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Compliance Services
What You Need to Know About CMMC in Manufacturing
March 10, 2022
7 minutes
For manufacturers who want to reap the rewards of obtaining Department of Defense (DoD) contracts in the future, meeting CMMC compliance is a necessity.
Here’s a quick look at what manufacturers need to know about CMMC, meeting compliance standards, and what steps need to be taken to position your business for success with DoD contracts.
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Who Needs CMMC Certification in Manufacturing?
CMMC was created to establish a set of regulations for companies who want to obtain contract work with the DoD. It was designed to measure cybersecurity posture for DoD contractors who will be handling controlled unclassified information (CUI).
The level of certification depends on the contract and the type of information you’ll be handling. Any CUI requires at least level 2 of CMMC 2.0. If you’re only required to handle federal contract information (FCI), level 1 will do the trick.
Generally, it’s a good idea for most businesses to try and reach at least level 1, even if not looking to obtain DoD contracts because this will provide a good cybersecurity foundation and set you up for advancing CMMC levels in the future.
Assessing CMMC Readiness in Manufacturing
Knowing whether or not your organization is able to meet compliance for CMMC requires a deeper understanding of your overall cybersecurity posture. This can be found by doing a comprehensive audit on your current systems to identify which controls you do and don’t have, as well as finding additional potential vulnerabilities.
Related: The DOT Security Risk Audit
How Manufacturers Can Get CMMC Certified
The CMMC certification process depends on which level of CMMC an organization needs to obtain. In CMMC 1.0, levels 1, 3, and 5 required a third-party assessment to certify that all requirements were met.
CMMC 2.0 Certification Assessments
For CMMC 2.0, the assessment requirements are changing. Here’s how:
Level 1: Requires annual self-assessments
Level 2: Requires a triennial third-party assessment
Level 3: Requires triennial government-led assessments
CMMC in Manufacturing FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Get Certified?
The length of time that it takes to get certified depends on which level of CMMC you are required to meet, as well as how well prepared you are for the assessment. The assessment process shouldn’t take much longer than a few days, but this depends on the size of your business and the general scope of the assessment.
Most of the time committed to obtaining a CMMC certification will be spent preparing for the assessment and establishing the required cybersecurity controls.
Who Can Help Me Get Certified?
If you have an internal IT or cybersecurity team, they might be able to provide the help you need to assess your security posture and make adjustments and additions where needed. But it’s common to enlist the help of a trusted managed security services provider (MSSP) like DOT Security.
At DOT Security, we have a staff filled with compliance experts, engineers, and strategists whose job it is to know CMMC inside and out and build a plan to help you meet compliance standards.
How Can an Audit Help Get CMMC Certified?
A cybersecurity audit helps businesses get CMMC certified by exposing their weaknesses and vulnerabilities and showing them where they need to focus their attention in order to obtain compliance. Done professionally by an MSSP, an audit can be a comprehensive look into your entire organization's cybersecurity status.
What is CMMC 2.0?
CMMC 2.0 is an adjusted set of CMMC compliance standards released by the DoD to streamline the formerly overly complex and expensive standards set by 1.0. CMMC 2.0 will become the standard soon. The current form of CMMC 2.0 for level 2 are the controls present in NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2.
How Do I Know if I Need CMMC Certification?
If you are a DoD contractor or subcontractor who works with the DoD, it’s likely that you need at least one level of CMMC certification. Depending on the contract and information being managed, you could be required to obtain higher levels of certification.
What Happens if You Lose CMMC Compliance?
If you lose CMMC compliance or are found to not be compliant with CMMC regulations, you will be stripped of current DoD contracts, potentially fined, and risk becoming barred from obtaining government contracts in the future.
In Conclusion
Have more questions about CMMC and how manufacturers can make sure they’re prepared to meet the required regulations? Check out more resources on our Insights Page or Contact a DOT Security specialist today.