CMMC – Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
ArrowheadConsulting
CMMC 2.0 Gap Assessment
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program enhances cyber protection standards for government contractors. It is designed to protect sensitive unclassified information that is shared by the government with its contractors and subcontractors. The program incorporates a set of cybersecurity requirements into acquisition programs and provides increased assurance that contractors are meeting these requirements. CMMC 2.0 is the next iteration of the Department of Defense’s CMMC cybersecurity model. It streamlines requirements to three levels of cybersecurity – Foundational, Advanced, and Expert – and aligns the requirements at each level with well-known and widely accepted NIST cybersecurity standards. The Department of Defense (DoD) expects defense contractors to achieve CMMC certification as the program rolls out.
Purpose
The intent of CMMC is to ensure that the DoD’s critical operations and chain of supply is protected from cybersecurity threats. The verification mechanism protects Federal Contract Information (FCI), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Covered Defense Information (CDI), which is CUI specifically related to defense products and services. What is critical to consider is that the evaluation of controls for Cybersecurity has application outside of Federal services. Even if CMMC is not a business objective, a Cybersecurity Gap Assessment tailored for CMMC will identify Cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses in your organization.
How Arrowhead Can Help-CMMC Gap Analysis
Arrowhead will perform a system architecture review, policy audit, operational, managerial, and technical controls review, and IT business process assessment to determine the current state of the security architecture of the system as it relates to CMMC compliance. An interview, examination, and verification will be performed to measure the current state of conformance to the specific CMMC Level you desire to achieve. Arrowhead will provide a final Cybersecurity Assessment Report, documenting the current security posture of the organization based on the CMMC Level of compliance you are working towards. This will be used as a road map, which will identify security gaps/weaknesses to be resolved prior to scheduling your official CMMC certification audit.
Our Approach
Purpose
The intent of CMMC is to ensure that the DoD’s critical operations and chain of supply is protected from cybersecurity threats. The verification mechanism protects Federal Contract Information (FCI), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Covered Defense Information (CDI), which is CUI specifically related to defense products and services. What is critical to consider is that the evaluation of controls for Cybersecurity has application outside of Federal services. Even if CMMC is not a business objective, a Cybersecurity Gap Assessment tailored for CMMC will identify Cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses in your organization.
Expert guidance for CMMC compliance.
- Enhanced Operational Security
- Increased Competitive Advantage
- Clear Compliance Roadmap
Struggling to understand CMMC requirements: Grasping the nuances of CMMC’s multiple levels and their respective requirements can be challenging. Companies may find it difficult to interpret and implement the necessary measures to comply with these standards.
The CMMC certification journey is a complex maze. Misinterpreting controls at any maturity level wastes resources. The stakes are high; a misstep could mean not just failing the assessment but losing out on crucial contracting opportunities, especially with the Department of Defense.
Arrowhead Consulting is your compass through CMMC complexities. We provide clear interpretations of controls and tailor a compliance roadmap. This simplifies your certification journey, propelling you towards competitive advantage in secure contracting.
Benefits
Increased Competitive Edge
Achieving CMMC certification through Arrowhead Consulting’s structured guidance positions your organization favorably in a competitive market, especially for contracts requiring such compliance.
Clear Compliance Roadmap
Our tailored compliance roadmap demystifies the CMMC requirements, providing a clear, actionable path towards certification.
Enhanced Operational Security
The expert guidance provided fortifies your organization’s cybersecurity posture in alignment with CMMC standards, significantly boosting operational security.
What our clients are saying:
“Kris and his team are amazing consultants, and they provide a service worth every penny. The work he has done for our company has changed the game for us and I can’t express enough how much we appreciate what he has done for us and continues to do. The level of honesty, integrity and professionalism is second to none.”
Brent Mcclain
“Arrowhead has provided project mgmt, org change mgmt, business analysts and more for my organization. All of the staff have been extraordinarily qualified, professional and as committed to our project as our internal team. They bring a very high level of IT project knowledge to our endeavor and have instrumental in our successful deployment of enterprise software solutions.”
Lisa Bulingame
“Arrowhead Consulting is an amazing consulting firm. They really listen to any pain points companies have and address them with actionable items to improve your company. When attending a private course the instructors will go above and beyond to make sure you succeed, understand the material, and pass your certifications. They offer safe in person classes when everyone else is offering online learning. There really is a ton of value in in-person learning with hands on instruction.”
Hayley Wood
We have a 5 star rating on Google
Features:
- Customized Compliance Roadmaps: Tailored plans aligning with your operational landscape.
- Expert Guidance: Experienced consultants navigating you through CMMC levels.
- Pre-assessment Readiness Review: Identifying and addressing gaps before formal assessment.
