The CMMC Proposed Rule released in December 2023 requires organizations who handle controlled unclassified information (CUI) to achieve CMMC Level 2 Certification. Over 95% of these organizations seeking Level 2 certification will be required to have an independent assessment completed every three years by a C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization).
DoD estimates that the cost of CMMC Level 2 assessments and required affirmations of compliance will exceed $100,000, plus the cost of any technology. This blog by PreVeil will help contractors find ways to save money on each step of the CMMC certification process:
1. Reduce your compliance boundary
If only a portion of your organization handles CUI, then it makes sense to narrow the scope of the security requirements by creating a separate enclave. A smaller compliance scope means a simpler assessment process that saves you time and money. Also consider that some solutions often need to be deployed across entire organizations rather than just to carved-out CUI enclaves, adding costs and complexity.
2. Choose a platform that’s easy to use and deploy
Platforms like Microsoft GCC High often require expensive consultants, separate email addresses, and a full rip-and-replace.
3. Deploy a solution with proven CMMC credentials
If your organization has migrated to the cloud, know that standard commercial cloud services such as Microsoft 365 Commercial do not meet CMMC requirements for storing, processing and transmitting CUI. The last thing you want is to deploy software to protect CUI and then found out it doesn’t meet DFARS and CMMC requirements.