With the activation of CMMC Phase 1 on November 10, 2025, contractors meeting Level 1 Maturity (and, in some cases, Level 2) can provide self-assessment documentation in lieu of undergoing an audit with a C3PAO. This means that every cybersecurity claim a defense contractor makes now carries the same legal weight as a cost or… Read More
With all the shifts in cybersecurity, one framework has been steadily solidifying requirements and expectations: CMMC. With the revision of CMMC 2.0 and the following feedback from vendors and the industry, it has been a years-long process to get this framework in place. Now, contractors in the DIB are seeing that framework become concrete requirements. … Read More
To meet CMMC requirements, organizations need a security strategy that integrates technology, people, and policies. It is important to know when to use IT solutions and when to involve HR and leadership so everyone works toward the same goals. If you are a Department of Defense contractor preparing for CMMC certification, remember that people and… Read More
Employees across every department are experimenting with generative AI tools to write emails, analyze data, summarize documents, and debug code. According to IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report, one in five organizations experienced a breach tied to shadow AI, and 63% of breached organizations either lacked an AI governance policy or were still… Read More
As the CMMC program evolves in 2026, following the solidification of the final rule and the timelines for required certification, the Cyber AB wrestles with the need to streamline adoption across contractors while maintaining strict rigor in compliance and audits. That’s where waivers come in. Now, across the DIB, executives have to decide whether these… Read More
For MSPs supporting defense contractors, federal agencies, and cloud service providers, 2026 marks a turning point when most regulatory bodies expect architecture, compliance, and service delivery to align. This is made even more readily apparent with changes in federal requirements. The DoD’s phased rollout of CMMC and FedRAMP 20x are clear signal that the government… Read More
Passwordless authentication is a potential lynchpin for organizations struggling with identity as their security perimeter. While neither FedRAMP nor CMMC explicitly mandates passwordless technologies, both frameworks set requirements and outcomes that passwordless authentication can meet. For organizations operating in regulated environments, especially those handling government data or CUI, passwordless authentication is no longer an emerging… Read More
When the Department of Defense released CMMC FAQs Revision 2.1 in November 2025, the update appeared modest on the surface. Four new questions were added without changing the CMMC model or the underlying regulatory framework in 32 CFR Part 170. For organizations already fatigued by years of CMMC evolution, it would be easy to dismiss… Read More
As 2026 approaches, the mix of tighter regulations and sharper customer expectations is pushing operational security to the forefront. The core principles of cybersecurity haven’t changed much, but the way we put them into practice absolutely has. This guide is meant for SaaS teams that want to strengthen their security in a practical, sustainable way,… Read More
With the final rule for CMMC now in place and the phased rollout underway, organizations that handle FCI or CUI are entering a period where preparation has moved from the theoretical to a practical necessity. This article breaks down what preparation looks like in 2026: the decisions organizations are making, the challenges they face, the… Read More
The journey to CMMC Level 3 represents the highest level of cybersecurity maturity under the CMMC framework. Unlike Levels 1 and 2, which focus on FCI and CUI, respectively, Level 3 targets Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). That means more extensive security, defined in NIST Special Publication 800-172. For organizations that support critical programs or handle… Read More
Across CMMC certification and ongoing monitoring and assessment, the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) plays a pivotal role in verifying contractor compliance. Here, we will cover the relationship between DIBCAC and CMMC assessments, providing expert-level guidance for organizations seeking Level 2 or Level 3 certification.
The ink has barely dried on the CMMC final rule, and already the defense contracting community is buzzing with speculation about what comes next. Just when contractors thought they had a moment to catch their breath after years of regulatory limbo, whispers of CMMC 3.0 have begun circulating through the industry. But is this just… Read More
Protecting CUI isn’t getting any easier, and providers in the DIB are looking for ways to protect sensitive data above and beyond network and app security. One such method gaining prominence is the implementation of CMMC-compliant enclaves. Enclaves are logical or physical isolation zones engineered to meet the requirements of CMMC, particularly for Levels 2… Read More
CMMC 2.0 Level 3 transcends the foundational and advanced cyber hygiene practices enumerated in Level 1 and Level 2, respectively, venturing into a realm where the mitigation of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) is at the forefront. This article will cover CMMC Maturity Level 3 and the controls mandated by the framework, specifically those outlined in… Read More
If you’re working in cybersecurity today, you’ve probably felt the pressure of managing multiple compliance frameworks at once. It’s like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle: technically possible, but not exactly fun. Two frameworks that often end up on the same organization’s plate are ISO 27001 and the CMMC, and they can either work… Read More
For companies within the federal sector, especially small to mid-sized businesses, the push toward compliance is not just a regulatory burden but an operational necessity. CMMC is one of these challenging frameworks, and these businesses are finding that alignment with CMMC is a tricky proposition. Meeting the stringent demands of CMMC requires a robust and… Read More
For organizations in the Defense Industrial Base, CMMC readiness is an immediate mandate to line up security requirements across the digital supply chain. With the DoD’s final rule now in effect, companies must treat compliance as a strategic business imperative. Delaying readiness is risky, if not business-ending, and could result in loss of contracts. Here,… Read More
The cybersecurity landscape for Department of Defense contractors is evolving rapidly. As the CMMC program rolls out, organizations are wrestling with a tough question: how do we meet these demanding requirements while actually building security that works? Here’s where Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) comes into play. It’s a complete shift from the old “castle and… Read More
Federal contractors and cloud service providers face an increasingly complex web of compliance requirements. Two frameworks dominate this landscape: CMMC and FedRAMP. This challenge hits hardest for organizations serving multiple federal sectors or providing both traditional contracting services and cloud solutions. These companies must navigate overlapping requirements, duplicate their documentation efforts, and maintain separate compliance… Read More
Gaining and maintaining compliance with the CMMC, especially at Level 2 or higher, is a complex challenge for many organizations within the DIB. Among the more difficult of these is managing the disruption that often accompanies new tech, especially when these measures impact day-to-day workflows and require a shift in organizational culture. The solution is… Read More
If you’re a DoD contractor, you’ve probably felt the pain of juggling multiple cybersecurity frameworks. Between CMMC requirements and NIST 800-53 compliance, you’re doing the same work. Automating these frameworks can help you work smarter, not harder, while maintaining a strong security program. For organizations serving both government and commercial customers, being able to connect… Read More
CMMC has fundamentally transformed the landscape for defense contractors operating within the DIB. With mandatory compliance deadlines looming and contract requirements becoming increasingly stringent, organizations can no longer afford to treat cybersecurity as an afterthought. Yet for many contractors, the path to CMMC Level 2 compliance remains fraught with challenges that extend far beyond simple… Read More
As the cyber threat landscape becomes increasingly dominated by state-sponsored actors and advanced persistent threats, the DoD has taken critical steps to evolve its cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors. For contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and seeking to achieve CMMC Level 3, the NIST SP 800-172 Enhanced Security Requirements represent the most stringent technical… Read More