CMMC Certification

Definition

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a unified standard for implementing cybersecurity across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, CMMC requires third-party assessments of contractors' cybersecurity practices and processes. The framework consolidates multiple cybersecurity standards into a tiered model with three levels, ensuring that companies handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) meet progressively rigorous security requirements. CMMC 2.0 streamlined the original five-level model down to three levels aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172.

How It Works

CMMC Level 1 requires basic cyber hygiene with 17 practices based on FAR 52.204-21. Level 2 aligns with all 110 controls in NIST SP 800-171 and requires either self-assessment or third-party certification depending on the sensitivity of the CUI involved. Level 3 adds controls from NIST SP 800-172 for the most sensitive programs and mandates government-led assessments. Organizations must scope their environment, implement required practices, document them in a System Security Plan (SSP), and submit to assessment by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) are permitted for some controls with strict timelines.

Why It Matters

Any organization bidding on DoD contracts that involve CUI must achieve CMMC certification. Without it, companies are ineligible for contract award. Non-compliance means lost revenue and exclusion from the defense supply chain. CMMC also raises the cybersecurity baseline across the entire DIB, reducing the risk of adversarial exploitation of contractor networks. For subcontractors, the flow-down requirements mean even small businesses must meet the standard or risk losing their place in the supply chain.