CMMC Consultant for Compliance Needs – IT Solutions for Government Contractors

Government contractors need to strictly comply with cyber security regulations of DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement) and CMMC (Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification). Contractors failing to comply with these regulations cannot obtain those contracts or potentially lose them in the future. Therefore, contractors need compliance for contracting with the Dept. of Defense (DoD).

If you are a contractor with Dept. of Defense (DoD), you must have regulatory compliance. Dept. of Defense deals with sensitive data that can fetch direct and serious national security threats from when compromised. Hence, you need to keep up with the cyber security regulations for viability as a Dept. of Defense contractor.

CMMC levels for Defense Companies

In the past year, CMMC 1.0 received widespread criticism for its complex and onerous nature. With the Dept. of Defense listening into those complaints of DIB, a CMMC 2.0 got a rollout as a streamlined version. In the following, we shall put forth a perspective regarding those levels of latest CMMC 2.0.

In the first level of CMMC, it focuses on protecting contractor information systems with limited access to only authorized users. Also called as the ‘foundational’ level, companies have to focus on the protection of FCI or Federal Contract Information.

In the second level of CMMC or advanced level, companies dealing with CUI or Controlled Unclassified Information have to align with the levels and security controls developed by NIST or National Institute of Technology and Standards. NIST SP 800-171 is said to be the new alignment by the imposition of Dept. of Defense.

Moving to the 3rd and expert level, CMMC certification would involve focus on reducing APTs or Advanced Persistent Threats. Dept. of Defense engages high priority programs with companies or contractors working with CUI. With multiple requirements for security, Dept. of Defense is still working on that. It’s most likely to become a subset of NIST SP 800-172 controls along with NIST SP 800-171 controls.

Who will need the certification?

Based on the recent information available, it’s quite confusing for one to decide on who shall receive the certification. However, it has been clear that companies will be assessed for the type of information they’re working with for CMMC 2.0 certification requirements. Level 2 or advanced level defense contractors would require third-party assessments once every three years for prioritized acquisitions. Highest priority programs in the expert level will require contractors to undergo Govt.-led assessments.

Help from CMMC Consultant

As we’ve highlighted the different levels from a layman’s POV, contractors may develop a horde of questions in mind to get answers with clarity. Since CMMC certification for advanced and expert levels involve more than 110+ practices, it’s quite daunting to understand at the same time.

Hiring a CMMC consultant solves a lot of problems here. Indeed, a professional guide through CMMC certification not only prevents major mistakes on compliance, but also gives a headway start to implement the best standards of viability as a defense contractor or subcontractor.

About The Author:-

Linqs Group writes about CMMC compliance requirements for DoD contractors. He suggests how CMMC consultant helps with regulatory compliance needs on a continuous process. DoD contractors require CMMC certification in the supply chain. CMMC requirements affect around 300,000 organizations.