High-level cybersecurity protections are more important than ever, as demonstrated by the number of high-profile ransomware attacks that have occurred in recent years. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative that was created in order to improve the security posture of defense contractors.
Understanding the different levels of CMMC compliance and how they apply to your business’s unique cybersecurity needs can be a difficult process. This is why working with a team of cybersecurity experts can be very helpful when preparing for your next audit.
If you are in need of an assessment to help you understand your specific requirements and CMMC level, our team is here to help!
What CMMC Assessments Consist Of
The CMMC compliance process is an essential process that helps to keep the sensitive information housed by many organizations involved with DoD safe and properly protected. A CMMC compliance assessment is a rigorous process that evaluates an organization’s cybersecurity posture and compliance with the CMMC. It includes a review of policies, procedures and controls related to cybersecurity, as well as an evaluation of the organization’s risk management practices. The assessment also includes a review of the organization’s incident response capabilities.
Our CMMC consulting assessments help to provide a comprehensive review of your organization’s policies and practices against the CMMC requirements. This preparedness assessment helps organizations identify and understand the requirements of the CMMC standard. The assessment also identifies the organization’s current cybersecurity status and provides recommendations to improve it. The steps involved in a third-party CMMC preparedness assessment include the following:
- Reviewing the organization’s cybersecurity documentation and policies.
- Identifying and assessing the organization’s cyber risks.
- Developing a plan to address any gaps found in the first two steps.
- Implementing the plan and measuring results.
- Reporting on the assessment findings.
Benefits Of A CMMC Assessment
Most often, it can be difficult to determine the unique risks and necessary updates required for your infrastructure. Third-party CMMC preparedness assessments offer a number of benefits for organizations looking to achieve CMMC compliance. By using an outside assessment provider, organizations can be sure that they are covering all of the necessary bases in their risk management program.
The benefits of getting a pre-emptive CMMC assessment include:
Identify Vulnerabilities
Assessments can help organizations identify any areas where they may need to make improvements and can provide guidance on how to do so. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, organizations can greatly reduce their risk of being hacked or compromised. Vulnerabilities can exist in any part of an organization’s IT infrastructure, from the network to the endpoints, to the data itself. Without proper vulnerability assessment and management, these risks can go undetected and can potentially lead to a costly breach.
Develop A System Security Plan (SSP) And A Plan-of-Action And Milestones (POA&M)
After your unique risks and vulnerabilities have been identified, our team works to help you create an actionable strategy to begin to improve your cybersecurity posture.
The development of a system security plan (SSP) is one of the most important steps in this process. This document outlines the steps your organization will take to secure your systems and data. It also identifies any potential risks and how they will be mitigated. The SSP should be updated regularly as new threats are identified or as security measures are updated.
A PO&AM is also critical for CMMC compliance; this document lays out the specific steps an organization will take to remediate any vulnerabilities that are identified. It also includes timelines for completing these tasks. Having a detailed PO&AM helps ensure that all security risks are addressed in a timely manner and that you remain agile and poised for CMMC compliance.
Remediation
The remediation step is the direct implementation of the strategies created in SSPs and POA&M step of the assessment process. The complexity of this step depends on the current state of your IT systems. Completing this step thoroughly is an essential part of being able to achieve full CMMC compliance at the time of the audit while staying flexible to industry changes in the process.
CMMC Assessment Services You Can Trust
The importance of developing improvements to cybersecurity infrastructure cannot be overstated. This is why it is crucial to entrust your compliance to a team with proven experience and success in this field.
With the help of the professional cybersecurity team at SeaGlass, your organization can make strides in improving its defenses and stay ahead of the latest threats. Our cybersecurity teams have the expertise and experience to help you identify vulnerabilities in your systems and recommend appropriate steps to take to mitigate them. They can also help you develop a plan to respond to any potential incidents that may occur. Ensuring that your cybersecurity infrastructure is up-to-date and robust is critical in today’s world, and with the help of a professional team, you can make sure that your organization is as safe as possible.
For more information, contact our team of cybersecurity experts today at 212.886.0790 or schedule a consultation online.