Contractors and subcontractors who handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) as part of their work for the government are routinely targeted by malicious actors who view them as an easier route for obtaining sensitive information than attacking government systems directly. As cyberattacks have gotten more persistent and more complex, the Department of Defense (DoD) has enacted stricter requirements for companies handling such information to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. The Cybersecurity Maturation Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 & 3.0 program standardizes the requirements for defense contractors and subcontractors, and it’s clear that the government means business in enforcing them.
Because compliance failures could put national security at risk, the consequences to the individual contractor can include loss of contracts, being barred from bidding on future contracts, or even damages or fines. Despite the high stakes, however, many companies stumble on their way to achieving compliance by making common, but avoidable, mistakes. What are the common pitfalls your organization should be aware of on the road to CMMC 2.0 compliance?
The first mistake many companies make is failing to understand exactly what CMMC 2.0 requires for them. Perhaps they assume their existing cybersecurity measures will be enough, or they don’t fully understand the gaps their approach leaves open. Without a comprehensive understanding of what needs to be done, effective planning to reach compliance is impossible. This leaves companies failing key controls when assessed, then scrambling to remediate their mistakes.
Because CMMC compliance requires coordination across departments, lack of support from executives and other employees can produce challenges in obtaining needed resources and cultivating a security culture in the organization. It’s critical to effectively communicate CMMC objectives and the consequences of noncompliance for the organization to ensure that everybody is on board to meet the required goals.
Completing comprehensive gap assessment is essential in achieving CMMC compliance, and yet many companies rush this process, perhaps to meet deadlines. Unfortunately, this approach can leave serious security vulnerabilities undetected, increasing the risk of data breaches. To truly meet CMMC requirements, a gap assessment must be thorough, examining current practices in meticulous detail, comparing them with CMMC 2.0 & 3.0 standards, and creating an actionable plan to resolve issues.
CMMC compliance doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen without considerable effort. This requires a substantial commitment of resources in terms of time and expertise—not wishful thinking in assuming that existing personnel can fit it in to already-impacted workloads. Failing to provide the budget and focus the task demands almost inevitably produces delays as well as failure to fully meet the DoD’s requirements on the first try.
While businesses aren’t required to bring in professional help to meet their CMMC compliance objectives, trying to go it alone can turn out to be a costly error. The CMMC framework is complex and overwhelming, with a confusing array of requirements that can be easily misinterpreted. Bringing in professional consultants at the outset helps organizations more efficiently navigate their path to compliance, as well as helping them gain valuable insight into what the framework’s stringent requirements mean in practical terms for their organization.
Acknowledging that CMMC compliance is challenging is the first step to creating a plan that will work to protect sensitive national security information and safeguard the future of your defense contracting business. The next step is calling Right Click. Is your business ready for CMMC 2.0 or 3.0 – see our prior blog HERE
As an IT, compliance, and cybersecurity firm with over 25 years of experience, our team will assess your current cybersecurity readiness, pinpoint gaps that must be remediated to meet your compliance objectives, and develop an effective plan to help you achieve and maintain compliance. Don’t let common mistakes trip up your organization. To learn more about how our guidance can make your path to CMMC compliance easier, contact Right Click to schedule your consultation today.
