CMMC Compliance Overview

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a framework developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to assess and enhance cybersecurity practices among defense contractors. It establishes a tiered maturity model that aligns cybersecurity processes and practices with contract requirements for handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Why It Matters

CMMC is critical for organizations working with the DoD. Achieving the required CMMC level demonstrates that an organization has implemented adequate cybersecurity practices to protect sensitive government information. Failure to meet the required maturity level can impact eligibility for DoD contracts and may lead to corrective actions or contract limitations.

Core Focus Areas

CMMC emphasizes the implementation of cybersecurity practices across multiple domains, including access control, incident response, asset management, risk management, and system security. Organizations are expected to document their processes, maintain consistent security practices, and demonstrate capability according to the specific CMMC level required for their contracts.

Next Steps

Organizations preparing for CMMC often focus on strengthening cybersecurity governance, improving visibility into sensitive data and systems, and aligning operational controls with the applicable maturity level.