This past November (2021), the DoD announced that there will be some significant changes coming to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) protocol. These changes are supposed to take effect “within 9 to 24 months” of this date, according to their announcement.
With new and updated standards arriving soon, it is important for businesses who either have or are seeking DoD contracts to be familiarized with the new changes to this important cybersecurity protocol.
These new revisions were created with the following goals in mind:
- Better protect sensitive information
- Establish high standards and ethics for cybersecurity
- Encourage accountability while minimizing barriers to compliance
- Create a collaborative effort and culture surrounding cybersecurity
What Is The CMMC?
The CMMC program is a cybersecurity initiative designed by the Department of Defense in order to provide stronger security protocols for companies that house sensitive information shared by the department. This program is very important because it ensures that companies have a standard to adhere to when implementing and designing their cybersecurity protocols.
Due to the continued advancement of cybercriminals, the CMMC is often enhanced and revised in order to prevent the latest strategies that these criminals utilize. The main features of this framework maintain that companies need to have a level of cybersecurity standards in place that match the level of sensitivity of the data that is being housed. Additionally, it entails enacting protocols that are mindful of how the information flows downstream to subcontractors so that these channels do not become compromised.
The CMMC 2.0
While the baseline CMMC had a very strict set of standards that required a high level of cybersecurity compliance, the CMMC 2.0 adds three levels of requirements that increase in the depth of requirements. These new tiers were added due to the rapid growth of technology and information sharing systems, as well as the increasing skill of cybercriminals. The new standards also increase oversight responsibilities and eliminate higher-level self-assessment options.
In the new 2.0 plan, there are three basic levels of compliance that include foundational, advanced and expert compliance. The foundational level, as the name implies, involves the basic set of requirements needed to house sensitive DoD data. While this level has basically remained the same, the more advanced features of the advanced and expert levels have fewer required controls but are at the same time more rigorous and thorough.
New Additions To The CMMC
The main additions to the new 2.0 model include the following:
More Affordable
Companies that meet level 1 and level 2 requirements will be able to demonstrate their compliance through self-assessments. This will help them to save money and have their compliance approved faster.
Workability
The new updates will enable companies to develop their own strategies and plans of action to achieve compliance. These strategies will, however, still be subject to third-party oversight.
Streamlined Compliance
The new standards have compiled the most important aspects of the previous 5-tier compliance program into a more compact and efficient 3-tier system.
Community Focus
One of the main goals of this program is to facilitate collaboration and ensure that companies that are subject to the CMMC have the resources and information they need to achieve the highest cybersecurity standards.
New Standards Model
The CMMC standards used to be an independent set of requirements. Now, the model adheres to the highly respected National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) cybersecurity standards.
How To Ensure CMMC 2.0 Compliance
Understanding the depth and complexity of the CMMC cybersecurity standards can be a difficult task, but it is essential if you are going to attain the required level of compliance necessary for your company. Cyber attacks are more advanced and stealthy than at any time in history, which makes adhering to these new standards of the utmost importance.
Working with proven experts in the cybersecurity space to assist with improving and solidifying your cybersecurity infrastructure can help provide you with the following benefits:
Save Money And Effort
Spending extra resources on developing the required cybersecurity framework can be costly, which makes it important to know exactly what you need to do so no resources are wasted.
Achieve Full Compliance
Having some extra guidance can ensure that you do not miss any important points and that you will not need to go back to the drawing board if you miss a minor detail.
Build Sound Infrastructure
Working with cybersecurity experts provides the added benefits of collaborating with a team that is highly dedicated to the latest cybersecurity trends and practices. These knowledgeable professionals can give you the tailored guidance your company needs to effortlessly achieve compliance.
With the new CMMC standards slowly going into effect, now is the time to begin implementing the required updates to your cybersecurity so you can achieve compliance. In order to achieve compliance faster and more efficiently, contact the professionals at SeaGlass Technology today at 212-886-0790.