What is CMMC and Why is Compliance Necessary?
In the ever-changing world of technology, data breaches and cybersecurity threats are becoming more commonplace with big corporations, medium-sized businesses and nationally recognized industry leaders.
Hackers are always learning advanced ways to break through security.
In order to combat cyber attacks, federal agencies have begun implementing industry compliance standards for their contractors and outsourced partners to strengthen their security measures.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Compliance is the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) answer to that problem.
So what is CMMC exactly, and does your business need to be CMMC compliant?
What is CMMC?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a framework developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance the cybersecurity posture of its contractors and subcontractors within the defense industrial base (DIB). Its primary goal is to protect sensitive unclassified information, such as Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which are frequently targeted by cyberattacks. CMMC is designed to provide the DoD with greater assurance that companies handling this data have the necessary security controls in place.
CMMC replaces the previous model of self-attestation with a tiered certification system, and how you prove compliance depends on the level and the contract: an annual self-assessment at the lower end, a third-party assessment by a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) for most CUI work, or a government-led assessment at the highest level. This tiered approach is a key part of the CMMC 2.0 framework, which simplifies the original five-level model into three distinct levels. Each level builds upon the previous one and corresponds to the type and sensitivity of information a company handles.
What is CMMC 2.0?
CMMC 2.0 is an updated version of the previous CMMC 1.0, with three distinct levels as opposed to the 5-level model found in the earlier iteration.
The required CMMC level is explicitly stated in DoD contracts. This ensures that every company in the defense supply chain, from large prime contractors to small subcontractors, is held to a consistent and verifiable cybersecurity standard. By implementing CMMC, the DoD aims to create a more resilient and secure supply chain, safeguarding national security.
What is CMMC Compliance?
In order for any defense contractor or vendor to work with the DoD, they must go through the CMMC compliance certification process. This verifies that their practices and processes meet certain requirements for security standards. CMMC Compliance creates a standard for all contractors by assessing their approach to security and making it uniform across the board.
By standardizing the security approach for their vendors, the DoD can guarantee a framework that protects their Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which are government data and information from the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that should be kept private and secure.
Levels of Compliance for CMMC 2.0
Requirements for CMMC Compliance vary based on the priority of the project and how protected the information needs to be. High-level clearance projects will need a higher level of security compliance; their practices and processes for cybersecurity will need to be more intensive and thorough.
CMMC 2.0 is no longer a proposal on the horizon. It’s here. The DoD finalized it through two rules: the program rule (32 CFR Part 170) took effect December 16, 2024, and the acquisition rule (48 CFR/DFARS) took effect November 10, 2025. That second rule is the one that actually puts CMMC clauses into contracts, and it’s now rolling out in phases: Level 1 and Level 2 self-assessments first, with mandatory third-party Level 2 certification beginning November 10, 2026, and full implementation across all applicable contracts by 2028. The original framework had five levels; CMMC 2.0 streamlined that down to the three below.
In the previous version, there were five levels of compliance that contractors must test for. Now, there are three levels that contractors can achieve to work with the DoD.
Each level builds upon the one before it. The levels are as follows:
Level 1: Foundational
This level requires a basic safeguarding ability for covered contractor information. Their cybersecurity approach should protect their covered contractor information systems and limit access to authorized users that are trusted within the company. Firms authorized at this level may self-assess annually to remain certified.
Level 2: Advanced
Contractors working with CUI will need to comply with level two, where requirements focus on the company’s cybersecurity processes and practices protecting CUI. They mirror NIST SP 800-171, specifically its 110 security controls.
Level 3: Expert
As the top level of compliance, only vendors working with CUI on the DoD’s highest priority programs will need/have this status. This level focuses on minimizing the danger of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). It builds on Level 2 by adding a subset of NIST SP 800-172 controls and is assessed by the government (DIBCAC), not a third party.
Domains Addressed
Each certification level addresses the practices and processes of the contractor based upon their capabilities in a multitude of different domains in security:
- Access Control
- Security Assessment
- Awareness & Training
- Media Protection
- Personnel Security
- Maintenance
- System & Communications Protection
- Configuration Management
- Physical Protection
- System & Information Integrity
- Identification & Authentication
- Incident Response
- Risk Assessment
- Audit and Accountability
The standards set for each domain for the level a contractor is wishing to receive must be met across all of them in order to achieve compliance for that level.
Simply put: Each level of compliance must address these domains, though the standards advance with each level. You will need to meet the domain requirements of the specific level to earn compliance.
Why Should Your Business Have CMMC Compliance?
If your company is planning to partner with the DoD or any other government-ranking agency, then CMMC compliance may be mandatory. You will need to get verified before your contract work begins. Some agencies require the clearance before you can apply for the job.
Even if your business is not working under a government contract, CMMC compliance is a beneficial certification to have. Compliance testing ensures that your company stays up-to-date on cybersecurity procedures and practices.
Through CMMC Compliance, current and future clients can trust your business to protect their classified information by maintaining standards set by high-ranking federal agencies for long-term cybersecurity agility.
Managed Security Service Providers
Between completing their own projects and keeping in line with the government, it can be difficult for contractors to proactively test for and keep in compliance with cybersecurity regulations. Thankfully, the DoD allows its contractors to outsource the requirements to a third-party consultant, known as a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP).
MSSPs typically specialize in cybersecurity and compliance services, using advanced technological processes to actively test and monitor the contractor’s security for threats. By outsourcing to an MSSP, a contractor can meet standards and maintain them through their services.
However, an important thing to know is that while you can outsource the management of security controls, the responsibility for compliance ultimately remains with the contractor, not the MSSP. The MSSP can help you meet the necessary requirements, but they don’t take on the legal liability for compliance. In fact, under the current rules a senior company official has to formally affirm your compliance in the DoD’s SPRS system, and a false affirmation can carry False Claims Act liability. That’s exactly why having the right partner do the work properly matters.
Cost-Effective Security Compliance Services for Your Company
Outsourcing to an MSSP is the most cost-effective route for a government contractor to make. In doing so, they will be able to consistently meet the CMMC cybersecurity requirements, while focusing on their own tasks.
Networking Technologies + Support (NTS) is a Richmond-based and nationally ranked IT service provider that is considered both a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and an MSSP for security-specific work. NTS can identify your compliance data security shortcomings and make recommendations to resolve the issues.
As a cybersecurity advisor, NTS uses security audits in line with your desired level of compliance to test your company’s cybersecurity for any vulnerabilities. These audits also provide framework assessments on your hardware and software systems to analyze for security effectiveness.
By employing MSSPs like NTS, government contractors won’t have to take precious time from their projects to test for updated cybersecurity protection or find solutions if one is needed. If your company needs to meet CMMC compliance, including self-assessment support, contact NTS today.