Commonly asked questions about CMMC are important to understanding the foundation for compliance your business needs to continue working with the DoD as cybersecurity standards change. We've listed the basic (and not-so-basic) questions with clear, no-jargon answers to help you align your organization on CMMC 2.0 preparation.
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CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is no longer optional for businesses aspiring to work with the DoD. Developed by the Department of Defense, CMMC acts as a standardized cybersecurity assessment, evaluating an organization's ability to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
Think of CMMC as a passport to secure, productive DoD contracts while demonstrating your overall commitment to robust cybersecurity. Achieving CMMC certification grants you a competitive edge and establishes your organization as a trusted partner in the critical mission of national defense.
And achieving CMMC can be easy with proper CMMC preparation to get ready.
To see answers to commonly asked CMMC questions, click on the questions below.
CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is no longer optional for businesses aspiring to work with the DoD. Developed by the Department of Defense, CMMC acts as a standardized cybersecurity assessment, evaluating an organization's ability to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
Think of CMMC as a passport to secure, productive DoD contracts while demonstrating your overall commitment to robust cybersecurity. Achieving CMMC certification grants you a competitive edge and establishes your organization as a trusted partner in the critical mission of national defense.
And achieving CMMC can be easy with proper CMMC preparation to get ready.
Understanding how CMMC is applied is crucial for securing contracts, maintaining compliance, and protecting sensitive information. CMMC applies to your business if:
Which version of CMMC standards apply to you will vary based on the type of data you’re handling.
Remember: CMMC implementation requires planning, assessment, and potentially remediation efforts. Seeking professional guidance from CMMC-accredited consultants can be highly beneficial.
The exact date when CMMC will impact your business will vary based on the specific type and volume of DOD data you interact with in order to conduct business. In 2024, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has become a critical topic for defense contractors and DoD vendors and will remain a cornerstone of business operations for years to come. Understanding the history of CMMC and key dates on the current timeline is crucial for navigating the evolving cybersecurity requirements. As infosec experts with extensive experience with the DoD audits and CMMC standards, Essendis can shed light on what is essential and when and how to prioritize your tech stack to be ready starting with a current state CMMC assessment for your business.
The story of CMMC began in2010, when the Department of Defense (DoD) recognized the growing threat of cybersecurity breaches within its supply chain. This led to a series of government initiated memorandums and pilot programs aimed at strengthening security practices across the defense technology landscape.
A pivotal moment occurred in 2017 when DFARS 7012 was introduced. This regulation mandated that all relevant DoD contractors and suppliers comply with NIST SP 800-171, a set of cybersecurity controls for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). However, relying on vendors to administer their own compliance proved challenging, leading the DoD to develop CMMC in 2019.
CMMC 1.0, introduced in 2020, aimed to address concerns with self-attesting by introducing third-party assessments to verify infosecurity compliance. As an initial shift in responsibility, the standard of CMMC worked. However, changes in the security landscape and industry concerns prompted the DoD to initiate a review in 2021, resulting in upgraded requirements and the current CMMC 2.0 iteration.
In December 2023, the DoD submitted the CMMC 2.0 rule for review, paving the way for its official implementation in contracts – as early as May 2024. This makes CMMC crucial for defense contractors in 2024 and 2025 for several reasons:
Remember: CMMC implementation requires planning, assessment, and potentially remediation efforts. Seeking professional guidance from CMMC-accredited consultants can be highly beneficial.
According to the DoD, the new CMMC 2.0 standards rulemaking process wll last between 9- and 24-months from when the DOD announced their plan in July 2023. This means vendors can expect CMMC inforcemet to start as early as May 2024 with a roll out that could extend into Q2 or Q3 of 2025. Most experts agree that CMMC readiness work should begin for vendors in 2024 since the DoD published rules in December of 2023 and has been clear that the new requirements will be the standard.
For DOD vendors trying to anticipate specific rules and timing, the exact timeline for individual contractors depends on several factors, including:
Essendis highly recommends defense contractors proactively assess their CMMC readiness by:
By understanding the CMMC history, timeline, and importance, defense contractors can stay ahead of the curve and ensure their continued success in the evolving DoD landscape. Essendis can help you determine how prepared you are for CMMC.
A CMMC Audit conducted on behalf of the DoD will examine your entire business operations an IT infrastructure to ensure that protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is assured when they do business with you, While the methods and depth of the audit process will vary based on the size and nature of your relationship with the DoD, every aspect of your cybersecurity practices is likely to be reviewed in detail by certified experts.
You can learn more about the specific practices to be examined on our CMMC Level 1 and CMMC Level 2 pages.
Any vendor, contractor or sub-contractor of the DoD will need to be prepared for a CMMC audit once CMMC 2.0 regulations are fully rolled out. Even if your business doesn't directly support the DOD with a contract, if one of your customers works on government contracts, there is a possibility your business operations presents potential exposure to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which would qualify you for an audit. As a subcontractor of the Department of Defense, you will want to understand if you handle CUI as part of your work.
The two main groupds of businesses that shouldbeprepared for CMMC 2.0 and a government cybersecutrity audit are:
If you’re unsure whether or not you handle data that qualifies as CUI, it’s easy to find out:
CMMC 2.0 will impact a broader set of industries and companies than previous DoD cybersecurity models. And while standards will eventually encompass the entire DoD supply chain, the initial focus will be on industries most critical to national security, including:
Remember that the key determining factor for CMMC audits is if you handle CUI and the type and timing of a CMMC audit will be driven by factors related to your contract and workings with the DoD.
CMMC 2.0 primarily targets Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies directly involved in government contracts. However, if your SaaS solution stores or processes Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for DoD contractors, CMMC compliance might become a requirement to retain their business.
If you operate or advis a SaaS company, consider the following impact:
While CMMC tasks are often delegated to information technology and cybersecurity teams, the responsibility for understanding and ensuring compliance is shared across:
If you're the one responsible for cybersecurity at your company and facing a potential CMMC 2.0 audit, you should consult with a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) to ensure you have the right CMMC experience. A CISSP-level of expertise will help ensure the proper DoD-specific expertise is utilized properly for you to achieve CMMC readiness.
If you're a CTO, CFO or COO, consider the following steps as a strategic roadmap to ensure your organization is CMMC-ready: