Why Cloudanix + NIST?
As cloud adoption grows, so do security threats. NIST offers a valuable framework, even if voluntary, for reducing cybersecurity risks. Cloudanix helps you align with NIST 800-53 standards by automating audits across your cloud environments. For example, our AWS CloudWatch Audit recipe checks for events like IAM Policy Changes, Console Sign-in Failures, and CloudTrail configuration updates — helping you stay compliant with NIST AC-2 (12)(a) on monitoring atypical account usage. You get instant audit reports highlighting any violations, allowing fast remediation and ongoing compliance tracking.
Cloudanix applies predefined rules mapped to NIST controls to simplify compliance. These automated checks reduce manual effort while ensuring your configurations remain in alignment with security best practices.
Track configuration changes, sign-in failures, and policy updates in real-time. Cloudanix’s alerting and reporting tools ensure you are notified of anomalies instantly, enabling quick response to potential threats.
NIST for Cloud Security
NIST 800-53 sets the baseline for federal agencies and serves as a foundation for frameworks like HIPAA and FISMA. It helps organizations take a value-based approach to protect digital assets in the cloud. While NIST alone won't guarantee 100% protection, it ensures consistent, risk-informed decision-making and enhances overall security posture in dynamic cloud environments.
Just-In-Time Access for NIST 800-53 AC Controls
NIST 800-53 Access Control (AC) family requires organizations to limit system access to authorized users and processes. Cloudanix's Just-In-Time (JIT) access implements time-bound, temporary privileged access across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI environments, directly supporting AC-2 (Account Management), AC-3 (Access Enforcement), and AC-6 (Least Privilege).
JIT access eliminates standing privileges, enforces separation of duties, and provides comprehensive audit trails that satisfy NIST requirements for access control monitoring and review under AC-2(4), AC-2(7), and AU-2 (Audit Events).
Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) for NIST Audit Controls
NIST 800-53 mandates comprehensive audit and accountability controls (AU family). Cloudanix's DAM solution provides real-time monitoring and logging of database access activities across AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Google Cloud SQL, and Oracle Cloud databases.
DAM supports NIST AU-2 (Audit Events), AU-3 (Content of Audit Records), AU-6 (Audit Review, Analysis, and Reporting), and AU-12 (Audit Generation) by capturing detailed database activity logs, detecting anomalous access patterns, and enabling security teams to review and analyze database access events for compliance and security purposes.
Identity and Access Management for NIST Compliance
NIST 800-53 requires rigorous management of both human and non-human identities. Modern cloud environments include thousands of service accounts, API keys, workload identities, and machine-to-machine authentications across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI.
Cloudanix provides comprehensive identity governance that enforces NIST AC-2 (Account Management), IA-2 (Identification and Authentication), IA-4 (Identifier Management), and IA-5 (Authenticator Management). This includes continuous monitoring of identity permissions, automated detection of excessive privileges, enforcement of least-privilege principles, and tracking of both human administrators and automated workload identities.
Misconfiguration Management for NIST Configuration Controls
NIST 800-53 Configuration Management (CM) family requires organizations to establish and maintain secure baseline configurations. Cloud misconfigurations violate CM-2 (Baseline Configuration), CM-6 (Configuration Settings), and CM-7 (Least Functionality).
Cloudanix continuously scans AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI environments for security misconfigurations, maintains configuration baselines aligned with NIST requirements, detects deviations from approved configurations, and provides automated or semi-automated remediation. This helps organizations maintain the secure configuration posture required by NIST 800-53 controls.
Workload Protection for NIST System and Communications Controls
NIST 800-53 System and Communications Protection (SC) family requires protection measures for information systems and their communications. Cloudanix secures cloud workloads including containers, Kubernetes clusters, serverless functions, and virtual machines across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI.
Workload security features support SC-7 (Boundary Protection), SC-8 (Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity), SC-28 (Protection of Information at Rest), and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) through vulnerability scanning, runtime protection, network segmentation enforcement, and continuous compliance monitoring of workload configurations.
Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for NIST Supply Chain Risk Management
NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 introduced enhanced supply chain risk management controls (SR family) and software supply chain security requirements. Cloudanix generates comprehensive SBOMs for containerized applications and cloud workloads, supporting SR-3 (Supply Chain Controls and Processes), SR-4 (Provenance), and SA-15 (Development Process, Standards, and Tools).
SBOM capabilities provide visibility into software components and dependencies, identify known vulnerabilities (supporting SI-2 Flaw Remediation), enable risk-based decisions about third-party software, and maintain evidence of supply chain security practices required for NIST compliance, FedRAMP authorization, and federal system security requirements.
