What Is CMMC Compliance and Why Does It Matter for Your Business? – Avoiding Common Pitfalls on the Road to CMMC Compliance

What Is CMMC Compliance and Why Does It Matter for Your Business?

Winning a Department of Defense (DoD) contract or partnering with their network of contractors would be a next-level move for your business.

But simply having a business plan isn’t enough. Today, the DoD plus its supply chain of defense contractors, also known as the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), is vulnerable to a constant onslaught of cyberattacks. Getting a “yes” requires a top-tier, ultra-protective cybersecurity defense.

For a clear metric, the DoD developed the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program. CMMC requirements, now in their second stage, are a more unified attempt to protect DoD information. In place of the hundreds of individual organizational requirements used prior to 2010, CMMC establishes tiered cybersecurity standards for limiting network access and shielding critical documents and files.

As you contemplate this move or evaluate your existing cybersecurity standards, learn more about CMMC and what it means for your business.

What Is the CMMC Program?

The CMMC program was conceived as a measure to secure sensitive, unclassified information the DoD shares with its large network of contractors and subcontractors. This information is described as Federal Contract Information (FCI), not intended for the public and often transactional in nature, or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or information developed by the U.S. Government, including laws, regulations and policies.

For existing and aspiring DoD contractors, CMMC will likely change your approach to cybersecurity:

• Previously, you could conduct and submit your own security assessment. Now, a third party must conduct the contractor or subcontractor’s security assessment in most cases.
• CMMC upgrades the CUI program, introduced in 2010 to consolidate a disorganized, vulnerability-prone system, and builds off these standards. Requirements are listed in 48 CFR CMMC and are based around National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-171.
• Following CMMC standards results in better security alignment among DIBs, including for assessments and information sharing.
• CMMC now uses a tiered model (Level 1 to 3) based on the type and sensitivity of the information handled. The requirements for assessments, security measures and disseminating information increase with each level.
• As of 2025, contractors who handle sensitive, unclassified DoD information must meet all security and assessment conditions for their specified level to secure or maintain their contract award.

Which CMMC Level Are You?

CMMC assessments are conducted at one of three levels, each determined by the degree of cybersecurity required to protect sensitive DoD information:

• Level 1: The lowest level focuses on reliably protecting FCI. Businesses falling into this classification must follow 17 cybersecurity practices and have the option to self-report their assessments. Level 1 typically applies to external contractors.
• Level 2: Most DIB contractors will be Level 2 entities, which manage CUI. Level 2 organizations must comply with 110 security practices based on NIST SP 800-171 standards and will either self-report their security assessment or have it performed by a third party. Contractors in this group generally support DoD or U.S. Government IT operations and must have defined protocols for physical access control, incident response and risk management. Additionally, assessments aren’t one-off and must be conducted every three years to renew a DoD contract.
• Level 3: The strictest level applies to contractors that manage CUI that’s vulnerable to more advanced or frequent threats. These entities must implement similarly detailed cybersecurity practices and will have the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) oversee its assessments. Also scheduled every three years, assessments must confirm compliance with 110 NIST SP 800-171 R2 standards and 24 NIST SP 800-172 requirements.

Regardless of level, your assessment earns a score, which will be entered into the U.S. Government’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS). This entry tells the DoD that you’re prepared to handle sensitive data.

How Does the CMMC Program Affect Your Business?

Realize that CMMC compliance goes beyond a standard audit. Preparation for your assessment can take months, and over this period, scheduling an independent audit allows you to examine and address related cybersecurity practices ahead of time. Once your assessment arrives, a C3PAO managed services provider will evaluate your network, systems and practices on CMMC requirements for your level.

For additional considerations:

• CMMC compliance is required for direct DoD contractors and adjacent entities, including higher education research centers and aerospace and defense suppliers.
• Contractors are advised to set aside six to 18 months to prepare for a Level 2 assessment.
• While the DoD has granted temporary contracts over the past couple of years, securing a contract directly depend on CMMC compliance as of 2025.
• CMMC assessments are more comprehensive than standard cybersecurity audits. Instead, they examine all data management and storage systems and require you to use Microsoft Government Cloud or a similarly secure cloud provider. Additionally, you’re expected to have a cloud migration plan and a team ready to monitor and respond to threats based on CMMC requirements.
• Future assessments ensure your compliance with updated CMMC requirements for monitoring, threat detection and incident reporting.
• A Managed Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Enclave, a controlled data storage environment, is said to streamline the CMMC compliance process.

How QualityIP Can Help

Are you considering a bid as a Department of Defense contractor? Before you go through a CMMC audit, have us assess your business’s security. This gives you a chance to fix issues that could get flagged and shows your readiness to assist the DoD directly or support one of their contractors.

For a general frame of references, CMMC requires you to have a security plan in place for securing information plus cybersecurity controls for access, authentication, incident response, physical and personnel security, and file transfers.

Here’s how QualityIP can help you get CMMC ready:

• Managed IT security: Focus on innovation as we keep everything secure through advanced security monitoring and response.
• Managed firewall security: We’ll create, administer, monitor and maintain your business’s firewall, keeping important information secure and blocking intruders.
• Threat detection: We find bad actors before they access your files, thanks to regular penetration testing, intrusion detection, vulnerability scanning and threat identification.
• Password management: Phishing and other social engineering schemes are no match for our team’s tactics. We enforce compliance while storing, protecting and managing your passwords.
• Training: Have QualityIP get you up to speed on the latest threats, detection methods and prevention tactics to reduce the risk of a data breach.
• Physical security: Not all cyber criminals exist in the digital space. Some go after your trash, searching for passwords and other ways to crack the code. Our E-waste recycling service anticipates this risk by destroying your data and ensuring important components never fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, we can help you install controls that limit access to servers and other key equipment.
• Risk assessments: What’s your network’s weakness? Identify each and every one, and thoroughly address them ahead of your CMMC audit. Our team considers all factors, from cybersecurity to hardware, humans and data storage.
• Managed infrastructure: What’s your setup? We’ll get it in line with CMMC standards. Have QualityIP provide recommendations not just for software, hardware, network topography and workstations but also to boost speed, get rid of bottlenecks, decrease downtime and improve monitoring. Beyond your initial approval, our attentive approach ensures you continue to meet the conditions of your contract.
• Managed backup: When your DoD contract depends on how well you store and protect your information, have QualityIP provide, upgrade or maintain your backup system. Our two-step approach more than protects critical files – it retains them in the event of an interruption, complete system wipeout, natural disaster or another major event.

As you plan for your upcoming assessment, have QualityIP conduct a preliminary audit based on CMMC requirements. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do.