CrowdStrike GovCloud or Microsoft Defender for Government, Tanium Government provides superior real-time endpoint interrogation and configuration management capabilities essential for continuous monitoring requirements. Its 89% NIST coverage exceeds most endpoint solutions, though organizations must implement additional controls for complete Level 2 compliance. The platform's strength in asset discovery and vulnerability management directly supports CMMC's emphasis on knowing and controlling organizational systems and components.
Configuration Guide
Configure Tanium Government for optimal CMMC compliance by implementing RBAC policies aligned with principle of least privilege, ensuring only authorized personnel access CUI-related endpoint data. Enable comprehensive audit logging for all administrative actions and endpoint queries, storing logs for minimum 90 days as required by 3.3.1. Implement compensating controls for gap 3.5.7 by deploying network access control solutions alongside Tanium to restrict split tunneling, documenting this approach in the System Security Plan. Address gap 3.8.1 by integrating Tanium with existing media protection policies, using its asset discovery capabilities to identify and monitor removable media connections. Configure automated compliance scanning using Tanium's Comply module to continuously validate STIG baselines and security configurations across all endpoints. Establish incident response workflows leveraging Tanium's Threat Response capabilities for immediate CUI breach containment. Timeline estimate: 6-8 weeks for initial configuration, 2-3 weeks for compensating control implementation, and 2 weeks for documentation updates. Maintain compliance through weekly configuration drift monitoring, monthly access reviews, and quarterly vulnerability assessments. Prepare evidence including configuration snapshots, access control matrices, audit log samples, and compensating control documentation for C3PAO review. Document all configurations in SSP Section 10 (System Environment) and maintain POA&M entries for gap remediation timelines.
Configuration Checklist
- 1ISSO: Configure RBAC policies restricting Tanium console access to authorized personnel with CUI handling duties per NIST 3.1.1
- 2Sysadmin: Enable comprehensive audit logging for all Tanium administrative actions and endpoint interrogations per NIST 3.3.1
- 3ISSO: Deploy compensating network controls to address split tunneling gap 3.5.7, document in SSP Section 13.5
- 4Sysadmin: Integrate Tanium asset discovery with removable media policies to address gap 3.8.1
- 5ISSO: Configure automated STIG compliance scanning using Tanium Comply module for continuous monitoring
- 6Sysadmin: Establish encrypted communication channels for all Tanium sensor traffic per NIST 3.13.8
- 7ISSO: Create incident response workflows using Tanium Threat Response for CUI breach containment
- 8C3PAO: Review Tanium Government FedRAMP authorization boundary documentation for CMMC inclusion validation
- 9ISSO: Document all configurations and compensating controls in SSP Section 10 and maintain POA&M entries
- 10Sysadmin: Schedule quarterly vulnerability assessments and weekly configuration drift monitoring for continuous compliance
Estimated Compliance Cost
Initial Tanium Government CMMC configuration requires $25,000-$40,000 investment including professional services for RBAC setup, audit configuration, and integration with existing security tools. Annual ongoing costs range $15,000-$25,000 covering license renewals, compliance module subscriptions, and quarterly configuration reviews. Continuous monitoring adds $8,000-$12,000 annually for automated scanning, vulnerability management, and incident response capabilities. Additional costs include $10,000-$15,000 for compensating control implementation to address gaps 3.5.7 and 3.8.1. Timeline spans 8-12 weeks for complete CMMC-ready deployment. Organizations should budget 20-30% additional for C3PAO assessment preparation including evidence collection, documentation reviews, and potential remediation cycles. Cost efficiency improves with Tanium Government's consolidated endpoint management reducing need for multiple point solutions.
Compliance Cross-References
Tanium Government directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for safeguarding covered defense information through its real-time endpoint monitoring and access controls, enabling continuous verification of CUI protection measures. The platform aligns with DFARS 252.204-7021 cybersecurity requirements by providing comprehensive asset visibility and vulnerability management essential for supply chain risk assessment. For NIST 800-171 control families, Tanium Government strongly supports 3.1 (Access Control) through RBAC implementation, 3.3 (Audit and Accountability) via comprehensive logging, and 3.4 (Configuration Management) through STIG-hardened baselines. Gaps in 3.5.7 (Identification and Authentication) and 3.8.1 (Media Protection) require documented compensating controls rather than platform limitations. CMMC Level 2 assessment domains directly supported include Asset Management (AM), Access Control (AC), and Situational Awareness (SA) through Tanium's core endpoint visibility capabilities. The FedRAMP High authorization satisfies government cloud requirements and enables inclusion within CMMC authorization boundaries. Organizations leveraging Tanium Government can demonstrate compliance across multiple frameworks simultaneously, reducing assessment complexity and documentation requirements while maintaining unified endpoint security posture essential for defense contractor operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanium Government CMMC compliant?
Tanium Government meets CMMC Level 2 requirements with 89% NIST 800-171 control coverage.
What NIST 800-171 controls does Tanium Government cover?
Tanium Government covers 89% of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls, with 2 gaps primarily in 3.5.7 and 3.8.1 control families.
What are the CMMC compliance gaps for Tanium Government?
The primary gaps are in controls 3.5.7, 3.8.1. These require supplementary tools or process controls to achieve full CMMC Level 2 compliance.
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