Elastic SIEM
by Elastic
Covered
10
controls
Partial
3
controls
Gaps
3
controls
Overview
Elastic SIEM by Elastic is a siem & logging solution that covers 10 NIST 800-171 controls (9% total coverage). It addresses key requirements in the siem & logging domain for defense contractors pursuing CMMC compliance.
Controls Covered (10)
Implementation Notes
Deploy Elastic SIEM 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 Elastic SIEM
Configure Elastic SIEM for NIST 800-171 compliance by implementing comprehensive logging across AU (Audit and Accountability), SI (System and Information Integrity), and IR (Incident Response) control families. For AU controls, configure Elasticsearch to collect logs from all CUI systems using Beats agents, ensuring 3.3.1 audit record creation with proper timestamp synchronization via NTP. Set retention policies for audit logs per 3.3.6 requirements (minimum 90 days for CUI systems). Configure Kibana dashboards to monitor privileged account usage (3.3.2) and system component inventory changes (3.3.8). For SI controls, implement Elastic Security's detection engine with custom rules for 3.14.2 malicious code identification and 3.14.6 network monitoring. Configure SIEM rules to detect unauthorized software installation and system modifications. For IR controls, establish automated alerting workflows in Elastic Security that trigger incident response procedures per 3.6.1-3.6.3 requirements. Generate assessment evidence through Kibana's reporting functionality, creating scheduled PDF reports showing audit trail completeness, security event correlation, and incident response metrics. Integrate with existing security stack by configuring log forwarding from firewalls, endpoints, and network devices. Common misconfiguration pitfalls include insufficient log source coverage, inadequate index mapping for searchability, missing field parsing for audit requirements, and failure to configure proper user access controls within Kibana. Ensure all log sources include required audit elements (user, timestamp, source, outcome) and implement data loss prevention through multiple Elasticsearch nodes for high availability.
Gap Analysis & Compensating Controls
Elastic SIEM's 9% coverage leaves critical gaps primarily in Access Control (AC), Configuration Management (CM), and Physical Protection (PE) control families. The most significant gap is in AC controls, where Elastic SIEM cannot enforce access restrictions or manage user authentication - requiring integration with identity management solutions like Active Directory or privileged access management tools. For AC.3.1.1 (authorized access enforcement), implement Azure AD or Okta with RBAC policies. Configuration Management gaps (CM.3.4.1-3.4.8) require dedicated tools like Ansible, Puppet, or Microsoft SCCM for baseline configurations and change management tracking. Physical Protection controls (PE.3.10.1-3.10.6) are completely outside Elastic SIEM's scope, requiring physical security measures, access control systems, and environmental monitoring. Document these gaps in your System Security Plan by clearly stating Elastic SIEM's role as a monitoring and detection tool, not an enforcement mechanism. In your POA&M, prioritize closing AC control gaps first as they carry highest CMMC assessment weight, followed by CM controls for system hardening, then PE controls. Recommend implementing CyberArk for privileged access management, Microsoft SCCM for configuration management, and partnering with facility security for physical controls. These compensating controls create a layered security approach where Elastic SIEM provides visibility while other tools enforce policies.
Compliance Cost Estimate
Elastic SIEM licensing ranges from $95-200 per node per month depending on deployment model (self-managed vs. Elastic Cloud) and feature requirements. For typical defense contractors (50-200 employees), expect $15,000-45,000 annually for licensing. Implementation costs range $25,000-75,000 including professional services for log source integration, custom dashboard development, and NIST 800-171 rule configuration. Ongoing maintenance requires 0.5-1.0 FTE security analyst for rule tuning, alert management, and report generation, costing $50,000-80,000 annually. Compared to competitors like Splunk ($2,000+ per GB/day) or IBM QRadar ($15,000+ per appliance), Elastic offers competitive pricing with greater flexibility. Total 3-year cost of ownership typically ranges $200,000-400,000 for mid-size contractors, making it cost-effective for organizations requiring robust SIEM capabilities without premium enterprise pricing.
Compliance Cross-References
Elastic SIEM directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for adequate security on covered contractor information systems through comprehensive audit logging and security monitoring capabilities. For CMMC Level 2 domains, it provides strong coverage in Audit and Accountability (AU domain) and partial coverage in System and Information Integrity (SI domain) and Incident Response (IR domain). Specific CMMC assessment objectives satisfied include AU.2.042 (audit record review), AU.2.043 (audit record correlation), SI.2.214 (security alert monitoring), and IR.2.093 (incident tracking). However, additional tools are required for Access Control (AC domain), Configuration Management (CM domain), and Risk Assessment (RA domain) objectives. For FedRAMP controls, Elastic SIEM aligns with AU-2 (Event Logging), AU-3 (Content of Audit Records), AU-6 (Audit Review), SI-4 (Information System Monitoring), and IR-4 (Incident Handling). Organizations should document Elastic SIEM's role as the central logging and monitoring platform while clearly identifying complementary tools needed for access control enforcement, configuration management, and vulnerability assessment to achieve comprehensive CMMC Level 2 compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NIST 800-171 controls does Elastic SIEM cover?
Elastic SIEM covers 10 of 110 NIST 800-171 controls (9%), with 3 partially covered and 3 gaps.
Can Elastic SIEM alone satisfy CMMC Level 2?
No single tool covers all 110 NIST 800-171 controls. Elastic SIEM covers 9% and should be part of a layered security stack addressing the remaining controls.
What controls does Elastic SIEM not cover?
Elastic SIEM does not cover controls mp-3-8-1, ia-3-5-1, pe-3-10-1. These require supplementary solutions such as physical security controls, additional access management, or media protection tools.
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