CMMC has become one of the most important items any small business working with the DoD or its contractors should know. CMMC is a new set of cybersecurity standards, and DoD contractors and subcontractors will be compelled to adapt to these in the coming years. Failure to achieve the required CMMC certification level may lead to the loss of lucrative government contracts.
A CMMC audit might be too much to bear for small businesses that have recently entered into government contracting or need more resources, particularly in IT. Conversely, knowledge of what is expected of them in this respect and proper preparation will see a small business through the process.
This article intends to give an overview of CMMC and what a small business needs to know to prepare for and pass a CMMC audit.
What is CMMC?
The CMMC audit is the sole cybersecurity standard that the Department of Defense developed to safeguard sensitive government information shared with contractors. It relies on prior standards such as NIST SP 800-171, thereby increasing cybersecurity requirements toward five levels of certification.
There are five levels of CMMC, including:
Level 1 – Basic Cyber Hygiene
Level 2 – Intermediate Cyber Hygiene
Level 3 – Good Cyber Hygiene
Level 4 – Proactive
Level 5 – Advanced/Progressive
The required level of certification a company must attain may be based on the type of information the company will be handling and the requirements of its DoD contracts.
Why CMMC Matters for Small Businesses
Small businesses that want to continue working for the DoD, either directly or as one of its prime contractors, will need to apply for the appropriate CMMC certification. The inability to do so could lead to exclusion from a valuable stream of government contracts.
In 2022 alone, the DoD spent more than $415 billion on contracts, a large share of which went to small businesses. Indeed, for many small firms, government work plays a significant factor in the survival and growth of their enterprise. CMMC non-compliance, which leads to losing access to DoD contracts, could be an almost fatal blow to a small business.
What Small Businesses Need to Know About CMMC Audits
While the process of a CMMC audit may be overwhelming, small businesses can begin preparing for and making their way through any barriers. The following are key things to know:
- Determine Your CMMC Level
According to current conditions, this involves establishing an appropriate CMMC certification level for your small business. This level should be defined by the type of information handled and possibly according to a particular demand of particular DoD contracts.
While CMMC Levels 1-3 respectively concentrate on protection related to Federal Contract Information and protection related to Controlled Unclassified Information, Levels 4 and 5 add other requirements for the protection of sensitive but unclassified information.
- Assess Your Current Security Posture
Once you understand what CMMC level you should be targeting, you will want to assess your current cybersecurity practices and infrastructure. This assessment allows you to identify gaps in areas needing remission before the audit.
These would involve reading the CMMC’s assessment guides and requirements for your targeted level, followed by self-assessment to identify which practices and processes you have in place and what is missing.
- Develop a CMMC Implementation Plan
Based on this self-assessment, a detailed plan should be developed regarding how security controls and practices will be implemented to meet the requirements of CMMC. It must include the following:
- Specific tasks and milestones for gaining compliance
- Resource requirements (e.g., staffing, technology, training)
- Timeline for completion of work
- Roles and responsibilities for your team
If internal IT expertise is unavailable, consider engaging a managed service provider or cybersecurity consultant to support your CMMC implementation.
Strategies for Small Businesses to Pass a CMMC Audit
Here are some strategies that help small businesses effectively pass the CMMC audit process:
- Start Early and Allocate Sufficient Resources
By all means, start your CMMC compliance effort immediately. Allow time for your small business to evaluate its security posture correctly, implement required controls, and prepare for the assessment.
Provide adequate resources, both financial and human, to support them in the area of CMMC implementation for investments in new technology, additional staffing, or engaging external cybersecurity experts.
- Leverage CMMC Assessment Guides and Tools
The CMMC Accreditation Body has detailed assessment guides and other preparation resources to help organizations prepare for their audits; a good idea would be to review those materials and use them to guide your compliance efforts.
Different CMMC assessment tools and platforms also automate much of the preparatory work, enabling small businesses to work efficiently in finding the gaps and tracking their progress.
- Document Everything
One of the backbones of passing a CMMC audit is documentation. You must clearly record all security controls, policies, procedures, and other required documents.
Anticipate substantial evidence required by the assessors to substantiate your compliance with CMMC. Have documentation for your security practices and procedures down to a granular level.
Final Thoughts
The CMMC program presents a double-edged sword for small businesses working with the DoD. The specter of a CMMC audit may arguably daunt them. However, there are proactive steps they can take to prepare for and successfully navigate the certification process.
Small businesses must understand CMMC requirements, assess their security posture, develop a comprehensive implementation plan, and apply suitable strategies to achieve the mandatory CMMC certification and retain those lucrative government contracts.