CMMC Compliance – Consulting vs Managed IT Services

For companies that are part of the federal supply chain and provide products or services to the Department of Defense (DoD), there are stringent cybersecurity requirements that are currently in place and will be mandatory in May 2023.

Private contractors, subcontractors, and their suppliers and vendors are impacted by these requirements and must meet criteria as defined in the Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (CMMC 2.0). These cyber-based security measures are intended to keep Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information protected and treated in a highly secure and trackable manner.  

Evolving from the NIST SP 800-171 standard, the DoD found the need for more stringent compliance criteria that increased accountability and further protected the DoD and the federal supply chain from bad actors and security breaches through CMMC compliance framework. 

With two distinct ways to achieve compliance, either through a one-time consulting project or through ongoing cyber security managed services, DoD contractors and vendors, as well as other companies interested in top-tier cyber security controls, have to choose the optimal solution for their organization.

Defining CMMC Consulting Services

There are vendors offering CMMC 2.0 Certification through consulting services and implementation, meaning that there is a one-time information security system audit, or CMMC audit, of a company’s cybersecurity framework and processes followed by the issuing of a one-time report. 

Following the audit, consultants recommend actions the company can take to achieve  NIST Compliance following a structured checklist approach. The checklist or audit report can then be submitted with any proposals to the DOD by the contractor or sub-contractor as part of their  CMMC risk management plan.

This service is delivered as a single engagement as part of the scope within a statement of work. However, the problem with a single ‘snapshot in time’ approach to CMMC Compliance is twofold:

1. The threat surface is constantly changing and evolving due to improving technology and the ever-expanding ingenuity of cyber criminals. What is true on the day the scope of work is completed could change drastically in just a few days or weeks.
2. Your company may make changes to the IT systems after the report is complete, e.g., opening new locations, offering wifi services to guests, or servers that need to be patched with the latest updates. Each change could potentially expose a new vulnerability.

While CMMC compliance consulting is an adequate solution, it is far from a comprehensive and complete system that ensures adherence to security controls, including information systems, supply chain risk management, and security procedures impacting physical plant from manufacturing facilities to corporate headquarters.

What are Cyber Security Managed Services?

Initially similar to CMMC consulting services, a managed services provider provides an initial system assessment and report process with a focus on a discovery audit that analyzes your company’s IT environment. This assessment will include your full cyber security framework, plus all aspects of access and use of CUI.

However, with cyber security managed services, your IT partner performs an initial CMMC-compliant assessment (often at a reduced fee), but then continues to provide oversight, initiates upgrades and patches, and ensures ongoing monitoring and assessment for your entire IT network. 

With CMMC-managed services, IT experts constantly monitor the system, look for any suspicious activity, and perform daily checks of security and access log files. In addition, if your initial report is missing any requirements, a managed partner would ensure that solutions were implemented in a timely manner so that your organization doesn’t lose valuable contracting opportunities.

How to Guard Against Changing Security Requirements

Whether responding to new threats or factoring in advancements in technology, you can count on CMMC to change and expand over the coming years. 

When working with a cyber security services provider, you don’t have to stay current on the latest CMMC or NIST risk management framework. A managed services provider assumes the burden of monitoring changes and updating documentation as needed to accurately communicate your current standing.

What’s the Better Solution for Your Business?

When your business relies on revenue from government contracts, you can’t afford to be without CMMC compliance at all times. So, which level of service provides you with the best solution?

Consider this: You have a visit from a DoD auditor looking for your physical records on CMMC compliance. Would you rather present a binder of information provided by a consultant months ago, or would you prefer to present current information, including verified logs from yesterday?

Don’t leave money on the table—be sure your business is in CMMC compliance every day!

Contact NIST Expert to learn more about our initial assessment and audit services and our industry-leading managed services. Or call 607-NIST-171.