The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, or CMMC, is a mandatory assessment for organizations and contractors who are bidding on contracts or subcontracts to work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The CMMC framework provides a certification element verifying that processes and practices have been implemented in a way that allows them to achieve a particular cybersecurity maturity level.
This gives the DoD assurance that a contractor will be able to handle controlled unclassified information (CUI) and protect it appropriately as information flows through a multitiered supply chain.
Why Receive A Third-Party CMMC Assessment?
The importance of this reassurance is clear as the defense industrial base is considered one of the biggest supply chains in the world. It is made up of more than 300,000 organizations, which means there is a significant amount of information that needs to be protected.
The CMMC defines five levels of cybersecurity maturity, with each one being stronger than the previous level and incorporating additional practices. Carrying out a CMMC assessment provides contractors and potential contractors with several important benefits.
It Allows Organizations To Prepare For Future Changes In Regulations
Like many aspects of federal government contracting, the regulatory landscape for CMMC is constantly evolving. For example, in August 2020, an amendment was issued with dramatic changes to what is involved in becoming compliant.
This can happen at any time, which means DoD contractors must meet the ongoing challenge of staying ahead of developments and being prepared for regulatory changes that are instituted. Regular third-party assessments help them stay compliant even as the regulations evolve.
It Can Expose Vulnerabilities In Architecture
Because CMMC is based on a set of procedures and standards with international recognition, it provides a useful baseline for security maturity, even for those organizations that are not considering bidding on DoD contracts anytime soon.
These assessments can expose potential vulnerabilities in an organization that can provide an additional line of defense against the many risks found in today’s diverse technology environments.
It Provides Organizations With An Outside Opinion Of Their Cybersecurity Practices
Some businesses may have already achieved a high level of cybersecurity maturity, but it is still important to have a third-party audit carried out by an approved CMMC auditor to achieve compliance.
This not only avoids potential conflicts of interest, but it can also give the contractor an outside view of their cybersecurity that may identify issues that otherwise would have been missed.
It Allows Organizations To Implement A Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy
Many organizations do not give their cybersecurity controls the attention that they need, despite the serious consequences that are associated with data breaches, particularly where national security is concerned.
Adopting a proactive cybersecurity culture that combines human expertise with innovative technology has never been more important. An assessment can help an organization get a better view of its cybersecurity capabilities prior to an unofficial audit being carried out.
It May Enable Organizations To Win More Lucrative Contracts With The Department Of Defense
Military spending is constantly increasing, and being able to secure defense contracts can be very lucrative. However, securing the most profitable contracts often depends on having cybersecurity operations that have reached the highest level possible.
Although Level 3 certification is the recommended minimum as it allows organizations to store, transmit, and process CUI, it is prudent to continue working toward the next level to gain a better competitive advantage.
It Allows Organizations To Scale Their Cybersecurity Infrastructure
By following the rigid procedures that are required to obtain a particular level of CMMC certification, an organization can create uniform policies that can be applied throughout their entire technology infrastructure at any scale. This allows organizations to make incremental improvements to their security and scale their systems without taking on unnecessary risks.
It Allows Organizations To Secure Their Supply Chains
One of the most important components of CMMC is the fact that it requires addressing supply chain vulnerabilities. Many of the data breaches that occur are connected to the third parties an organization is working with, so this aspect of cybersecurity should never be overlooked.
Because every organization has its own supply chain that also needs to be secured, independent assessors who are looking at CMMC requirements can identify supply chain vulnerabilities and provide organizations with the peace of mind needed to welcome official CMMC audits.
Reach Out To The CMMC Professionals
SeaGlass Technology is a leading provider of IT security services to small and midsize businesses in New York City. Our comprehensive IT security services can address cyber threats and protect your organization against costly attacks, while our compliance experts can advise on all matters related to CMMC.
Get in touch today to learn more about how our network security assessments, penetration testing, network monitoring, and other security services can help you remain compliant and eliminate vulnerabilities.