How Do I Ensure My Business Is CMMC Compliant?

May 2, 2023

It is not unusual for companies, organizations, and entities associated with defense industries to be targeted by cybercriminals and hackers. To prevent this from happening, CMMC compliance is critical.

CMMC 2.0 stands for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. This is a program that is closely aligned with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) information security requirements for partners of the defense industrial base (DIB). The goal of CMMC certification is to enforce the protection of sensitive unclassified information that contractors and subcontractors might have access to.

It is required that all companies working in this sector will do self-assessments yearly and third-party assessments as required.

As you go through your cybersecurity program, there are several ways that you can make sure your cybersecurity plan is CMMC compliant. A few examples include:

Ensure you understand the specific requirements for your company

There are a variety of cybersecurity regulations you need to follow, and you need to understand the specific requirements that pertain to your business. For example, if you process, store, or transmit any information that qualifies as federal contract information (FCI), then CMMC requirements apply to you. The exact rules and regulations you need to follow may vary depending on what CMMC level your business must meet. This information will be included within your contract with the DoD. Regardless of the specific regulations you must follow, it is critical for you to work with an expert who can help you make sure that you comply with all relevant rules and regulations.

Determine which systems and information need to be protected

The next part of cybersecurity risk management is determining which systems and pieces of information need to be protected. This includes government property, anything related to the internet of things, operational technology, restricted information systems, and test equipment.

As you go through the process of determining which systems and information need to be protected, you need to take a close look at the people, technology, facilities, and external service providers that are closely associated with your specialized assets and federal contract information (this process is called Scoping in CMMC). You must make sure they also satisfy all appropriate CMMC controls to ensure all of this information is properly protected at every step.

Assess your existing system with a CMMC gap analysis

You might need to make some changes to improve the level of protection you have in your business, and that means you need to conduct a CMMC gap analysis. Using this process, you need to identify areas that need improvement and remediate them as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.

You need to understand where you are right now before you can understand where you should be going next.

You should take a closer look at the training you implement in your business and the cybersecurity measures you have in place to verify that it is strong enough to guard your confidential assets.

You might need help conducting a thorough gap analysis, and that is where reaching out to an expert can be beneficial.

Implement the necessary processes and train your team to remain CMMC compliant

You must make sure that you remain CMMC compliant, but you cannot do everything on your own. You must implement the necessary processes to get your entire team to live and breathe by these regulations.

First, you should explain to your team why it is so important to remain compliant with these rules and regulations. Then, you should create a baseline of where they are at right now when it comes to following compliance procedures. Some members of your team may be more proficient in technology than others, so spend the time to get those less technologically skilled on the same page.

Then, you need to review your assets with your team and explain exactly why these extra protection measures are in place and what that looks like. Remember that you need to prove maturity. It is one thing to say that you have a process in place, but it is something else entirely to show that the process is actually being followed.

Determine if you require a CMMC flow down

You should also determine whether you require a CMMC flow down. If you work with subcontractors and specialists who will also have access to FCI, then you may require a CMMC flow down. This is a comprehensive supply chain risk audit where you determine exactly who may use or create FCI under a DoD contract. Then, you should use this information to designate an appropriate CMMC level for each purchase order or subcontract. You may also need to produce evidence and confirmation showing that those subcontractors and specialists have been certified appropriately to access that information.

It’s imperative to know that your vendors can knock your business out of compliance. You can prevent this from happening by ensuring that you have contracts in place that force your vendors to comply with all relevant rules and regulations.

If you do not have the correct security measures in place, and confidential information is compromised in some way, the government could end up filing a lawsuit for 3x damages. That is exactly what happened during the SolarWinds attack. It is absolutely critical for your business to have the appropriate security measures in place. If you have appropriate CMMC compliance, you will be able to detect and react to even the most sophisticated attacks, which can protect not only government information but also the future of your company.

Work with the right partner

Clearly, there is a lot that you need to keep in mind if you want to ensure that you are CMMC compliant. While there is a lot to keep up with, particularly given everything that you have to do on a daily basis, this is not necessarily something that you have to go through alone.

You need to work with a partner who has experience dealing with CMMC compliance. These rules and regulations can change quickly, and you might not be able to keep up with them on your own. If you have an outside, objective professional with experience in this area, you can reduce your chances of facing fines and sanctions, protect all necessary confidential information, and ensure the efficiency of your business. Working with the right partner (like Gray Analytics) can help you avoid common pitfalls and implement the right steps, such as:

All encryption must be FIPS 140-2 compliant
Create shared responsibility matrices for inherited controls
Ensure Multi Factor Authentication is enforced throughout
Ensure all technology providers are doing there part to support your CMMC compliance
Ensure separation of duties is adequately addressed

Becoming CMMC Compliant with Gray Analytics

It is necessary for your business to be CMMC compliant, and Gray Analytics can help you. At Gray Analytics, we have a large team that can conduct a detailed analysis of all facets of your business to ensure you are CMMC compliant. Our team of certified auditors, certified professionals, and registered practitioners have experience in all areas of CMMC compliance. We can lean on that experience to ensure you are properly protected.

As a registered provider organization (RPO), we have everything in one place to prepare you to go through your assessment. We can help you with the prep work needed to achieve CMMC compliance before your assessment is conducted, reducing any regulatory risk or liability that your company might face.

Because the DIB and digital worlds continue to change quickly, you need to be proactive instead of reactive. Do not wait to face potential fines, sanctions, and audits from the government before you take action. Instead, partner with Gray Analytics, and let us ensure that you comply with all relevant rules and regulations.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today to speak to a member of our team, and read more by taking a closer look at our pillar page: What is CMMC And Why Is It Important To My Business? We are confident that we can help you address any potential CMMC compliance issues.