Not CUI Compliant
4 NIST 800-171 gaps detected. Not FedRAMP authorized. Using this tool for CUI creates compliance violations under NIST 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012.
Avast Business
by Gen Digital
FedRAMP Status
Not FedRAMP Authorized
Impact Level
N/A
Category
Cybersecurity
Overview
Avast Business is a commercial antivirus and endpoint protection product. It is not FedRAMP authorized and does not provide the security assurance required for defense contractor CUI environments.
CUI Risk Assessment
Not FedRAMP authorized. Using this tool for CUI creates compliance violations under NIST 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012.
Deployment & Architecture
Deployment Model: Hybrid (cloud + on-prem)
Avast Business has no FedRAMP authorization on record. DFARS 252.204-7012(b)(2)(ii)(D) requires an external cloud service provider to meet security requirements equivalent to the FedRAMP Moderate baseline — an authorization is the straightforward way to show that, but it is not the only one. Without one, the burden is on you to establish, document, and defend equivalency, and to meet the clause's incident-reporting and media-preservation obligations. Most contractors find an authorized alternative cheaper than carrying that burden.
Migration Checklist
- 1ISSO must conduct immediate risk assessment documenting all systems with Avast Business installations and CUI exposure levels per NIST 800-171 SC-7 requirements.
- 2Contracts officer must review all active DoD contracts to identify DFARS 252.204-7012 clause applicability and CUI handling requirements.
- 3ISSO must update the POA&M to document Avast Business as a compliance finding under NIST 800-171 controls 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.13.1, and 3.13.8.
- 4Sysadmin must inventory all Avast Business licenses, deployment configurations, and integration dependencies across the CUI environment.
- 5ISSO must procure FedRAMP High authorized endpoint protection solution (Microsoft Defender, CrowdStrike Falcon Government Cloud, or Symantec Federal) within 30 days.
- 6Sysadmin must deploy replacement endpoint protection to all CUI systems before uninstalling Avast Business to maintain continuous malware protection.
- 7ISSO must update System Security Plan Section 10 (System Communications Protection) to reflect FedRAMP-authorized endpoint protection implementation.
- 8Sysadmin must configure new endpoint protection solution with government cloud connectivity and disable all commercial cloud integrations.
- 9ISSO must update authorization boundary diagram to show FedRAMP-authorized components and remove Avast Business external connections.
- 10ISSO must validate compliance through internal assessment and document remediation completion in POA&M with supporting evidence for DCMA review.
NIST 800-171 Violations
Using Avast Business for CUI without FedRAMP authorization may violate these NIST 800-171 controls:
Need a CUI-Compliant Alternative?
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FedRAMP Compliant Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Avast Business FedRAMP authorized?
No. Avast Business does not hold FedRAMP authorization at any impact level.
Can I use Avast Business to protect CUI systems?
No. Avast Business does not meet the security requirements for protecting systems that process CUI. Use a FedRAMP authorized EDR platform.
What is a compliant alternative to Avast Business?
CrowdStrike Falcon Government (FedRAMP High) and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud Government (FedRAMP High) are authorized cybersecurity platforms.
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Schedule architecture reviewRelated: how much CMMC certification costs — DoD’s own priced figures