As of October 15th CMMC has been published into the federal register as a “final rule. This new phase of compliance is likely to be a wakeup call, signaling that achieving CMMC compliance is not solely an issue for the IT or compliance teams. Rather, Effective compliance starts with a business decision. This means that everyone in the organization must buy into, especially those at the top, making sure requirements are met and the resources required to meet these goals are provided. For companies seeking to work with the Department of Defense (DoD), compliance will no longer be optional—it will become a fundamental part of doing business.
How can your organization shift its perspective to view CMMC compliance as an important business decision rather than just an IT requirement?
One of the most important aspects of cybersecurity in general is education. Everyone within the organization should understand what CMMC is and why it is important for your business specifically. This doesn't mean going into extreme details about the CUI you currently hold but explaining to top level executives why CMMC exists and what its purpose is helps the decision makers see the value in investing resources. Executives and decision makers need to also know the results of what happens when CMMC compliance is not met. Organizations need to acknowledge that CMMC compliance directly impacts their ability to win and retain contracts with the DoD. Failure to comply can result in the loss of existing contracts and disqualification from future opportunities. This financial and reputational risk is not just an IT problem—it’s a significant business risk that requires strategic planning and allocation of resources.
Business leaders need to also understand the number of resources it takes to successfully achieve compliance and what responsibility they play in providing those resources. IT professionals and staff members will play a large role in implementing the controls, managing them, and responding to threats, but executives and leaders must ensure that these professionals are equipped with the time, budget, and experience to do the job right.
This means viewing IT and compliance as an investment rather than just a cost. This investment secures the company's future in the defense sector, enhances its marketability, and strengthens its reputation as a trustworthy partner. By incorporating compliance into strategic business discussions, organizations can prioritize CMMC efforts in line with other critical business objectives.
We discussed how CMMC compliance should be viewed as an investment, but decision makers should also look at CMMC through the lens of creating a competitive advantage. If your business can make the claim (accurately) that you are fully CMMC compliant, you will set yourself apart from other organizations within the industry.
As CMMC reaches finalization and audits are scheduled, many contractors may find that the requirements and upkeep are too expensive. As a CMMC compliant organization, you can create a strategic differentiator. Companies that successfully integrate CMMC into their business strategy can market themselves as secure and reliable partners, giving them a competitive edge in the defense contracting space. Furthermore, a strong cybersecurity posture can attract customers in other sectors that prioritize data security, potentially opening new revenue streams.
It's possible that your organization understands the importance and value of CMMC compliance. However, like many businesses across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), your decision makers lack the resources to allocate, the expertise to lean on, or the budget to spend. This is why many small-medium sized businesses (SMBs) enlist the help of a managed service provider (MSP) like CorpInfoTech.
CorpInfoTech is an MSP that offers IT, cybersecurity, and compliance solutions to SMBs. Our services include firewall management, vulnerability management, security assessments, managed IT, and compliance aid.
Through our CMMC Compliance pathway, CorpInfoTech ensures that your organization achieves compliance on time, on budget, and with tangible results.
- Our compliance program covers 200+ of the 320 CMMC required controls, putting your organization on the right track for CMMC compliance.
- Flexible services tailored to each business's unique compliance needs, including support for on-prem technologies and user definitions.
- Co-managed service model: We work alongside your IT staff, providing them with the necessary resources and expertise.
- We reduce the stress of yearly audits by offering ongoing policy reviews and monitoring your compliance posture.
Learn more about how we secure your organization while ensuring you are compliant.