CMMC 2.0 Level 3 transcends the foundational and advanced cyber hygiene practices enumerated in Level 1 and Level 2, respectively, venturing into a realm where the mitigation of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) is at the forefront.
This article will cover CMMC Maturity Level 3 and the controls mandated by the framework, specifically those outlined in NIST Special Publication 800-172.
If you’re working in cybersecurity today, you’ve probably felt the pressure of managing multiple compliance frameworks at once. It’s like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle: technically possible, but not exactly fun. Two frameworks that often end up on the same organization’s plate are ISO 27001 and the CMMC, and they can either work together beautifully or drive you absolutely crazy.
ISO 27001 is a comprehensive international standard that helps you build a solid information security management system from the ground up. It’s been around the block and has a pretty good reputation for keeping organizations secure. CMMC, on the other hand, is more focused in that it’s designed explicitly for defense contractors and suppliers who need to protect FCI and CUI.
Here’s the thing that keeps compliance teams up at night: these frameworks overlap in some areas but are completely different in others. You don’t want to duplicate work, but you also can’t afford compliance gaps. That’s where automapping comes in—think of it as your secret weapon for making these frameworks play nicely together.
For companies within the federal sector, especially small to mid-sized businesses, the push toward compliance is not just a regulatory burden but an operational necessity. CMMC is one of these challenging frameworks, and these businesses are finding that alignment with CMMC is a tricky proposition.
Meeting the stringent demands of CMMC requires a robust and proactive security infrastructure. However, the complexity of the framework, particularly at Levels 2 and 3, poses significant challenges for many organizations. This is where automation plays a pivotal role.