How to Pass a CMMC Compliance Audit Without the Stress

If you've ever worked within the defense supply chain—or aimed to win a Department of Defense (DoD) contract—you know firsthand the strict requirements for maintaining compliance and protecting sensitive national security information.

One of these measures is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), which outlines what businesses must do to protect critical information. Staying in line with this framework and passing the CMMC compliance audit can be overwhelming for many contractors, but luckily, you can easily tackle both with the help of an expert like ICS.

Understand the CMMC 2.0 Framework

The CMMC is a standardized framework designed to protect sensitive information across the defense supply chain. Its primary objective is to safeguard federal contract information (FCI) and controlled unclassified information (CUI) by establishing clear cybersecurity requirements for contractors working with the DoD.

Any contractors or subcontractors of the DoD must pass their CMMC compliance audit by implementing the correct controls. The format, frequency, and details of these audits depend on what kind of data they work with. CMMC 2.0, the recent update to the framework, clearly outlines these differences in 3 levels:

• Level 1 - Foundational Cyber Hygiene is required for contractors working with FCI. They can become certified through yearly self-assessments.

• Level 2 - Advanced Cyber Hygiene is required for contractors working with CUI. They can become certified through triennial assessments performed either internally or by a third party, depending on what data they work with.

• Level 3 - Expert Cyber Hygiene is required for contractors working with especially sensitive CUI. They can become certified through triennial government-led assessments.

If contractors fail to meet these requirements, they may face fines or other legal consequences. They may also lose their DoD contracts and be ineligible for future contracts, so they must focus on meeting requirements and preparing carefully for audits.

Conduct a Comprehensive Gap Analysis

Now that you have a clearer understanding of CMMC and how it applies to you, it's time to start preparations with a gap analysis. Here are the basic steps of this assessment:

1. Review existing cybersecurity policies and procedures.

2. Assess these controls against CMMC requirements.

3. Identify any areas of non-compliance (gaps) and prioritize resolving these issues.

This analysis will help you understand where to focus your efforts and what changes you need to make to pass your certification. For the most thorough results, work with a CMMC expert like ICS who's familiar with requirements. We can help you carefully evaluate each part of your systems and identify gaps in compliance that often go unnoticed.

Develop a Remediation Plan

Once you know where you're lacking in compliance, you can effectively develop a strategy for remediation using a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).

A POA&M is a special document that outlines how your organization will address gaps found during a CMMC assessment. It details how you'll fix non-compliance, when you'll implement certain controls, and who is responsible for different steps.

Be as detailed as possible in your plans, and work with an IT professional who can ensure you have access to all of the necessary tools to implement needed controls and practices. Be sure to keep POA&Ms and other documentation current so you can provide evidence of changes and improvements you're making to your security.

Prepare Documentation & Evidence

One of the key parts of a CMMC compliance audit is reviewing your documentation. Have all of the following documents updated and ready to make your audit as smooth as possible:

• System Security Plan (SSP)

• POA&M

• Outline of security policies and procedures

• Training records

Keeping track of all of these documents and information can be difficult, especially when you're in the thick of other preparations. ICS helps take this load off by helping you compile and manage the necessary documentation for your CMMC compliance audit so you can focus on your other preparations.

Partner with a Trusted CMMC Expert

One of the best ways to prepare for your CMMC compliance audit is to recruit expert help. When you partner with a compliance specialist like ICS, you can rest easy knowing you won't miss anything in your preparations.

Our working knowledge of CMMC and security systems allows us to provide comprehensive compliance, including:

• Initial gap analyses

• Remediation planning and implementation, including POA&M creation

• Documentation compilation, organization, and support

• Employee cybersecurity and compliance training programs

ICS: Making Your CMMC Compliance Audit a Breeze

Your CMMC compliance audit is a big deal, so don't leave your preparations to chance. Instead, trust in the expertise and quality of ICS. Give us a call, and let's talk about how we can get your systems ready for your certification.

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