Win more customers: Benefits of early CMMC 2.0 compliance

The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is frequently targeted in complex cyberattacks, with the Pentagon estimating that it stops 36 million emails containing ransomware and phishing attacks daily. That means any person or business conducting business with the Department of Defense (DoD), needs to have the appropriate security controls in place to ensure sensitive information doesn’t get into the hands of a national adversary.

To address this concern, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) was created. This is a set of requirements ensuring DoD contractors are engaging in cybersecurity best practices. It’s designed to protect national security information, specifically Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) throughout the supply chain. CMMC 1.0 was introduced in 2020 and the updated CMMC 2.0 was released in 2023. By 2026, any contractor hoping to bid on any of the thousands of contracts the DoD awards will need to be CMMC certified.

Continue to win and deliver DoD contracts

While contractors won’t need to comply with CMMC 2.0 until 2026, that doesn’t mean contractors should hold off on implementing the appropriate security controls. It will be a time-consuming process for businesses to become compliant, especially if they don’t have an in-house security team, so it’s important to start early. All CMMC compliance assessments, whether conducted internally or by a third-party assessment organization, need to be reviewed by Cyber AB, the accreditation body of the CMMC. If an organization fails the accreditation process, they’ll need to correct noted issues and resubmit, which will place the application in a long line with other hopeful contractors. Government agencies are famously slow, so a business could wind up sitting in that queue for years.

For SMEs that don’t have time to wait, they need to be ready to submit (and ensure security controls are set up properly) as soon as CMMC 2.0 officially launches.

Subcontractors must also comply with CMMC. So if a business uses sub-contractors to complete government work, they could be facing a lengthy process to find a certified contractor or ensure their contractors get certified when they do. Starting the process of meeting CMMC requirements now guarantees everyone will be ready by the 2026 deadline.

Since not being compliant would lead to a significant loss of business, thinking about CMMC certification now, readies your organization to work with the DoD as soon as possible.

Win business from other government departments

The regulations and requirements of the CMMC are based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework, specifically NIST 800-171. This NIST framework is currently used by other government departments as well.

It stands to reason that other government and civilian agencies, specifically those dealing with classified or sensitive information, might rely on the DoD’s guidance and adopt CMMC in the coming years. Katie Arrington, who led the team that created CMMC, claimed that other federal agencies are already looking at CMMC.

Should other government agencies choose to adopt CMMC, or should the federal government make CMMC adherence a requirement for all government contractors, gaining CMMC compliance now could lead to more government contracts from other agencies down the line.

This means that whether or not your organization can necessarily work with the DoD, (or wants to), having CMMC certification will elevate your status with any other government departments or agencies you may have your eye on. It can help your chances of winning a potential contract and expedite the process, helping your organization reach its business goals faster.

Earn the trust of private businesses

Breaches are occurring daily, and businesses of all sizes in all industries are being affected. As a result, boards and CEOs are becoming increasingly concerned with the security of their business partners and vendors. By becoming CMMC compliant, a business shows customers and potential customers that it is committed to security, has done its due diligence, and can protect customer information, including personally identifiable information and intellectual property.

CMMC covers a wide range of requirements, including controls for cybersecurity training, authentication, incident response (IR), asset management, and more. It essentially covers the cybersecurity best practices in a comprehensive way that applies to any business, regardless of whether or not they plan to work with the DoD.

Showcasing your CMMC compliance can dispel risk-based and cybersecurity concerns potential customers may have and help an SME win over customers who want to work with security-conscious vendors. Much like SOC2 compliance is necessary for any SaaS company storing customer data, CMMC could be the new standard for securing sensitive data and can serve as a significant competitive differentiator.

A fast route to CMMC compliance

Implementing the appropriate security controls for CMMC 2.0 could take years, even with an in-house team of security experts. Smart SMEs would start laying the groundwork now so they’re ready to go come 2026.

A managed security partner can not only help secure a business from a cyberattack, but it can also streamline the CMMC compliance process. A good partner can provide the guidance, services, and tools to meet CMMC requirements. Additionally, if a business is not yet up to speed, a managed security partner can help create POAMs (plans of action and milestones) for controls the business doesn’t meet so certification comes fast.

SMEs, in particular, may require a cybersecurity partner to help them get CMMC-certified. Because many have few resources and even fewer staff to take on the task at hand, they may not have the expertise required to become compliant.

SolCyber is the first of its kind outsourced security program partner. With our Foundational Coverage and 24/7 monitoring and detection services, SMEs can increase their security posture and get ready to meet CMMC compliance standards well before the upcoming 2026 deadline.

Ready to start winning contracts? Reach out to SolCyber, the experts in cybersecurity to start preparing for CMMC 2.0 today.