CMDash as an alternative to CSET (free, CISA)
Same sourced comparison as CMDash vs. CSET (free, CISA), framed for switching: 1 dimension below favor CMDash, 1 favor CSET (free, CISA) — including where CSET (free, CISA) is built to do something CMDash deliberately doesn’t.
| Dimension | CMDash | CSET (free, CISA) |
|---|---|---|
What it is Source, verified 2026-10-07 — https://www.cisa.gov/downloading-and-installing-cset. May have changed since. | CISO Dashboard | The Cyber Security Evaluation Tool, published by CISA: "a systematic, disciplined, and repeatable approach for evaluating an organization’s security posture" against recognized government and industry standards. CISA’s page does not name NIST SP 800-171 or CMMC |
Cost Source, verified 2026-10-07 — https://github.com/cisagov/cset. May have changed since. | $1,788.00/yr (Starter tier) | Vendor advantage: Free — the project README calls it "a free software tool", under MIT and Apache 2.0 licenses |
Hosting & operations Source, verified 2026-10-07 — https://www.cisa.gov/downloading-and-installing-cset. May have changed since. | CMDash advantage: Hosted SaaS — nothing to install, patch, or back up yourself | A desktop software tool you download and install ("CSET is a desktop software tool that guides asset owners and operators through a step-by-step process") |
CMDash has no dedicated CSET importer today. If you recorded risks from a CSET assessment in a spreadsheet, the Risk Register’s Import button (columns: Title, Description, Category, Likelihood, Impact, Status, Notes) can seed them directly; CSET answers and reports do not carry over automatically.
Every figure above is the same sourced, dated fact table /compare/cset renders — nothing here is retyped for this page. Pricing and product capabilities change; think something above is wrong or out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.