By Michael Joe, Security Consultant at QoS Consulting Solutions
Is your organization unsure if they should seek CMMC compliance? If so, QoS is here to provide expert insight. Becoming CMMC compliant offers many advantages, but it is important to understand why beginning the trek is so important: The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is one of the biggest supply chains in the world, encompassing more than 300,000 organizations. CMMC compliance will align your organization for success when working with the U.S Department of Defense (DoD) and securing DoD information systems and the vast amount of DIB and DoD-specific data.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, also known as CMMC, is required for any organization or contractor seeking to work with the DoD. CMMC compliance assures the DoD that your IT infrastructure complies with the CMMC requirements. This gives the DoD confidence that a contractor or organization will be able to process, transmit, and/or store Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information securely throughout the supply chain.
CMMC 2.0 offers 3 levels, as opposed to the 5 originally offered in CMMC 1.0. Each level is stronger and more integrated than the previous. Read this blog to see the latest changes within the CMMC levels.
Now let’s dive into how becoming CMMC compliant can strengthen your organization’s overall security posture and lead to advantageous contracts with the DoD.
It Can Uncover Vulnerabilities You May Not Have Seen Before
The controls and requirements in CMMC are based on NIST SP 800-171, an internationally recognized and comprehensive baseline of security policies. Working to implement this framework is beneficial for an organization even if they are not working with the DoD. Given how extensive CMMC is, it will likely expose vulnerabilities that should be addressed. As the cybersecurity landscape changes, assessing your environment will prove beneficial, especially if done with experts.
Allows Expert Consultants to Examine Cybersecurity Practices
Even the most secure organizations can benefit from seeking expertise from 3rd parties. It is important to have 3rd party experts and consultants guide you through CMMC certification. Outside expertise may identify issues that may go unchecked. The CMMC Accreditation Body offers CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organizations (C3PAO), Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs), Registered Practitioners (RPs), and Provisional Assessors. C3PAOs are organizations authorized to deliver Certified CMMC Assessments while RPOs, RPs, and Provisional Assessors provide advice, consulting, and recommendations to their clients. RPOs and RPs do not conduct Certified CMMC Assessments but are valuable resources for implementing the necessary controls.
We often see organizations attempt to build out compliance programs internally without the needed subject matter expertise. This often leads to a strain on resources, time, and in some cases a poorly implemented program, which is why seeking CMMC professionals is so vital.
It Gives Organizations the Ability to Create a Well-Prepared Cybersecurity Framework
It is common for organizations not to give cybersecurity controls the attention they require, even after risks are identified. The costs associated with data breaches are well documented, CyberCrime Magazine estimates global cybercrime will cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. Therefore, building a proactive cybersecurity strategy is paramount. Leveraging subject matter expertise to develop a mature cybersecurity framework provides the necessities and innovation for a more comprehensive cybersecurity stack.
CMMC Compliance Opens Doors to More Robust Contracts with the Department of Defense
Eventually, the DoD will require all contractors to be CMMC certified. Attaining CMMC certification opens your organization up to an ever-expanding military spending budget. CMMC certification places your organization in a competitive space to support DoD contracts.
CMMC Compliance Addresses the All-Important Supply Chain
As we touched on in the beginning of this blog, securing the supply chain is of utmost importance. CMMC requires addressing supply chain woes as data breaches commonly occur at this level. Your organization’s connection to 3rd parties creates vulnerabilities that must be addressed.
Last Step: Reach out to CMMC Professionals
QoS Consulting Solutions is an approved C3PAO Candidate listed in the CMMC Marketplace. We have authorized Registered Practitioners and Provisional Assessors, directly on staff or through partnerships. There are only 153 Provisional Assessors in the country and Shannon Noonan, our co-founder, is one of them. Our comprehensive cybersecurity solutions are designed from the ground up to meet your business goals. From assessment readiness through design and full deployment, QoS delivers end-to-end secure content management, encryption, network security, identity and access management, authentication, and automated monitoring advisory services.
For more information speak with a QoS consultant today, sales@qosconsultingsolutions.com, or reach out through our contact form on our website, www.qosconsultingsolutions.com.
Michael Joe is a Security Consultant and blog writer at QoS Consulting Solutions, author of several captivating works on our website. Michael graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and with Latin Honors: Cum Laude. Michael’s passion for spreading awareness and knowledge of information technologies and cybersecurity is evident in his unique voice and writing style. As you noticed in his work, Michael’s storytelling and humor have a way of grasping the reader in a way few technology-focused blogs have done. Michael’s aim is to educate and entertain to change the way people perceive IT literature: Moving it away from a hyper-focus on so called “geeks”, towards the greater public. Cybersecurity is for EVERYONE, not just the techies in the trenches! Michael was expertly trained in the art of cybersecurity consulting.
See author's posts