The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is gaining traction as a compliance framework for defense industrial base (DIB) contractors working for the Department of Defense (DoD). As new working habits and conditions expand beyond traditionally secure purviews, contractors are looking to CMMC as a means of staying on top of security. This is particularly important for high-profile government jobs, where data protection is paramount.
CMMC, previously known as the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), is a comprehensive cybersecurity framework that assesses the skills, knowledge, and trustworthiness of defense contractors. Companies and individuals bidding for government contracts must adhere to this framework in order to stay relevant in a highly competitive cyber landscape. While CMMC does allow for remote work, there are additional stipulations that must be followed.
To achieve compliance with CMMC, contractors must navigate the three levels of qualification, undergo interim assessments and third-party audits, and draft a plan of action and milestones. This process ensures that contractors have the necessary expertise and capabilities to protect government data, such as controlled unclassified information (CUI) and federal contact information (FCI), in the event of a security breach.
With the rise of remote work, contractors are now operating in environments outside of controlled company infrastructures. This expands the attack surface area and necessitates guidelines for adapting to remote work. CMMC addresses this by looking at cloud computing and quality assurance for remote work. However, the focus of compliance for remote work revolves around remote access.
Contractors must practice monitoring remote access points and connectivity to ensure that the connection is encrypted and secure. Networks permitting remote access must have additional verification measures, such as intrusion detection and cryptography, in place to prevent cyberattacks in remote environments. Additionally, companies must evaluate permissions for remote sessions and determine what tasks can be performed off-network.
The specific controls for accessing CUI that remote contractors should pay special attention to include 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 10.6, 13.7, and 5.3. These controls address various aspects of remote access and security, such as two-factor authentication. Incorporating secure tools like multifactor authentication (MFA) software, hardware-based virtual private networks (VPNs), and tokenization can help companies make their remote policies compliant.
Moreover, companies can use NIST 800-171, the backbone of CMMC, as a reference to bolster remote compliance. This cybersecurity framework provides valuable insights and recommendations that can be applied to remote work environments. Additionally, companies should emphasize professional conduct among remote workers to maintain productivity and security.
The CMMC framework is crucial in preparing contractors for the next phase of the remote work revolution. With the potential for threat actors to target sensitive areas from anywhere in the world, compliance measures are essential for ensuring a safe digital workplace. As the CMMC framework evolves and adapts to new work environments and global changes, contractors must stay updated on the latest requirements to maintain compliance.
In conclusion, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a compliance framework that defense contractors must adhere to in order to work for the Department of Defense (DoD). As remote work becomes more prevalent, CMMC provides guidelines and requirements for contractors to ensure the security of government data. By implementing secure tools, following compliance measures, and prioritizing professional conduct, contractors can successfully navigate the remote work landscape while maintaining compliance with CMMC.