If you haven’t heard already, CMMC is being reworked and the 2.0 version won’t be phased in for a while. However, that doesn’t mean you should forget about it for the time being. If you’re a business that has to comply with some level of CMMC, there are steps you can take now that will give your organization a competitive edge, as well as stay on top of regulations, and be better prepared for when CMMC 2.0 comes around.
In this blog, we’re going to go over a rundown of what CMMC is and its goal, as well as what steps you can take now to prepare for a successful assessment.
What is CMMC?
CMMC is the next step for defense contractors and their suppliers in regards to cybersecurity requirements they need to meet in order to compete for contracts. It requires defense contractors and subcontractors to be assessed by an independent third-party that rates the organization’s cybersecurity readiness and the extent to which its integrated into company culture.
CMMC is designed to ensure organizations dealing with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) are compliant with regulations and safeguarding that information through cybersecurity best practices and cyber hygiene.
How CMMC Differs from NIST 800-171
The CMMC framework is designed around the NIST 800-171 standards for protecting and distributing sensitive material. The difference between the two is that NIST tracks organizational progress toward implementing cybersecurity controls and processes, while CMMC measures the maturity of those implementations. This brings us into why it’s important to prepare now.
How to Best Prepare
The sooner you implement cybersecurity controls and processes, the better. Achieving compliance can take time, and the longer your implementations are in place before your CMMC assessment, the more mature they will be and the higher level of CMMC compliance you will achieve, allowing you to bid for contracts.
It’s important to note that being prepared is not just about having cybersecurity guidelines in place. Routine monitoring and tweaking will demonstrate your organization’s ongoing commitment to refining your cybersecurity protocols.
First Steps Toward Compliance
- Determine whether you handle CUI or FCI (Federal Contract Information). This will confirm the “level” of certification your organization will need.
- Compare your current controls and processes with those outlined in the CMMC levels to prepare your readiness for an audit. This is called a GAP Assessment.)
- Factor in upcoming organizational impacts, budget requirements, cultural shifts, implementation timeline, etc.
- Test and document results of new or changing processes or practices.
- Engage an IT managed service provider (MSP) skilled in CMMC compliance or NIST framework to review your current cybersecurity posture.
Get Started with CMMC Preparation Now
Preparing now will ensure your organization will have mature cybersecurity procedures in place before assessments begin, which will position you ahead of the competition when it comes for bidding on contracts and subcontracts. The requirements can seem overwhelming, but if you start now, you’ll be better prepared and in a more secure position.
Here at Kyber Security, we’ve tailored our MSP services to align with the NIST Cybersecurity framework to provide an easily integrated solution that can better your cybersecurity posture. We can also evaluate your DoD contractor or supplier related processes and controls to identify any potential gaps between your practices and CMMC requirements. Get in touch with Kyber today to learn more about what we can do to help you better prepare.
