"...when faced with competing explanations for the same phenomenon, the simplest is likely the correct one..." Occam's Razor
Welcome.
If you're a defense contractor, you've heard about the Cybersecurity Maturity
Model Certification (CMMC). You've probably also heard a lot of noise, from
dire warnings on the internet to vendors pushing expensive
"solutions" wrapped in fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD).
Our goal is to cut through that noise.
Over my years in this field, we've guided defense contractors of all sizes through the complexities of security compliance. This series will share practical, real-world lessons to show you that achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance is not only possible, but it can be done affordably and with minimal disruption to your business.
In fact, a well-planned CMMC program is more than just a requirement; it’s a business asset. It protects your intellectual property, secures your competitive advantage, and gives you—and your partners—genuine peace of mind. It also makes the formal audit process significantly smoother and less costly.
Let's start by building your confidence with a few hard-earned lessons from the trenches.
Key Lessons to Demystify CMMC
- CMMC Isn't New, It's Just More Thorough.
The foundation of CMMC is a set of cybersecurity standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which have been the bedrock of federal security for nearly two decades. The big change CMMC brings is the requirement to prove it. It’s no longer enough to say you have a security control in place; you must provide objective evidence that it works as intended. Think of it this way: NIST provided the "what to do," and CMMC adds the "show me the proof."
- Compliance is a Team Sport, Not Just an IT Problem.
This is the single most important concept to grasp. If you treat CMMC as a task to be handed off solely to your IT department or Managed Service Provider (MSP), you will fail. True compliance involves policies, procedures, and people from across your organization—from Human Resources to Operations and Management. Any consultant who doesn't emphasize this from day one isn't giving you the full picture.
- Start with a Good Map Before You Start the Journey.
You wouldn't start a road trip without knowing your destination and your starting point. Likewise, never buy a "solution" before you've done a thorough gap analysis. This means taking an honest look at your company's culture, processes, and existing technology. This analysis creates your roadmap: it shows you where you are today (your "current state") and what's needed to get you to your goal (the "desired end state"). The result is your official CMMC self-assessment—a clear action plan of what needs to be fixed.
- You Likely Already Own Most of the Tools You Need.
Many business leaders are surprised to learn they don’t need to buy a whole new suite of expensive software. There's a very high probability that the technology you use every day—like Microsoft 365—already contains up to 90% of the capabilities required for CMMC compliance. The trick is knowing how to configure and manage these tools correctly.
- You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.
While you can achieve compliance with your internal team, a knowledgeable guide can save you an immense amount of time, money, and frustration. A good partner won’t sell you fear; they will provide a clear path forward, help you leverage what you already have, and ensure your efforts are focused on what truly matters. (And yes, we hope you'll consider us for that role.)
Our Overarching Goal
Our approach is designed to achieve one primary objective: to automate the collection of over 90% of the evidence ("audit artifacts") you need to prove compliance.
By doing this, we make compliance a sustainable, repeatable process, not a frantic, last-minute fire drill. This supports your self-assessment, prepares you for a successful audit, and builds lasting trust with your partners in the defense supply chain.
and downstream business partners.
THIS SERIES TOPIC OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION (this article)
Partnering Up
CMMC is NOT an IT only program
Key non IT DEPT Corporate Players
Facilities
Physical Security
Your Current State vice Desired End State
Comprehensive Gap Analysis
Key Success Factors
Building a Strong Foundation
IT DEPT Use Cases
Technology Requirements in Detail
Automation Goals
Generating Audit Artifacts
Training Requirements
We will remain committed to Peer Review, if you disagree, have insights, or comments, good or bad, please chime in.
Comment below or send your comments to "...TheSecretCISO@ProtonMail.com..." or leave them at HTTPS://TheSecretCISO.com
