SecurityScorecard
by SecurityScorecard
Covered
5
controls
Partial
3
controls
Gaps
3
controls
Overview
SecurityScorecard by SecurityScorecard is a vulnerability management solution that covers 5 NIST 800-171 controls (5% total coverage). It addresses key requirements in the vulnerability management domain for defense contractors pursuing CMMC compliance.
Implementation Notes
Deploy SecurityScorecard 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 SecurityScorecard
Configure SecurityScorecard to support NIST 800-171 compliance by first establishing continuous monitoring dashboards for SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) through automated vulnerability scanning of external attack surface. Set up weekly scans of all internet-facing assets with immediate alerting for critical vulnerabilities scoring 7.0+ CVSS. For RA-5 (Vulnerability Scanning), configure SecurityScorecard's third-party risk assessment module to continuously monitor vendor security postures, requiring minimum scorecard ratings of 700+ for critical suppliers. Implement SI-4 (Information System Monitoring) by enabling real-time threat intelligence feeds and configuring alerts for indicators of compromise across your digital footprint. Generate NIST assessment evidence through SecurityScorecard's compliance reporting module, exporting monthly vulnerability reports, remediation timelines, and risk scorecards that map directly to control requirements. Integrate with existing SIEM solutions via API to correlate external threat data with internal security events. Common misconfigurations include failing to baseline acceptable risk thresholds (leading to C3PAO findings on risk acceptance documentation), not configuring proper asset inventory synchronization (causing incomplete coverage assessment), and inadequate alert tuning resulting in false positives that mask real threats. Ensure proper role-based access controls are configured to restrict sensitive vulnerability data to authorized personnel only.
Gap Analysis & Compensating Controls
SecurityScorecard's 5% NIST 800-171 coverage leaves significant gaps in critical control families, particularly Access Control (AC), System and Communications Protection (SC), and Configuration Management (CM). The AC family gaps require implementation of identity and access management solutions like CyberArk or Okta to handle multi-factor authentication (AC-7) and account management (AC-2). SC family deficiencies necessitate network security tools such as Palo Alto firewalls for boundary protection (SC-7) and encryption solutions for data protection (SC-13). Document these gaps in your System Security Plan by identifying SecurityScorecard as a partial control implementation, with clear POA&M entries specifying timeline and budget for complementary tools. For CMMC assessment priority, focus first on AC controls (highest weight at 27% of total score), followed by SC controls (19% weight). Compensating controls should include quarterly manual reviews of SecurityScorecard findings, documented risk acceptance procedures for vendor relationships below threshold scores, and integration of external threat intelligence into existing vulnerability management workflows. Consider pairing SecurityScorecard with Rapid7 InsightVM or Tenable.io for comprehensive vulnerability coverage that addresses internal network scanning requirements not met by SecurityScorecard's external-focused approach.
Compliance Cost Estimate
SecurityScorecard licensing ranges from $15,000-$50,000 annually for mid-size defense contractors (100-500 employees), with enterprise pricing scaling to $100,000+ based on monitored digital footprint size. Initial implementation requires 40-80 hours of configuration and integration work ($8,000-$16,000 in consulting costs). Ongoing monitoring costs include dedicated security analyst time (0.5 FTE, ~$45,000 annually) for alert triage and vendor risk assessment activities. Compared to comprehensive vulnerability management platforms like Rapid7 or Qualys, SecurityScorecard offers lower total cost but limited internal network coverage. The external focus makes it cost-effective as a supplementary tool rather than primary vulnerability management solution, providing strong ROI for third-party risk management requirements.
Compliance Cross-References
SecurityScorecard directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for continuous monitoring and vulnerability management of covered defense information systems. For CMMC Level 2, it contributes to the Risk Management (RM) domain through automated threat assessment and the System and Information Integrity (SI) domain via continuous vulnerability monitoring. Specifically satisfies CMMC practice SI.L2-3.14.1 (identify information system flaws) and RM.L2-3.11.1 (periodically assess risk). However, additional tools are required for CMMC practices AC.L2-3.1.3 (remote access control), SC.L2-3.13.1 (boundary protection), and CM.L2-3.4.8 (configuration baseline management). FedRAMP control alignment includes partial coverage of RA-5 (Vulnerability Scanning), SI-2 (Flaw Remediation), and PM-15 (Security Contact Information) through vendor communication features. C3PAOs will expect documented integration with primary vulnerability management tools and clear delineation of SecurityScorecard's role in your overall cybersecurity architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NIST 800-171 controls does SecurityScorecard cover?
SecurityScorecard covers 5 of 110 NIST 800-171 controls (5%), with 3 partially covered and 3 gaps.
Can SecurityScorecard alone satisfy CMMC Level 2?
No single tool covers all 110 NIST 800-171 controls. SecurityScorecard covers 5% and should be part of a layered security stack addressing the remaining controls.
What controls does SecurityScorecard not cover?
SecurityScorecard 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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