SMB DIBS Guide to CMMC Compliance: Essential Checklist for Cybersecurity
The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is one of the most targeted organizations by cybercriminals due to its nature of ensuring the security and defense capabilities of our nation. More specifically, controlled unclassified information (CUI) among defense-related businesses is increasingly at risk. To protect against complex cyberattacks, safeguard our country’s innovations, and enhance national security, the Department of Defense (DoD) introduced the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. This initiative ensures contractors are complying with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines for protecting CUI. CMMC underscores the critical role of DIB cybersecurity in protecting the information vital to the success and readiness of our warfighters. The hope is better cybersecurity protection, awareness, controls, and hygiene.
CMMC 2.0 Ruling on the Horizon
With the announcement of CMMC 2.0, meant to streamline the compliance process, DIB organizations eagerly await the release of a proposed CMMC rule before the end of the year. The changes reflected in CMMC 2.0 will be implemented through the rulemaking process. Companies will be required to comply once the forthcoming rules go into effect.
Affected contractors will be required to achieve a certain CMMC level based on their specific contract guidelines.
CMMC Level 1 will be required by most contracts and is basic cyber hygiene.
CMMC Level 2 hosts the majority of cybersecurity requirements affecting most DIB companies for compliance with NIST SP 800-171.
CMMC Level 3 will be required for protecting the most sensitive CUI and related programs.
None of what happens with the future of CMMC negates the requirement for protecting CUI currently required by DFARS 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting.
SMBs Face Common Compliance Challenges
As you scope your organization for what needs to get certified, since the DoD only considers the parts of your organization that touch Federal Contract Information (FCI) and CUI to be “in-scope” when it comes to official certification, take stock of your mobile and remote workforce.
Do you have staff needing to access FCI/CUI via mobile devices?
The most common CMMC challenges when accessing FCI/CUI via mobile devices include lost or stolen devices, costly hardware overhead from providing and maintaining corporate-owned devices, usability, and rigid accessibility.
Organizations are led to believe that mobile device management (MDM) can overcome these challenges, but MDM presents a spectrum of liability and exposure, and invades user privacy.
Getting Up to Speed with a Compliant BYOD Solution
Hypori Halo, our virtual BYOD solution, meets CMMC qualifications for protecting FCI and CUI. As a virtual device, sensitive data remains in the cloud, meeting mobile FCI and CUI management requirements for no data at rest. Hypori uses FIPS 140-2-validated cryptographic components for confidentiality and key protection.
How Hypori Halo eases CMMC Mobility Compliance
Hypori understands the complex challenges faced by SMB DIBs because we are one. Our enterprise-level solution is tailored for the SMB DIB community. To experience the fast and easy solution to CMMC mobile compliance challenges with Hypori Halo request a demo.
