The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a framework established by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) implement robust cybersecurity measures. As CMMC becomes a key requirement for defense contractors, higher education institutions engaged in research or contracts with the DoD must also comply with its standards.
Elastic’s Search AI Platform — with its comprehensive security, observability, and search capabilities — provides a powerful foundation to help organizations achieve and maintain CMMC compliance efficiently.
Table of Contents
Understanding CMMC requirements
CMMC 2.0 consists of three levels with each increasing in complexity and security controls:
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Level 1: Foundational cybersecurity practices, including basic safeguarding of Federal Contract Information (FCI)
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Level 2: Advanced security controls aligned with NIST 800-171, required for organizations handling CUI
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Level 3: Expert-level cybersecurity measures that align with NIST 800-172 and are necessary for highly sensitive operations
Each level mandates stringent monitoring, logging, and threat detection, which Elastic can help automate and streamline.
How Elastic enables CMMC compliance
Elastic provides a modern platform with security and observability solutions that aligns with CMMC’s core requirements, helping organizations efficiently collect, analyze, and act on security-relevant data in real time.
1. Centralized log management and SIEM
CMMC mandates audit logging, continuous monitoring, and incident response capabilities. Elastic Security provides a security information and event management (SIEM) solution that enables organizations to:
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Ingest and centralize logs from multiple sources (endpoints, networks, applications, and cloud services).
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Monitor system and user activities to detect unauthorized access and potential threats.
- Meet retention requirements by securely and affordably storing logs long term for forensic investigations.
2. Continuous threat detection and response
CMMC requires proactive threat hunting and anomaly detection to ensure network security. Elastic’s machine learning-based detection capabilities empower security teams to:
3. Endpoint security and Zero Trust implementation
As organizations implement Zero Trust architectures, organizations must secure their endpoints and networks as well as ensure that they can see across the entire security ecosystem. Elastic can provide:
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A unified data layer to connect Zero Trust pillars and systems, enabling end-to-end visibility
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Behavioral and signature-based malware prevention
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Advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) to stop threats before they escalate
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Integration with Zero Trust frameworks by enabling continuous monitoring and identity-based access controls
4. Data protection and integrity monitoring
CMMC emphasizes data protection through encryption, access controls, and integrity monitoring. Elastic helps enforce data security with:
5. Cloud security and compliance automation
Higher education institutions and defense contractors often use cloud-based environments. Elastic enables cloud-native security by:
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Providing real-time monitoring for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud environments
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Supporting FedRAMP and CMMC-aligned security benchmarks
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Automating compliance audits through Kibana dashboards and reporting features
Why choose Elastic for CMMC compliance?
Cost-effective compliance: Elastic’s affordable data tiering provides powerful capabilities for cost-conscious organizations.
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Scalability and performance: Elastic is built to handle massive volumes of security data while maintaining high-speed search and analytics.
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Flexibility: Elastic supports on-prem, hybrid, and cloud deployments, giving organizations the flexibility to meet compliance without vendor lock-in.
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Open and extensible: Elastic’s open-source technology integrates with existing security tools and frameworks, enhancing security operations center (SOC) capabilities.
Next steps
CMMC compliance is critical for organizations working with the DoD, including universities engaged in defense research. Using Elastic’s Search AI Platform, organizations can efficiently meet CMMC’s rigorous security and monitoring requirements while enhancing overall cyber resilience.
By using Elastic’s centralized logging, real-time threat detection, and cloud security capabilities, organizations can simplify compliance efforts and focus on their core mission while ensuring data protection and operational security.
If you’re looking to streamline CMMC compliance, contact us to learn more about implementing a tailored solution for your organization.
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