The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is reshaping how the Department of Defense evaluates the cybersecurity posture of its contractor base. For the thousands of defense industrial base companies that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), achieving CMMC certification is no longer optional - it is a condition of doing business.
The path to certification can feel overwhelming, particularly for small and mid-size contractors who lack dedicated cybersecurity teams. But with a structured approach, compliance is achievable without disrupting core business operations.
The first step is understanding your current state through a gap assessment against the NIST SP 800-171 controls that form the foundation of CMMC Level 2. Most organizations find that they have already implemented many of the required controls but lack the documentation and evidence collection processes needed to demonstrate compliance.
Organizations can develop realistic compliance roadmaps that prioritize the highest-risk gaps, leverage existing investments, and build sustainable security practices rather than point-in-time compliance artifacts.