CMMC

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance is a Department of Defense (DoD) framework designed to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The CMMC program applies to all DoD contractors and subcontractors that handle sensitive government data, regardless of size or contract value.

An estimated 300,000 companies within the DIB will need to meet CMMC compliance requirements to remain eligible for DoD contracts. For many organizations, this represents a significant shift in how cybersecurity controls, policies, and documentation are managed.

Although the DoD has established the CMMC Advisory Board, formal certification through authorized Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) is still rolling out. However, organizations do not need to wait. There are critical preparation steps companies can take now to strengthen their security posture, close compliance gaps, and avoid last-minute remediation. Proactive preparation is especially important for organizations that have historically lacked mature documentation, defined controls, or consistent security processes.

Any organization that works with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) must prove it can protect sensitive information by achieving DoD compliance. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the framework the DoD uses to measure and enforce that compliance. Preparing for DoD compliance involves understanding the CMMC framework, determining the certification level your organization needs, and implementing the required security controls before assessment. Is your business ready for DoD compliance? The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the foundation of DoD compliance. Every organization in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) must meet CMMC requirements to demonstrate they can safeguard sensitive information that protects U.S. military operations and national security.

Achieving certification can be complex, but preparation becomes manageable when broken into three key steps:

• Understand the CMMC 2.0 framework and how it aligns with DoD compliance requirements
• Determine the scope of certification (the CMMC Level) your organization needs
• Implement required controls based on the DoD’s official assessment guidance
  

Partnering with an experienced CMMC advisor streamlines the entire process, helping your organization move confidently toward full DoD compliance.

The Department of Defense (DoD) requires all military personnel, contractors, and anyone handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) to complete DoD mandatory CUI training. This training ensures staff understand CUI marking requirements, decontrol procedures, and reporting protocols, helping protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Unsure if your DoD mandatory CUI training meets compliance standards?

The Department of Defense (DoD) is moving away from self-certification models, creating new challenges for companies that supply the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). CMMC certification is now mandatory for all DoD contractors, ensuring that cybersecurity practices are fully integrated into an organization’s operations.

Before the CMMC, vendors and contractors could self-certify using the NIST 800-171 framework. While CMMC builds on NIST 800-171 and other cybersecurity frameworks, it goes further by emphasizing integrated cybersecurity processes and practices, rather than just a checklist of requirements.

Unlike previous models, the DoD now requires organizations to obtain certification from a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). In this article, we’ll explain how to choose the right partner to guide your organization through the CMMC certification process.

Any company that takes on lucrative contracts with the US Department of Defense (DoD) and becomes part of the Defense Industrial Base sector (DIB) needs to keep its cybersecurity practices up to date. You will also need to adhere to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), including self-assessment and outside auditing, to confirm your compliance. This CMMC assessment guide will break down what it takes to get started.

A CMMC gap assessment is the first step toward winning and keeping Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. It’s not just about passing an audit; it’s about proving your organization can safeguard the sensitive data that supports national security.

This proactive diagnostic identifies how closely your current cybersecurity posture aligns with the CMMC 2.0 framework and pinpoints the changes needed before you certify.

Finalized in December 2024 and enforced starting January 2025, CMMC 2.0 is now appearing in new DoD contracts. Knowing your compliance gaps now isn’t just smart, it’s a strategic advantage.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC certification) is designed to simplify compliance for companies handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain. For a detailed explanation of what qualifies as CUI, refer to the Organization Index Grouping of Defense.

Currently, Draft v0.7 of the CMMC is available, with the final version (v1.0) expected in January 2020. Companies are encouraged to review v0.7 to begin preparing for the level of DoD CMMC certification required for project bids.

Draft v0.7 is accessible online in its entirety. Below is a concise summary of its contents, along with insights from Katie Arrington, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition for Cyber, as presented in her webinar “What Contractors Need to Know About DoD’s CMMC” (July 17, 2019). Note: You must be signed in to view the webinar.

During the webinar with the Professional Services Council, Katie Arrington highlighted that losses from inadequate cybersecurity controls leading to CUI breaches amount to over $600 billion annually. While achieving DoD CMMC certification may incur costs, the long-term savings outweigh these expenses. Additionally, the government considers CMMC certification costs as allowable expenses in its bidding process. The Request For Information (RFI) and Request For Proposal (RFP) Sections L and M outline the required level of CMMC certification, which can determine eligibility for project bids.

If your organization plans to work with the Department of Defense (DoD), understanding CMMC 2.0 requirements is the first step toward achieving compliance. These requirements are designed to protect sensitive federal information and are organized into three maturity levels, each with increasing cybersecurity expectations:

Level 1 – Foundational
Focuses on basic safeguarding practices to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI).

Level 2 – Advanced
Includes more detailed requirements aligned with NIST SP 800-171 to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Level 3 – Expert
Represents the highest maturity level, emphasizing advanced cybersecurity practices and alignment with DoD’s most stringent security requirements. This beginner’s guide explains what each CMMC 2.0 level means and outlines how organizations can start preparing for compliance.

Companies seeking lucrative contracts with the US Department of Defense (DoD) need to keep their cyber defenses up to date. That’s why the final two CMMC Level requirements focus mainly on advanced persistent threat solutions, addressing the biggest and most complex threats to the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) sector. 

Most organizations fail CMMC compliance at Level 2 not because their security controls are weak, but because their documentation doesn’t clearly prove the controls exist, function correctly, or are consistently followed.
Many teams underestimate this critical detail.
Documentation isn’t just “paperwork” , for CMMC compliance, it is the audit itself. If you can’t show a repeatable process, policy, or record on demand, assessors will likely mark controls as Not Met.
In this article, we’ll explain why documentation is often the silent deal-breaker for CMMC Level 2 and share practical steps to fix it quickly.