What Are the CMMC 2.0 Compliance Levels?

The CMMC is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. Developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve the cybersecurity posture of contractors, the CMMC 2.0 framework is now a requirement for organizations that want to work with DoD-related entities or privileged data.

If you want to work with a government entity, CMMC 2.0 compliance is essential. Below, we’ll discuss what CMMC 2.0 is, what’s changed about CMMC compliance levels and how you can best achieve the level of compliance you need.

What Businesses Need to Know About CMMC Compliance Levels

The CMMC 2.0 framework is comprised of 14 capability domains that are further divided into maturity levels. The CMMC Certification Model can be broadly described as follows:

• Level 1 (Basic Cyber Hygiene) covers the most basic cybersecurity practices that organizations should already have.
• Level 2 (Intermediate Cyber Hygiene) builds on the practices in Level 1 and requires additional, more sophisticated measures to be implemented.
• Level 3 (Good Cyber Hygiene) is the highest CMMC level and requires an organization to have mature, cutting-edge cybersecurity practices.

To achieve compliance with the CMMC accreditation body, organizations must implement the appropriate set of security controls for their respective CMMC level. The specific CMMC requirements for each domain and maturity level are detailed in the CMMC Model v2.0 and verified through CMMC assessment.

Why Does the Level of Compliance Matter?

The CMMC 2.0 framework protects Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The CMMC levels reflect the risk associated with the information that will be processed, stored or transmitted by a contractor.

Organizations that handle FCI or CUI must implement the security controls required for the CMMC level corresponding to the highest risk associated with the information. If not, they will be denied government contracts – this is why CMMC compliance matters.

If an organization processes and stores FCI considered Level 1 CUI, it must implement the security controls required for CMMC Level 1. However, if that same organization also processes and stores Level 3 CUI, it must implement the security controls required for CMMC Level 3.

The Differences Between CMMC 1.0 and the CMMC 2.0 Framework

CMMC 2.0 builds on the CMMC 1.0 framework and introduces several key changes, including:

• Fewer but more rigorous capability domains. CMMC 2.0 expands each domain but reduces their number from 17 to 14.
• New maturity levels. CMMC 2.0 introduces two new maturity levels (initially 4 and 5 but then reduced to 3) at the progressive end of the spectrum.
• Updated security requirements. CMMC 2.0 updates the security requirements for each capability domain and maturity level.
• Greater emphasis on system security plans. CMMC 2.0 emphasizes system security plans, which must be updated to reflect the new framework.

The CMMC 2.0 framework will help organizations to protect themselves against cyber threats better and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. It is important to note that CMMC 2.0 is not a silver bullet, but is rather a set of best practices that should be tailored to the specific needs of each organization.

And because the basic CMMC requirement outlines have shifted, organizations must update them to the most current and new CMMC standards.

CMMC Level 1 (Basic Cyber Hygiene)

To achieve Level 1 compliance, organizations must implement the following security controls (in addition to others). In general, these are intended to create a basic level of cybersecurity; every organization should achieve this:

• Establish and maintain an incident response plan.
• Establish and maintain a vulnerability management program.
• Establish and maintain a patch management program.
• Restrict access to information systems and data to authorized users.
• Control physical access to information systems and data.
• Use secure communications methods and protocols.

CMMC Level 2 (Intermediate Cyber Hygiene)

To achieve Level 2 compliance, a DoD contractor must implement the following security controls, amongst others:

• Identify, report and correct information and system vulnerabilities promptly.
• Detect, report and take action on attempts to gain unauthorized access to information systems and data.
• Monitor, control and protect communications at the system, network and application layers.
• Implement a security awareness and training program for all users with access to information systems and data.
• Protect organizational information during system development and acquisition processes.

CMMC Level 3 (Expert Cyber Hygiene)

To achieve Level 3 compliance, organizations must implement the following security controls, amongst others:

• Plan, implement and continually improve an organizational cybersecurity program.
• Effectively manage identity and access for users, devices and systems.
• Detect, report and take action on security events faster.
• Implement continuous monitoring of organizational information systems and data.
• Protect information systems and data during system development, acquisition and maintenance processes.
• Establish and maintain an organizational cybersecurity program.
• Implement preventive measures to reduce attacks on information systems and data.
• Detect, report and take action on attempts to gain unauthorized access to information systems and data.
• Monitor, control and protect communications at the system, network and application layers.
• Implement a more in-depth security awareness and training program for all users with access to information systems and data.

How to Achieve CMMC Compliance with the Help of an MSP

Compliance is managed by a third-party certified CMMC assessor; they will determine whether your systems meet the requirements of CMMC compliance. When you begin your compliance audit, you will determine which level of compliance you need.

Your auditor will determine what, if anything, needs to be changed regarding your systems to become CMMC compliant. Once you make any necessary changes, your system will be audited again.

In effect, achieving the CMMC 2.0 framework is a work-in-progress, not something that happens overnight. The highest levels of CMMC compliance require rigorous security controls. It is not a matter of implementing the right software, either; the right processes and training must also be implemented.

If your organization struggles to meet CMMC compliance levels, consider working with a managed IT service. Managed services providers (MSPs) can help you to implement the required security controls and procedures, as well as provide ongoing support to ensure that your systems remain compliant.

Working with an MSP can also be beneficial if your organization does not have the internal resources to devote to CMMC compliance — or if you don’t want to hire a team of internal specialists. MSPs can provide expert guidance and support, freeing your staff to focus on other priorities. Furthermore, MSPs can find the least disruptive and most cost-effective methods of helping support your staff through this transition.

Choosing the right MSP is crucial to ensuring a successful CMMC compliance project — or to meeting any other cybersecurity standard or maturity model.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you grow into CMMC maturity.

FAQs

What are the CMMC Level 2 controls?

The CMMC Level 2 controls are requirements that organizations must implement to achieve compliance with the CMMC framework. They are still pretty basic controls needed to work with non-privileged data. It includes building user access control, data protection and training strategies.

What are the different levels of CMMC?

There are three levels of CMMC, each with different requirements that build upon the last level. Level 1 is the most basic and requires only basic cyber hygiene practices. Level 3 is the most advanced and requires the highest level of security controls and proactive/preventative security measures.

How many domains does CMMC 2.0 have?

CMMC 2.0 has 14 domains of cybersecurity, which are less than CMMC 1.0. These domains are more rigorous but have been streamlined to achieve greater levels of adoption and control.