Aqua Security
by Aqua Security
Covered
7
controls
Partial
2
controls
Gaps
4
controls
Overview
Aqua Security by Aqua Security is a cloud security solution that covers 7 NIST 800-171 controls (6% total coverage). It addresses key requirements in the cloud security domain for defense contractors pursuing CMMC compliance.
Implementation Notes
Deploy Aqua Security with FIPS-validated configurations. Integrate with your SIEM for centralized audit logging. Review partial controls quarterly to identify supplementary tooling needs.
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Implementation Guidance for Aqua Security
Configure Aqua Security to address NIST 800-171 control families through comprehensive cloud security monitoring. For AC (Access Control), implement Aqua's Runtime Protection to enforce least-privilege container access and monitor unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. Configure admission controllers to block non-compliant workloads and enable RBAC integration with enterprise identity providers. For SC (System and Communications Protection), deploy Aqua's Network Nano-Segmentation to create micro-perimeters around cloud workloads, ensuring data in transit protection. Enable vulnerability scanning with custom compliance policies that flag NIST 800-171 non-compliant configurations. For SI (System and Information Integrity), configure Aqua CSPM to continuously monitor cloud infrastructure for configuration drift and compliance violations. Set up automated remediation workflows for critical findings and integrate with SIEM systems for centralized logging. Generate assessment evidence through Aqua's compliance dashboard, exporting detailed reports showing control implementation status, remediation timelines, and risk scores. Integrate with existing security stack by connecting Aqua to vulnerability scanners like Nessus for comprehensive asset visibility, and SIEM platforms like Splunk for log aggregation. Common misconfigurations include failing to enable runtime protection on all workloads, inadequate admission controller policies, and insufficient logging configurations that prevent audit trail generation required for assessments.
Gap Analysis & Compensating Controls
Aqua Security's 4 uncovered NIST controls primarily fall within AU (Audit and Accountability), CM (Configuration Management), IA (Identification and Authentication), and PE (Physical and Environmental Protection) families. The AU gap is critical as defense contractors need comprehensive audit logging beyond container runtime events. Implement centralized log management solutions like Elasticsearch or Splunk to capture system-wide audit trails and integrate with Aqua's container logs. CM gaps require dedicated configuration management tools like Ansible or Puppet to maintain system baselines and track configuration changes across hybrid environments. IA deficiencies need enterprise identity management solutions such as Active Directory or Okta for multi-factor authentication and privileged access management beyond container contexts. PE controls are entirely outside Aqua's scope, requiring physical security documentation and facility access controls. Document these gaps in your System Security Plan by clearly identifying compensating controls and residual risks. In your Plan of Action and Milestones, prioritize AU controls first due to their high CMMC assessment weight, followed by IA for authentication requirements. CM controls should be addressed third, while PE documentation can be handled through administrative controls and facility security procedures.
Compliance Cost Estimate
Aqua Security licensing ranges from $15-50 per workload per month depending on feature set and volume discounts, with enterprise deployments typically costing $200,000-500,000 annually for mid-sized defense contractors. Implementation costs include 2-4 weeks of professional services ($25,000-50,000) for initial setup, policy configuration, and integration with existing security tools. Ongoing monitoring requires 0.5-1.0 FTE security analyst ($75,000-120,000 annually) for alert triage, policy tuning, and compliance reporting. Compared to competitors like Prisma Cloud or Twistlock, Aqua offers competitive pricing in the mid-market segment but requires additional tool investments to achieve comprehensive NIST 800-171 coverage, potentially increasing total compliance costs by 20-30% versus integrated platforms.
Compliance Cross-References
Aqua Security directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for safeguarding covered defense information in cloud environments through its runtime protection and network segmentation capabilities. The solution addresses CMMC Level 2 domains AC.L2-3.1.1 (authorized access control), SC.L2-3.13.1 (boundary protection), and SI.L2-3.14.1 (flaw remediation) through container security monitoring and vulnerability management. FedRAMP Moderate baseline controls AC-3 (Access Enforcement), SC-7 (Boundary Protection), and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) align with Aqua's core capabilities. CMMC assessment objectives satisfied include demonstrating runtime access control enforcement, network traffic monitoring, and vulnerability remediation processes for containerized workloads. Additional tools required for full CMMC compliance include log management for AU assessment objectives, configuration management for CM objectives, and identity management solutions for comprehensive IA assessment coverage. Organizations should document Aqua's role in their CMMC assessment scope while clearly identifying supplementary controls needed for complete domain coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NIST 800-171 controls does Aqua Security cover?
Aqua Security covers 7 of 110 NIST 800-171 controls (6%), with 2 partially covered and 4 gaps.
Can Aqua Security alone satisfy CMMC Level 2?
No single tool covers all 110 NIST 800-171 controls. Aqua Security covers 6% and should be part of a layered security stack addressing the remaining controls.
What controls does Aqua Security not cover?
Aqua Security does not cover controls mp-3-8-1, ia-3-5-1, pe-3-10-1, ac-3-1-12. These require supplementary solutions such as physical security controls, additional access management, or media protection tools.
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