The protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations is of paramount importance to the U.S Department of Defense (DoD) and can directly impact the ability of the DoD and the federal government to conduct its essential missions and functions successfully. A comprehensive Security System Plan (SSP) is proof that your organization possesses the means to preserve and protect sensitive information and is trustworthy enough to receive lucrative government contracts.
The U.S OUSD-A&S has stated that the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is a unified standard for implementing cybersecurity across the defense industrial base (DIB). Achieving CMMC certification is paramount to continued support to DoD contracts.
Achieving total compliance with all 110 government-mandated security requirements isn’t a quick process and might seem like a daunting task–especially for small- to medium-sized companies. That said, there are practical and efficient strategies for ensuring long-term information security.
Getting ready for CMMC Certification
How can your organization go about securing CUI? The first step is to review the process and requirements outlined by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification’s Advisory Board (Cyber-AB). Here you will find the steps outlining how to prepare for, schedule, and have your organization assessed by one of CMMC’s certified third-party assessing organizations.
One of the critical requirements for CMMC certification includes the development of a comprehensive System Security Plan (SSP). Your SSP must clearly define your business policies and processes to meet the 110 controls from NIST SP800-171 and its implied support via NIST SP800-53. A thorough SSP describes where, when, and how you store, process, and transmit CUI.
How to Initiate CMMC certification process
Preparing for CMMC Certification isn't as difficult as it might seem. First, ensure your business operation has a team of skilled cybersecurity professionals – this can be an internal team or a CMMC certified third-party assessing organization. The team should begin by assessing your company’s existing cybersecurity infrastructure and creating a contact list of company personnel allowed to access controlled unclassified information. Next, compile, review, and organize the contact list and any other relevant documents for your security plan, including your general cybersecurity policies, the function and purpose of your company systems, and any previous audit results.
The goal is for your organization to demonstrate a culture of cyber-awareness that permeates the entire organization. Not just to achieve certification but to recognize that cybersecurity is a dynamic condition that requires continual reviews and improvements as the cyber threat changes.
It’s essential that any organization working with CUI adhere to cybersecurity obligations. Not only are CUI data breaches a potential threat to national interests, but an inadequate SSP guarantees your company won’t be considered for federal contracts or subcontracts–and no contracts means no revenue.
Don't Just be Ready - Be Singular Ready
Our cyber experts draw on years of expertise and a federal cybersecurity background to help you stay compliant and protect your private data from emerging cyber threats. By performing a comprehensive audit against CMMC Levels 1 through 3, we can help you close and remediate any gaps in your cybersecurity capabilities. We will assess both the implementation of the required controls, and implementation maturity for planning purposes to meet critical dates and timeline needs. To learn more, contact us today.