CMMI vs. CMMC vs. NIST: What’s the Difference?

The recent release of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has brought renewed interest in the differences between it and other models, such as the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework.

Today, we will provide a brief overview of each model and how they differ. But before we talk about CMMI vs. CMMC or CMMC vs. NIST… let’s talk about standards and maturity models.

What’s in a Standard?

It’s not about CMMI vs. CMMC or CMMC vs. NIST: It’s about security.

Standards and maturity models are requirements that organizations use to test their strength and resiliency. But they, themselves, don’t create security. They don’t create processes or technology. They are a checklist.

Organizations can get in trouble when they try to “build to the checklist” — when they act as though their checklists are a set of specifications. While, in some cases, that may be true (many holistic cybersecurity models purport to create the foundation of a highly secured system), it fails to address the fact that every system is unique.

Bottomline: Organizations need to create solid security solutions that also meet CMMI, CMMC or NIST standards. They should not solely try to design systems to meet these standards.

The Differences Between CMMI vs. CMMC vs. NIST

With all that considered, CMMI, CMMC and NIST are pretty different things — although they all outline some critical best practices. Note that the world and requirements are constantly changing, so the next year might show us new standards altogether.

• CMMI is a process improvement approach that provides guidance on best practices for organizational processes. It was originally developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) in the early 1990s but has been updated. CMMI can assess and improve an organization’s software development, acquisition and maintenance processes.
• CMMC is a new cybersecurity certification program developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve the security of its contractors and suppliers. It builds on the existing CMMI framework and adds specific cybersecurity requirements. Organizations seeking to do business with the DoD will need to obtain a CMMC certification at one of three CMMC levels, depending on the sensitivity of the information they will be handling.
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a set of standards and guidelines for businesses to use to improve their cybersecurity posture. It was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which called for developing a security framework to reduce the risk to critical infrastructures.

In short? CMMI has largely been replaced by CMMC for DoD contracting. NIST is for private enterprises, while CMMC is for those who deal with public information. All these systems are intended to reduce risk by creating a framework that can be followed to improve security posture.

How Do You Achieve CMMI, CMMC or NIST Compliance?

Achieving compliance with any of these models requires an organization-wide commitment to security. You need to start at the top and work your way down, ensuring that everyone in the organization understands their role in keeping the data safe and that your solutions will support them.

There are a few key things you need to do:

1. Conduct a self-assessment to determine your organization’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. Develop a plan to address the gaps in your security posture.
3. Implement solutions and processes that will help you meet the requirements of the standard or models.
4. Test and validate your solutions to ensure they are effective.
5. Maintain your security posture over time.

The specific steps you need to take will vary depending on the standard or model you’re trying to meet. But the overall process is the same. You should start with a self-assessment, address gaps and implement proactive solutions to remain compliant in the future.

Many organizations grow organically and don’t have the time to radically overhaul their security. But for that, there’s an MSP.

How an MSP Can Help You Achieve Better Compliance

An MSP can help you get compliant and stay compliant, whether you’re trying to achieve compliance with NIST or with a CMMC level. They will work with you to assess your organization’s current security posture, develop a plan to address gaps and implement solutions that meet your specific needs.

MSPs have the experience and expertise to quickly identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. They can also provide guidance on which compliance standard or model is right for your organization and help you develop a plan to meet its requirements.

An MSP can also provide ongoing support to ensure that your security posture remains strong. They can monitor your systems for potential threats, patch vulnerabilities and keep an eye on compliance regulations to ensure that you’re always up to date.

The Bottom Line: CMMI, CMMC and NIST

CMMI, CMMC and NIST compliance are all important for businesses that handle sensitive data. When comparing CMMI vs. CMMC compliance, CMMC compliance is the modern standard you need to follow to deal with government/DoD data. The CMMC framework is upheld by a CMMC accreditation body and necessary when managing federal contract information. There may be some exceptions when working internationally. When comparing CMMC vs. NIST compliance, NIST is for businesses wishing to upgrade their cybersecurity posture.

An MSP can help you assess your organization’s current security environment and develop a plan to bring you into compliance, regardless of the compliance standards or maturity models you need to meet. Perhaps most importantly, an MSP will improve your security with processes and solutions tailored to your organization.

It’s not always possible to have reasonable and reliable self-assessments internally. More than that, it’s not always possible to have the time, budget or staff to make wide scale security improvements. Your MSP will find the best ways for you to improve your organization’s operations with less disruption and less cost.

If you want to know more about CMMI vs. CMMC vs. NIST, contact us today.

FAQs

Is CMMI a quality standard?

CMMI is a quality standard that can be used to improve an organization’s processes and products, but that focuses primarily on the maturity of security.

What is the difference between CMMC and NIST?

NIST is a quality standard that can be used to improve an organization’s processes and products, but that focuses primarily on the maturity of security. CMMC is a certification program that verifies an organization’s compliance with specific security practices.

What is a CMMI certification?

A CMMI certification is a designation earned by an organization that has been verified as compliant with specific security practices. It was last updated in 2018.