Federal contractors who work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) must meet newly implemented cybersecurity compliance standards if they create or have access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
The newly launched Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards are based on those that currently exist in NIST, FAR, and DFARS. This new model synthesizes those standards and provides a clear set of measurement standards against which contractors will be evaluated. Only those that can demonstrate the necessary cybersecurity capacity, readiness, and maturity will be allowed to contract with DOD if CUI is involved.
Obtaining certification may pose any number of significant challenges for many federal contractors. To help bridge this gap, the cybersecurity experts at Rimstorm have launched GovCon Enclave, a turnkey compliance engine that provides affordable, real-world solutions to these challenges.
Which Federal Contractors Must Obtain CMMC Certification?
Although not all federal defense contractors who are a part of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) handle CUI, many of them do. Although CMMC is being rolled out in phases, certification is already required for many projects.
If you do not have certification when required by an RFP, you will be ineligible to submit a proposal on that project. By 2025, all DOD RFPs that involve CUI will require responding contractors to demonstrate CMMC Level 3 certification.
In addition to prime contractors, certification may also be required for subcontractors and third-party vendors who participate with or provide services to the prime. You must provide evidence of certification for your subs in order to be qualified for contract award.
To address this challenge for the more than 300,000 contractors in the DIB, Rimstorm is proud to introduce Rimstorm GovCon Enclave™.
What Is Required for CMMC Compliance?
Previously, contractors were required only to self-report their compliance with governing standards. Under the requirements of CMMC, contractors must now demonstrate cybersecurity maturity in response to the 130 individual controls, standards, and best practices required to obtain CMMC Level 3 certification.
You must contract with an accredited CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) to conduct a formal, highly detailed assessments of the contractor’s cybersecurity infrastructure, policies, and practices. During this assessment, the contractor must provide objective evidence of their compliance for each of the 130 listed standards.
If the contractor successfully demonstrates their compliance, the C3PAO recommends that the firm be granted certification. If the contractor falls short, they must make any necessary adjustments and revisit their compliance with the C3PAO before moving forward.
How Can GovCon Enclave Help with CMMC Compliance?
Small federal contracting businesses, especially those without an in-house cybersecurity team, may struggle to get their practices and protocols up to the necessary standards. Obtaining certification can be exceptionally time-consuming and costly, potentially ranging into the hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more), depending on the level of certification you need.
For this reason, Rimstorm has developed a comprehensive compliance engine, GovCon Enclave. GovCon Enclave streamlines and simplifies the entire process, helping you and your subcontractors achieve your CMMC certification goals without the time, expense, and hassle you might otherwise face. Onboarding GovCon Enclave is quick and cost-effective, so you can obtain and demonstrate compliance and remain compliant going forward.
Contact us today to learn more about whether GovCon Enclave can help you in your quest for CMMC compliance and certification.