CMMC reshapes how defense contractors secure CUI. One of the most critical components of CMMC compliance is incident response (IR)—the ability to detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents while meeting strict reporting and documentation requirements.

Under the final CMMC rule, contractors at Level 2 and above must implement formalized IR policies, procedures, and continuous monitoring capabilities to maintain compliance. Without a well-structured IR plan, organizations risk non-compliance, loss of contract eligibility, and significant security breaches.