How to arm yourself against CMMC-related fraud?

Ever since the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has rolled out, DoD contractors are seeking help to understand the requirements for CMMC security compliance. The Department of Defense has made it clear that without CMMC compliance, no business can bid on government contracts. This step has been taken to minimize the cybersecurity threats faced by DoD vendors. Government contractors and subcontractors that store or process CUI are constantly under the radar of cybercriminals. Most contractors are small businesses without adequate resources to protect their data. Such contractors are at higher risk of becoming a target for cybercriminals. 

Businesses that rely on government contracts for revenue are under pressure to prove that they have taken all the necessary precautions to safeguard their store’s sensitive information. The U.S government has made it mandatory for DoD contractors to mature their data security standards and practices. The recent interim DFARS rule has further put the DIB vendor in a state of panic. Sadly, the urgency to become CMMC compliant has made contractors vulnerable to fraudulent organizations. There are multiple reports that some organizations are making false claims regarding CMMC compliance requirements and misleading defense contractors. 

If you are seeking help with your CMMC initiative, you should only rely on CMMC  RPO or organizations that the CMMC recognizes. 

Here are some of the things you should know about CMMC that will help you stay away from misleading practices. 

Understand that no organization can get CMMC certification yet. 

Before hiring any service provider for a compliance initiative, any organization required to fulfill CMMC compliance needs should know that only CMMC Accreditation Body or CMMC-AB can certify the defense contractors. If an organization tells you that they can assist you with your compliance needs, be wary of them and report them to the CMMC-AB. 

The CMMC certification process states that the defense contractor will have to go through a thorough assessment by a C3PAO- the Certified Third-party Assessment organization is accredited by the CMMC Accreditation Body. C3PAOs have certified assessors who are trained for CMMC standards and adhere to the industry code of conduct. Once the C3PAO has assessed the defense contractor’s IT environment, they pass the report to the CMMC-AB for CMMC audit & reviews. Once the accreditation body has reviewed the assessment, they issue the certification. 

However, it’s important to note that currently, there are no CMMC certified assessors. Although CMMC-AB has certified over 100 provisional assessors, they can’t conduct CMMC assessments until they have received the CMMC Level 3 certification. 

You can get help with your CMMC compliance needs.

Although defense contractors can’t get CMMC certified as of now, they can get assistance to prepare for the certification. CMMC accreditation body recommends contractors to get started with their preparation. The sooner they start, the better it would be for their business. The accreditation body designates registered provider organizations that can work as CMMC consultants and help defense contractors with their compliance needs. It’s advisable by the CMMC-AB that defense contractors should seek help from such registered provider organizations.