DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

<p>The Department of Defense (DoD) has released its final cybersecurity standards. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the name of the new standard. As a result of the new CMMC certification, all DoD contractors require this certification. Next, we will go into detail on the different levels of certification.</p> <h2>CMMC Model</h2> <p>The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification has five levels. Most contractors working with unclassified information must obtain CMMC level one. CMMC Level one is the lowest level. For instance, the more sensitive the data that a contractor handles, the higher the level of certification that they will need to receive under this certification. Every certification level will require an in-person check by independent assessors. In addition to contractors requiring certification, assessors require certification too. Why did the government change its cybersecurity model? That is what we will discuss next.</p> <h2>Why CMMC?</h2> <p>Why did DoD decide to implement the CMMC certification? Because the government realized that a checklist security and self-assessment model was failing. U.S. adversaries were exploiting defense contractors resulting in the leaking of our national security secrets. The DoD believes that the CMMC standards will stop U.S. adversaries from breaching defense contractors' systems. As a result, contractors now need to pay a certified assessor to physically inspect their operations to ensure that they comply with one of the five levels of security. Besides defense contractors, the CMMC assessors must obtain training and are managed by a nonprofit board comprised of industry and academic partners.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>             Next, we will discuss the cost to obtain this certification.</p> <h2>How Much Will the CMMC Certification Cost?</h2> <p>Unfortunately, the cost of the CMMC assessment depends upon several factors to include the CMMC level, the complexity of the company’s network, and other market forces. Once certified, the certificatio