Compliance Frameworks
Security compliance, explained simply
From CMMC to FedRAMP, we break down the compliance frameworks that matter most to government contractors — and show you how Vulnaguard Sentinel helps you meet them.
CMMC Level 2
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2
CMMC is the U.S. Department of Defense's program to ensure that defense contractors properly protect sensitive government information.
What this means for your business
If your company handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) — things like technical drawings, contract details, or export-controlled data — on behalf of the Department of Defense, you need CMMC Level 2 certification. Think of it as the government's way of verifying that your cybersecurity practices meet a proven standard before you can win or keep DoD contracts.
Key Facts
- 110 security practices across 14 domains
- Required for ~80,000+ DoD contractors handling CUI
- Assessed by accredited third-party organizations (C3PAOs)
- Replaces the previous DFARS 7012 self-attestation model
How Vulnaguard Sentinel helps
Vulnaguard Sentinel automatically maps every vulnerability finding from your security scans directly to CMMC Level 2 controls. Instead of spending weeks building manual spreadsheets, you get instant clarity on which controls are satisfied, which have gaps, and what needs to be fixed — all in a format your assessor expects.
NIST 800-171
NIST Special Publication 800-171
NIST 800-171 is a set of 110 security requirements published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to protect sensitive government information in non-federal systems.
What this means for your business
Before CMMC existed, NIST 800-171 was already the required standard for contractors handling CUI. CMMC Level 2 is built almost entirely on these same 110 requirements. Meeting NIST 800-171 means you have strong access controls, audit logging, incident response procedures, and protection for the data the government trusts you with.
Key Facts
- 110 security requirements across 14 families
- Covers areas like access control, audit & accountability, configuration management, and more
- Compliance is required under DFARS clause 252.204-7012
- The basis for CMMC Level 2 certification requirements
How Vulnaguard Sentinel helps
Our platform provides full coverage of all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements. Upload your vulnerability scan and immediately see which requirements are addressed, where evidence exists, and where gaps remain. We auto-generate the System Security Plan (SSP) and Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) documentation that assessors need to see.
SOC 2
Service Organization Control 2
SOC 2 is an auditing standard that verifies a company's controls around security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of customer data.
What this means for your business
Think of SOC 2 as a trusted third-party verification that your company handles customer data responsibly. While CMMC focuses on government contractors, SOC 2 is widely used across commercial and enterprise software companies to prove to their customers that their data is safe. A SOC 2 Type II report tells prospects and partners: "We've been independently audited over time and our security controls actually work."
Key Facts
- Covers 5 Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy
- Type I = point-in-time assessment; Type II = 6–12 month operational audit
- Required by many enterprise customers as a vendor prerequisite
- Managed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
How Vulnaguard Sentinel helps
Vulnaguard Sentinel is expanding to include SOC 2 control mapping. This means vulnerability findings from your security scans will be automatically mapped to the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria, helping you identify gaps and maintain evidence for your annual SOC 2 audit — without the manual effort.
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
FedRAMP is the U.S. government's standardized security authorization program for cloud services used by federal agencies.
What this means for your business
If your company offers a cloud-based product and wants to sell it to federal agencies, you need FedRAMP authorization. It's the government's seal of approval for cloud software, proving that your service meets rigorous security standards before any agency can use it. Getting FedRAMP authorized opens the door to the entire federal market — but the process is complex, documentation-heavy, and typically takes 12–18 months.
Key Facts
- Based on NIST SP 800-53 security controls
- Three impact levels: Low, Moderate, and High
- Required for all cloud services used by federal agencies
- Authorization can be granted by individual agencies (ATO) or the Joint Authorization Board (JAB)
How Vulnaguard Sentinel helps
Vulnaguard Sentinel will provide FedRAMP control mapping support, helping cloud service providers track vulnerability scan results against the hundreds of security controls in the FedRAMP framework. Automated gap analysis and documentation generation will dramatically reduce the time and cost of pursuing and maintaining FedRAMP authorization.
Ready to simplify your compliance journey?
Vulnaguard Sentinel automates the tedious work of mapping vulnerabilities to compliance controls — so your team can focus on actually fixing problems.
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