Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Readiness

Full-time staff do not have the time to focus entirely on CMMC compliance. The framework is complex and detailed, requiring professionals who can thoroughly assess, find gaps, and implement controls to protect CUI. By partnering with a CMMC compliance specialist, you are more likely to gain a greater ROI and avoid the potential of non-compliance and losing contracts.

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is a category of sensitive but unclassified information that the U.S. government deems important enough to protect. It refers to information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls, as specified by laws, regulations, or government-wide policies, but is not classified under executive orders that define national security classification levels.

CUI can include a range of information, such as:

- Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Data that can identify individuals, like Social Security numbers or medical records.
- Financial Information: Data related to financial operations or transactions.
- Proprietary Information: Business-sensitive information, such as trade secrets or intellectual property.
- Legal and Regulatory Information: Documents related to legal proceedings or regulatory compliance.

The purpose of CUI is to standardize the handling of sensitive information across various federal agencies and contractors, ensuring consistent protection and reducing the risk of unauthorized access or disclosure.

Congress and other stakeholders received 850+ public comments about the need to enhance CMMC 1.0 by reducing costs, increasing trust in the assessment ecosystem, and clarifying and aligning cybersecurity requirements to other federal requirements and commonly accepted standards.

CMMC, DFARS, and ITAR are all related to cybersecurity and information protection, but they serve different purposes and are applied in different contexts. Here’s a breakdown of each:

1. CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification):

   • Purpose: CMMC is a certification program developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to assess and enhance the cybersecurity practices of defense contractors and their supply chains.
   • Focus: It evaluates how well organizations protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and other sensitive data through a tiered system of maturity levels.
   • Application: CMMC requirements are included in DoD contracts, and contractors must achieve a specific level of certification to be eligible for these contracts.

2. DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement):

   • Purpose: DFARS is a set of regulations that supplement the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and apply specifically to defense contracts.
   • Focus: It includes provisions related to cybersecurity, particularly DFARS 252.204-7012, which mandates contractors to comply with NIST SP 800-171 for protecting CUI.
   • Application: DFARS clauses are included in defense contracts and specify cybersecurity requirements and practices that contractors must follow.

3. ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations):

   • Purpose: ITAR is a set of U.S. regulations that control the export and import of defense-related articles and services.
   • Focus: It aims to protect national security and foreign policy interests by regulating the distribution of military and defense technology.
   • Application: ITAR compliance is required for entities involved in the production, export, and import of defense articles and services, including technical data related to military applications.

• NIST SP 800-171 provides specific guidelines for protecting CUI and is a standard that organizations need to implement and self-assess.
• CMMC is a broader certification framework that includes NIST SP 800-171 among other standards, with a structured approach to assessing and certifying an organization's overall cybersecurity maturity through third-party evaluations.

While NIST SP 800-171 focuses on what needs to be done to protect CUI, CMMC focuses on both what needs to be done and how well it is being done across various maturity levels.