Every organization has a responsibility to protect the sensitive data of both its business and its clients. This responsibility is fulfilled through the implementation of cybersecurity practices and controls designed to defend against today’s most common—and most dangerous—cyber threats. For many organizations, however, these responsibilities extend beyond standard business risk.
Companies that support the federal government or its supply chain are also entrusted with information critical to national security. To ensure this information is properly safeguarded, defense contractors are required to adhere to specific cybersecurity standards that demonstrate trustworthiness and resilience. For years, contractors were allowed to self‑attest to their compliance with these requirements—a process that often led to inconsistent reporting and weakened security postures.
The DoD developed the CMMC program to better secure defense contractors throughout the entirety of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). FCI refers to information that is not intended for public release or information that is create for the federal government under contract. CUI is information or data the federal government create, stores, or transmits that is required to be safeguarded using particular controls and protocols.
The CMMC does not consist of any new rules or regulations, rather it is a mechanism for ensuring contractors are adhering to the requirements already set out for them. Specifically, CMMC is founded in the controls of NIST 800-171 rev.2 that was published in 2020. Under CMMC, many contractors will no longer be able to self-attest that they are compliant with these controls, but rather will have to undergo third-party audits conducted by a CMMC Third Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO).
The Three Levels
The CMMC model consists of three maturity levels that build on one another. These levels are divided based on the type of information contractors will be working with. The levels are as follows:
Foundational (Level 1): Contractors that work with FCI are required to meet the requirements of CMMC level 1. These include basic cybersecurity controls that are detailed in FAR 52.204-21.
Advanced (Level 2): A majority of contractors will fall under CMMC level 2. This level applies to any organization working with CUI.
Expert (Level 3): The most stringent maturity level, CMMC level 3 applies to organizations handling CUI and are targets of more advanced threats.
Many organizations may wonder whether or not CMMC applies to them. If your organization wants to bid on or maintain DoD contracts and handles FCI or CUI, CMMC applies to you.
The CMMC rule has been in the works for several years now as it makes its way through the codifying process. With how long it has taken to finalize the rule, many organizations have decided to put off compliance and take the "wait and see approach".
Here is a brief explanation of where CMMC currently stands and how it got to this point:
As previously mentioned, while CMMC may be a new concept, the controls it is based off of are not. The foundation of the CMMC model is the NIST 800-171 Rev.2 framework, developed to protect and safeguard CUI and government contractors. Requirements based off of NIST 800-171 have been around since 2017, however there was no real mechanism for accountability to ensure contractors were accurately self-assessing.
CMMC doesn't introduce new controls, but rather it ensures contractors are fulfilling their responsibilities. This means that defense contractors should have implemented these controls already. CMMC is the next step in making sure the national supply chain is secure. If your organization knows its SPRS score and can attest to its NIST 800-171 compliance, then you're one step ahead on your compliance pathway.
Contractors may have several questions about where to start when it comes to actually achieving CMMC compliance. The truth is that CMMC compliance can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. For organizations that have not started their compliance journey, the average time it takes to reach total compliance is 12-18 months.
Utilizing an MSP - know as External Service Provider (ESP) under CMMC Compliance
For small organizations without a dedicated IT staff, enlisting the aid of an external service provider or MSP may be necessary. Before choosing a partner, make sure they are prepared to comply with CMMC regulations and plan to undergo a third-party assessment when the time comes.
An ESP/MSP offers a number of benefits including:
CorpInfoTech, is an MSP (ESP) that offers IT, cybersecurity, and compliance solutions to SMBs across the U.S. Our services include security/risk assessments, firewall management (xDEFENSE), vulnerability management (v360), managed IT, and compliance aid. As a certified RPO (registered practitioner organization) with the CyberAB, CorpInfoTech is certified to offer our services to organizations seeking certification (OSCs) with our own audit date. By partnering with CorpInfoTech, contractors can expect to automatically comply with 200+ of the required objectives associated with CMMC.
Choosing a security framework to develop your cybersecurity plan is crucial but picking the right one can also ensure compliance. CorpInfoTech utilizes the CIS Controls in all of our services to deliver greater security while also addressing compliance needs. The CIS Controls are a set of practical security domains that contain safeguards created to defend against the most common threats businesses face. The Controls were also created to align with many of the regulatory requirement's businesses face today, including CMMC. CorpInfoTech is the first organization to receive accreditation under the CIS Controls, meaning that our ability to implement the controls has been externally verified and recognized by the Center for Internet Security. Read more - How Are the CIS Controls and CMMC Related?
Connect with CorpInfoTech today to discover how our tailored cybersecurity and compliance solutions can strengthen your organization’s defenses and support your CMMC compliance journey. Start with your CMMC journey today.
CorpInfoTech, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) with over 25 years in the SMB space, is a trusted partner for business pursuing compliance and cybersecurity. We are a CMMC Level 2 (C3PAO) certified MSP and a Cyber AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO). Also, as the first CIS accredited organization, we help organizations implement the CIS controls as it pertains to CMMC and your overall cybersecurity posture. CorpInfoTech is your trusted partner for secure, compliant growth in every changing digital landscape.