Countering Cyber Threats with CMMC 2.0
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released its 2024 Annual Threat Assessment on March 10, 2024, underscoring the growing danger of state-sponsored cyber threats targeting the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). For Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 provides a critical framework to strengthen cybersecurity and protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This blog post explores the evolving cyber threat landscape, highlights the importance of CMMC Level 2’s third-party assessments, and offers practical strategies to build robust, NIST SP 800-171-compliant systems that safeguard national security.
Optimizing CMMC 2.0 Compliance on a Tight Budget
The Fiscal Responsibility Act, signed in June 2023, caps FY 2025 defense spending at $895 billion, creating financial pressure for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) contractors. As the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 rollout approaches in 2025, contractors must achieve compliance with limited budgets to remain competitive for contracts. This blog post provides practical, cost-effective strategies to meet CMMC Level 2’s 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls, optimize IT investments, and maintain contract eligibility without breaking the bank.
Safeguarding Intelligence Against ISR Threats
The U.S. Space Command reported in 2023 that China has tripled its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite capabilities since 2018, significantly heightening the risk to sensitive data in Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) operations. For contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this escalation underscores the need for secure, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0-compliant IT systems to protect intelligence missions. This blog post explores the growing ISR threat landscape, outlines strategies to secure IT infrastructure against foreign adversaries, and provides actionable steps to meet CMMC 2.0 requirements, ensuring robust support for national security.
CMMC 2.0 Proposed Rule – Act Now to Stay Ahead
The Department of Defense (DoD) released the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 proposed rule on December 26, 2023, setting the stage for a three-year rollout starting in 2025. For Defense and Intelligence Community (DoD/IC) contractors, this marks a critical moment to prepare for mandatory compliance to maintain contract eligibility. This blog post breaks down the proposed rule, highlights the urgency of proactive action, and provides practical strategies to meet CMMC Level 2 requirements, focusing on the 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls needed to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
CMMC 2.0 and IT Solutions for DoD and IC Contractors
Defense and Intelligence Community (DoD/IC) contractors face a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, where robust IT solutions are critical to protecting national security. This blog post, part of a series running from October 2023 to April 2025, provides actionable insights into the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0, recent government contractor IT changes, and their impacts on contracting. We aim to equip DoD/IC contractors with the knowledge needed to navigate compliance and strengthen their cybersecurity posture.