CMMC
By Jonathan Sanders, Director, Research, GovExec
On Monday, July 25, the Department of Defense (DoD) took a major step in its efforts to protect the United States’ defense supply chain by sending the proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rule to the White House for review. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget will now begin its review process.
The CMMC Rule
CMMC will replace the existing self-certification process for DoD contractors. It will require them to achieve specific levels of cybersecurity maturity in order to continue doing business with the government.
Cyber AB, the nonprofit organization created to authorize and accredit third-party assessment organizations involved in conducting cybersecurity assessments for defense contractors, recently held a town hall meeting. Cyber AB CEO Matthew Travis led the meeting, which walked through the major milestone this represents to the DoD moving forward.
Travis noted the success of the Washington Technology sponsored CMMC Ecosystem Summit. In partnership with Cyber AB, the second iteration takes place November 8th.
The proposed CMMC rule will now undergo OMB’s regulatory review. OMB has 60-90 days to complete their review of the rule, after which it will be published in the Federal Register (estimated for September or October). After posting, the rule will undergo a 60-day public comment period where the public can provide suggestions and feedback on the suggested requirements.
One of the major obstacles is the NIST revision of the compliance standards, expected to be released in late FY 2023 or early FY 2024, which generally aligns with the Pentagon’s proposed timeline for implementation of Fall 2024. This update will include additional cybersecurity controls/requirements for contractors, which means that the bar for cyber compliance assessments will continue to rise.
What does this mean for you?
As CMMC moves one step closer to becoming law, it is imperative for your organization to keep up with the requirements and make necessary changes to cybersecurity practices to remain viable and competitive in the DoD marketplace. Keep in the know by attending Washington Technology’s CMMC Summit in partnership with Cyber AB taking place November 8th from 8am – 6pm ET. (Click here to register.)
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Questions? Please reach out to Jonathan Sanders at jsanders@govexec.com.