So, what is CMMC?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification or CMMC was developed by the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to provide a standardized set of practices for any businesses working with the DIB or Department of Defense.
With CMMC being required for certain organizations working with the federal government many people may ask the question: Who needs it?
The short answer to this question is any organization that is contracted, works for, or receives controlled classified information (CUI) from the federal government. The fact that the private sector and the government cooperate constantly has led for the necessity of standardized cyber practices across the supply chain. These standards are especially useful for manufacturers who supply much of the nation's necessary products. Due to 66% of manufacturing firms experiencing an IoT related security instant it is no wonder the government is searching for secure and trustworthy partners.
CMMC is also applicable to all critical infrastructure sectors. Because the chemical, environmental, manufacturing and many more sectors work with the DIB or DOJ it is more than likely that your organization will have to comply with CMMC regulations.
If you believe that your organization will be required to comply with CMMC regulations, then your next question is probably . . .
What Should I Do About It?
The CMMC 2.0 model contains three levels: Foundational, Advanced, and Expert. Each level has various controls and processes that must be implemented in order for a business to be compliant. If your organization already has a strong security culture, then you may have already implemented some of the most foundational security practices. However, to comply with the upper two levels of CMMC your organization will most likely have to undergo and external audit from a third party certified in making sure you're compliant.
Your organization must do its due diligence in determining if your partners are serious about CMMC and are capable of protecting your CUI. Discuss with your MSP ((know as ESP, External Service Provider, for CMMC Compliance) to determine whether they will be able to support you in the future.
Luckily, CorpInfoTech can attest for your organization up to maturity level two of the CMMC. Our approach to security is holistic and done completely in house. This means that your audit will be comprehensive as well as provide next steps to making sure your business is where it needs to be to apply for CMMC.
Still not sure if CMMC applies to your business, CorpInfoTech can help you navigate CMMC Compliance.
Update 10/15: The final CMMC 2.0 rule is here The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification has been officially published into the federal register as a final rule on October 15th. What does this mean for your organization? With this final rule, contractors must take immediate action to protect CUI and align with regulatory requirements! If your business needs guidance on navigating the complexities of CMMC 2.0, CorpInfoTech is here to help.
CorpInfoTech (Corporate Information Technologies) provides small to mid-market organizations with expert I.T. services including compliance assessment, cybersecurity penetration tests, and comprehensive business continuity planning services. CorpInfoTech can help organizations, quantify, create, refine, and mitigate the risks presented by business threatening disasters in whatever form they may be disguised.