- Streamlined Documentation Process: Efficient handling of necessary compliance documentation.
- Robust Security Controls Implementation: Enhancing defense mechanisms per CMMC standards.
- Training and Awareness Programs: Equipping your team with essential compliance knowledge.
- Resource Optimization: Smart resource allocation for cost-effective compliance.
- Clear Milestone Tracking: Transparent tracking of progress towards certification.
- Cybersecurity Best Practices Adoption: Infusing industry-best cybersecurity practices.
- Control Gap Analysis: Detailed analysis to identify security control gaps.
- Remediation Strategy Development: Formulating strategies to address identified gaps.
- Policy and Procedure Development: Formulating strategies to address identified gaps.
- Implementation Plan Creation: Developing a strategic plan for compliance achievement.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Detailed reports illuminating compliance status and actions.
- Access to Compliance Toolkits: Providing tools to aid in compliance maintenance.
FAQ’s
What is CMMC and why is it important?
- CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It’s crucial for ensuring the protection of controlled unclassified information (CUI) within the defense industrial base.
Why should we choose Arrowhead Consulting for CMMC certification?
- We provide expert guidance, tailored compliance roadmaps, and continuous support, simplifying your path to certification and enhanced operational security.
How does Arrowhead Consulting simplify the CMMC certification process?
- Through expert guidance, clear milestone tracking, and customized compliance roadmaps, we demystify the CMMC requirements and streamline your journey to certification.
Is achieving CMMC certification time-consuming?
- The time required can vary, but our structured approach aims to expedite the process, ensuring a timely and efficient path to certification.
How costly is the CMMC certification process?
- Costs can vary, but our resource optimization and tailored roadmaps aim to make the process cost-effective.
Do we need to maintain CMMC certification?
- Yes, maintaining CMMC certification is crucial for continued contract eligibility and ensuring your cybersecurity practices remain robust.
What happens if we fail the CMMC assessment?
- Failing can temporarily hinder contract eligibility. Our pre-assessment readiness review helps identify and address gaps to avoid this scenario.
How do we know our current cybersecurity posture?
- Our control gap analysis and pre-assessment readiness review provide insights into your current cybersecurity posture and areas of improvement.
What kind of support does Arrowhead Consulting provide post-certification?
- We offer post-certification support to ensure continuous adherence to compliance standards and help address any new or evolving compliance requirements.
How does CMMC certification benefit our business?
- Certification enhances operational security, increases competitive edge, and is often a prerequisite for certain contracting opportunities.
How are training and awareness programs conducted?
- Training programs are tailored to your needs, ensuring your team is equipped with essential knowledge for compliance.
How does Arrowhead Consulting handle the documentation process?
- We streamline the documentation process, managing necessary compliance documentation efficiently, saving you time and resources.
What’s involved in the remediation strategy development?
- Remediation strategy involves formulating plans to address identified gaps in compliance, ensuring a smooth path to certification.
How frequently will we receive reports on compliance status?
- Reporting frequency can be tailored to your needs, ensuring you’re well-informed on your compliance status and progress.
What is the difference between CMMC 1.0 and CMMC 2.0?
- The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0, an upgrade from its predecessor CMMC 1.0, has streamlined the certification process into three levels, namely Level 1 (Foundational), Level 2 (Advanced), and Level 3 (Expert). This new structure facilitates a tiered approach towards cybersecurity, where each level builds on the previous one, integrating more stringent practices and controls as organizations ascend the levels. The transformation from CMMC 1.0 to CMMC 2.0 is characterized by a reduction in the total number of assessment levels from five to three, alongside a decrease in the number of controls under each level. This streamlining aims at simplifying compliance while dynamically enhancing the cybersecurity of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) against evolving threats.
What are the levels of CMMC 2.0?
- Level 1 (Foundational): At this initial stage, organizations are expected to demonstrate basic cyber hygiene through adherence to 17 specific practices. These practices embody the fundamental safeguarding requirements stipulated under FAR 52.204-21, a regulation that has been effective since 2016.
- Level 2 (Advanced): Progressing to Level 2, organizations must exhibit the implementation of the requirements encapsulated in NIST SP 800-171. These requirements aren’t new; they were already mandated under the preexisting DFARS 252.204-7012 clause1.
- Level 3 (Expert): At the pinnacle, Level 3, contractors are required to comply with a subset of NIST SP 800-172. Although the exact requirements from NIST SP 800-172 to be adhered to are yet to be defined, NIST SP 800-172 is crafted to assist in shielding against Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors targeting the US Department of Defense supply chain. It lays down the groundwork and controls for a defense-in-depth protection approach.