DoD Contracts and CMMC: What to Do If You’re Struggling with Cybersecurity Compliance

General January 30, 2025

Department of Defense (DoD) contractors fully understand the need to keep the information they’re entrusted with confidential. Malicious actors are constantly gunning for vulnerabilities that would allow them to access sensitive data, so maintaining a high level of cybersecurity is a given. However, if your company is finding Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements to be confusing and difficult to implement, you’re far from alone. Unfortunately, failure to meet your compliance obligation could very well result in the loss of DoD contracts.

Perhaps you’ve already been told that your current cybersecurity measures, which were sufficient before, are inadequate under the new standards. You may not understand the full scope of CMMC requirements and, more importantly, how they apply to your specific contracts. And it’s not just your own compliance you need to worry about—if your subcontractors and suppliers are also having trouble with compliance, your entire supply chain is at risk. Your in-house staff doesn’t have the expertise or the time to manage the compliance process, and you’re worried about the time and money it will take to achieve the required level of certification and to keep up with the administrative burden of the required documentation and audits.

With the stakes so high—not just the potential loss of existing contracts but also losing eligibility to bid on future contracts—failing to achieve CMMC compliance is not an option. Bringing in an outside CMMC compliance expert can be a cost-effective, efficient solution to meet this challenge.

Achieving and Maintaining CMMC Compliance with the Help of a Compliance Expert

While some businesses may fear what it might cost to consult an outside expert when they’re struggling to meet CMMC compliance standards, calling in the right specialist can save a considerable amount of both time and money that can be wasted in efforts that are misdirected or unnecessary. This crucial ally can help by providing:

BenefitHow They Help
Comprehensive gap analysisConducting a detailed review of your current cybersecurity practices and identifying gaps between your systems and the required CMMC level. This provides vital information on exactly where you fall short and what needs to be prioritized.
A tailored compliance roadmapDeveloping a customized action plan outlining the steps necessary to meet compliance, including timelines and resource allocation. This clear path forward reduces confusion and streamlines efforts.
Expertise in CMMC frameworkProviding informed understanding of the specific requirements for your CMMC level, including technical controls, policies, and documentation. This enables you to avoid over- or under-preparing, instead focusing on what’s actually required.
Assistance with System Security Plans (SSP) and Plans of Action And Milestones (POAMS)  Drafting or updating critical documentation like the SSP and POAMs to align with CMMC standards. This ensures your documentation accurately reflects your cybersecurity posture and is audit-ready.
Implementation of cybersecurity controlsGuiding the implementation of required security controls, including access management, incident response, and data protection measures. This helps you achieve compliance more quickly by taking advantage of proven strategies and tools.
Advice on vendor and supply chain compliance  Assessing the compliance status of your subcontractors and suppliers and providing strategies to ensure they meet required standards. This helps protect your compliance status by addressing vulnerabilities in your supply chain.
Training and awareness programsTraining your staff on CMMC requirements, best practices, and ongoing responsibilities to maintain compliance. This gives your team the knowledge to sustain compliance over the long term.
Pre-assessment preparationConducting a mock CMMC assessment to identify and resolve any weaknesses before the official audit. This improves your chances of passing the CMMC assessment on the first attempt.
Ongoing monitoring and maintenanceEstablishing processes for continuous monitoring, regular updates, and periodic reviews to ensure ongoing compliance. This helps you avoid future noncompliance issues and remain eligible for DoD contracts.
Cost and resource optimization  Helping you prioritize efforts and allocate resources efficiently to achieve compliance without unnecessary expense or delay. This saves you time and money.

Having this crucial support from a knowledgeable expert will ensure that your compliance strategy is aligned with the latest updates to CMMC requirements, minimizing the risk of penalties, lost contracts, or reputational damage from non-compliance. Best of all, instead of losing countless hours of staff time to CMMC compliance efforts, your team will be able to focus on core operations.

Cybersecurity and Compliance Solutions for DoD Contractors

If non-compliance with CMMC is threatening the future of your contracts and your company, Right Click can help. We’re experienced in creating individualized, cost-effective strategies to help government contracting businesses meet their compliance obligations without breaking the budget. To schedule your consultation, contact us here today.

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