CMMC compliance is essential in defense contracts. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) establishes standards to help ensure that companies store sensitive government data securely. But, we know that compliance with CMMC can seem to be an overwhelming and daunting task with challenging requirements and different moving pieces. However, when done collaboratively and with the correct plan and approach, the process can be a simple one that saves you some time while keeping you on the right track. In this article, we’ll guide you through some simple steps to help ease your journey to CMMC compliance.
Now that we’ve covered what a CMMC compliance framework looks like, let’s get into the process. The CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) framework was created to help protect the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain by mandating cybersecurity practices to all professionals that handle sensitive information, including contractors and subcontractors. There are five levels in the model with specific requirements for each level. As a business, you want to be focused on meeting the criteria that map to the contracts you’re working to land.
The levels each represent a compilation of cybersecurity practices and processes that safeguard sensitive data. The requirements become more rigorous at each level. Achieving CMMC compliance simply means you have all the correct cybersecurity policies, procedures, and protocols in place to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access.
Streamlining the Compliance Process
1. Begin with a High-Level Assessment
The first step in streamlining your CMMC compliance process is to understand where your business stands in terms of cybersecurity practices. You need to perform a complete internal review of your security posture and identify your gaps in policies or procedures.
This process allows you to align your IEP around the bigger picture and where attention is needed.” (If your business is already complying with some of the cybersecurity practices set out in the CMMC framework, this can save you tons of time.) On the flip side, if you realize that you’re starting not from a place of abundance but a knowledge desert, identifying those gaps early allows you to build a targeted plan to fill them.
2. Focus on the Fundamentals
One of the best ways to cut down the compliance process is to prioritize the fundamentals. The CMMC framework includes a collection of core cybersecurity practices, shared across all levels. These consist of standard practices like:
Control Access: (need to do; be ready for it as per role)
Incident_Response_Having_a_clear,_documented_plan_for_responding_to_security_incidents
System and Communications Protection: Protecting your systems and network communications.
By making sure these basic practices are established, you will lay a solid foundation for compliance, regardless of the level you need to comply with. This also helps eliminate delays and hiccups when you move toward certification.”
3. Automate Where Possible
For many, time is the greatest barrier to achieving CMMC compliance. Automate as much of your compliance work as practicable is one of the ways with which you can speed up the process. Many tasks like monitoring, reporting, and updating security measures can be streamlined with the help of automated tools.
Security software can be used, for instance, to log access, search for vulnerabilities, and provide security level compliance. Automation does mean less manual work is performed and that your cybersecurity practices are reinforced on a predictable process.
Moreover, automating some parts of your compliance process can eliminate the threat of human mistakes to the timeline of your certification process.
4. Use Templates and Checklists
Another excellent time-saver are templates and checklists to streamline the CMMC compliance process. Security policy templates, incident response policy templates, and risk assessment templates can save hours of creating something from scratch by providing a framework. Checklists can also help ensure that every necessary thing is done, and nothing is missed.
Businesses constantly having to reinvent the wheel to implement a new policy or process. When you use pre-made resources, you avoid starting from square one and can instead focus on customizing the policies to your brand.
5. Use External Expertise
Compliance with CMMC is a multi-faceted process, and you don’t have to do it on your own. An experienced consultant or managed security services provider (MSSP) focused on CMMC compliance can speed up your progress. They are familiar with all areas of the framework and provide you with the right way to meet the requirements.
A consultant may help you bypass common pitfalls that could drag you down. Their advice can make sure you’re prioritizing the right security controls and focusing on the aspects that are most relevant to your certification level. Although it is an initial investment, it can save you considerable time in the long term, to guarantee that your processes are on the part right road.
6. Keep Documentation Organized
All this adds to the important requirement for documentation to comply with CMMC. From access controls through incident responses, you’ll have documenting to do for every single cybersecurity practice you enforce. A good documentation management system can save a lot of time and not let you forget any important details.
Use a document management system or centralized database for collecting and storing all compliance-related materials. That way it is easy to see the progression and ensure that everything is in accordance come audit time. Organising your documents also ensures that you will be prepared in the event of any future audits or reviews.
7. Train Your Team
Making sure everyone on your team is on the same page is one of the best ways to accelerate compliance. From top management to the technical, everybody in your organization needs to be involved in CMMC compliance. Your team can avoid confusion and prevent project delays by ensuring that they are trained on cybersecurity best practices and understand CMMC requirements.
Educating team members on common cyber threats, data safeguards, and response strategies can greatly reduce a company’s time to compliance. This will also ensure that everyone is doing their part to create a safe environment and ultimately make sure they are able to pass the cert process.
8. Monitor and Update Regularly
Compliance with CMMC is not a one-time process. After obtaining certification, you need to continuously monitor and improve your cybersecurity practices to remain compliant. You can also set up a system to regularly monitor anything and everything so you can detect any issues earlier and avoid any surprises down the road.
Regular audits and reviews will help you stay on top of the evolving CMMC framework and rising cybersecurity threats. By taking matters into your own hands, you can avoid a last-minute scramble to make changes and remain compliant throughout the year.
9. Prioritize Eternal Refinement
Finally, it’s worth noting that CMMC compliance is a piece of a bigger cybersecurity puzzle. Your immediate goal might be to achieve some level of compliance, but your long-term goal should be continuous improvement. Practices need to evolve along with cyber threats.
“For this stage to develop, and in order to ensure that you are always on top of the newest threats to cybersecurity, you need to promote a culture of constant improvement. Such a proactive mindset ensures compliance but also enhances your overall security posture, thereby benefitting your business as well as your clients.
Conclusion
Efficiency, Organization, the Right Resources: This is How to Streamline Your CMMC Process This will save time and ensure that your business complies with the basics of the law. Whether you are automating processes, using templates, drawing on expert guidance, every move you make towards simplification takes something out of the complexity curve of the journey. As a reminder, CMMC compliance is much more than just checking off a set of boxes; it’s about developing a strong cybersecurity program that not only protects your business, but facilitates long-term prosperity.
Organising your preparations, keeping teams engaged and iterating on your security processes will achieve not just the CMMC compliance outcome you want, but help future-proof your business for a better security posture, to boot.
