Steps to Becoming CMMC Compliant

It’s already well understood that your status as a reliable and productive contractor depends entirely on whether or not you can effectively protect and handle the data you have access to. It used to be that all you’d need to do was fortify your network infrastructure according to the NIST 800-171 and perform your own self-assessments to access lucrative contracts. However, with the rise of cyberattacks against government agencies, the DoD has determined that stricter measures need to be put in place to elevate national cybersecurity posture. So now your company needs a third-party audit to validate that you’re qualified for CMMC accreditation. While there aren’t any DoD-sponsored frameworks to lay out everything you need, NIST has provided comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks that lay out the steps to becoming CMMC compliant.

Steps to Becoming CMMC CompliantRegarding compliance, Domain Technology Group is the obvious choice for your company. We have the experience and expertise necessary to help you achieve and maintain CMMC compliance. Our team understands the importance of data security, and we are dedicated to protecting your information at all costs. We also have a proven track record of success, having helped many organizations achieve and maintain compliance with various regulations. We’ve been consistently capable of offering these types of high-quality services due to our intimate familiarity with NIST frameworks, allowing our teams to provide actionable insights, personalized support, and responsive solutions designed to walk your company through the entire CMMC compliance process using intuitive best practices and our in-depth NIST experience.

Beginning Your CMMC Compliance Journey

While the initial deployment of CMMC requirements only affected the internal departments within the governmental structure, most contractors are now required to adapt their cybersecurity stature to these standards if they expect to be trusted with the handling of CUI. As a proactive measure to safeguard sensitive materials, the CMMC ensures that every company working alongside the DoD is verified as capable of sufficiently preventing cyber attacks without compromising critical information. CMMC accreditation is a matter of national security, and by following these steps, you can be well on your way to ensuring your company is compliant with its rigorous standards.

NIST 800-171 and 800-53 Compliance

While NIST frameworks aren’t guaranteed to make your cybersecurity stature acceptable for DoD standards, they serve as the preeminent frameworks used to improve security controls, maturity practices, and cybersecurity measures. In addition, they offer clear guidelines that allow your company to stay a step ahead in anticipation of your audit.

Familiarity with Third-Party Assessment Organizations

One of the significant changes to qualifying certain companies for company contracts is that self-assessments are no longer valid proof of competency. Instead, the CMMC requires an objective third-party assessment to determine the state of your cybersecurity stature. By looking into these organizations ahead of time, you can prepare for what they will be expecting and their assessment processes and ensure you’re at the appropriate maturity level.

Identify Your Preferred Level of Security Compliance

The CMMC endorses five levels of security compliance, each allowing qualified companies access to different types of data based on their maturity levels. If you’re aiming for a certain level, adjust your cybersecurity measures appropriately to reach your preferred level of clearance.

Domain Technology Group can assist you with your steps to becoming CMMC compliant, drawing on our extensive experience as a third-party assessment company working with the FFIEC on NIST frameworks. If you’re interested in a partnership, visit our contact page so we can get started.