Table of Contents
- 5 Ways Defense Contractors Can Cut CMMC Compliance Costs
- I. Properly Scope Your CUI Boundary
- II. Use What You Already Own
- III. Consider Shared Services Models
- IV. Implement in Phases
- V. Build Internal Expertise
- How Stratify IT Can Help with CMMC Compliance
- How We Help You Save on CMMC Compliance Costs
- Collaborating with C3PAOs
- Conclusion
- Contact Us
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. How can I reduce the cost of CMMC compliance for my business?
- 2. What is the best way to scope my CUI boundaries for CMMC compliance?
- 3. Can I use existing software tools to meet CMMC requirements?
- 4. What are shared security models, and how can they help cut compliance costs?
- 5. How can I implement CMMC compliance in phases to save costs?
- 6. Why is building internal expertise a cost-effective strategy for CMMC compliance?
- 7. What are some cost-saving tips for defense contractors looking to achieve CMMC compliance?
- 8. How long does it take to achieve full CMMC compliance, and how can I manage costs during the process?
5 Ways Defense Contractors Can Cut CMMC Compliance Costs
Implementing Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance can be a costly endeavor, but it doesn't have to drain your budget. By taking a strategic approach, defense contractors can meet compliance requirements without unnecessary expenses. Here are five proven cost-saving strategies to reduce CMMC compliance costs while maintaining security and efficiency.
I. Properly Scope Your CUI Boundary
One of the biggest mistakes contractors make is over-protecting systems that don't handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). To minimize costs, accurately define your CUI boundary and ensure that only the necessary systems fall under CMMC controls.
Cost-Saving Tips:
- Conduct a data flow analysis to pinpoint where CUI is stored, processed, and transmitted.
- Implement network segmentation to isolate CUI environments, reducing the number of systems requiring compliance.
- Utilize CUI marking best practices to avoid unnecessary expansion of the compliance scope.
II. Use What You Already Own
Many defense contractors already have tools and technologies that meet CMMC requirements but fail to leverage them effectively. Microsoft 365 E3/E5 licenses, for example, include security features that align with CMMC mandates.
Cost-Saving Tips:
- Maximize the built-in security and compliance tools within existing software suites before purchasing additional solutions.
- Enable and configure Microsoft Defender, Intune, and Azure AD features to meet CMMC requirements without extra investment.
- Review current cybersecurity policies and align them with existing CMMC frameworks to prevent redundant spending.
III. Consider Shared Services Models
Rather than bearing the full burden of compliance costs alone, contractors can share the expense by using enclaves or cloud-based shared environments specifically designed for CMMC compliance.
Cost-Saving Tips:
- Join a managed security enclave where compliance controls are already in place.
- Partner with other defense contractors to implement shared security models, reducing individual costs.
- Explore Government Community Cloud (GCC) options that offer built-in CMMC compliance tools.
IV. Implement in Phases
Attempting to become fully compliant all at once can be overwhelming and expensive. Instead, focus on high-risk areas first and spread implementation costs over time.
Cost-Saving Tips:
- Prioritize addressing the most critical gaps to mitigate immediate compliance risks.
- Plan a phased roadmap to gradually achieve full compliance, aligning costs with available budgets.
- Utilize CMMC assessment tools to track progress and ensure efficient resource allocation.
V. Build Internal Expertise
Relying solely on external consultants for compliance guidance can be costly in the long run. Developing in-house expertise allows organizations to manage compliance more efficiently and reduce recurring consulting fees.
Cost-Saving Tips:
- Train internal IT and security staff on CMMC requirements to handle ongoing compliance needs.
- Utilize free or low-cost training resources from CMMC Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) and industry groups.
- Implement an internal audit process to maintain compliance without needing frequent external assessments.
How Stratify IT Can Help with CMMC Compliance
At Stratify IT, we specialize in guiding businesses through the complexities of CMMC compliance, ensuring they meet the necessary cybersecurity requirements to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) and its contractors. Our team provides tailored solutions to help organizations navigate the CMMC framework, from pre-assessments to remediation strategies and third-party certification support.
How We Help You Save on CMMC Compliance Costs
Stratify IT offers cost-effective strategies for achieving CMMC compliance by focusing on efficiency, reducing unnecessary expenses, and ensuring security. Here's how we can support your organization:
- Proper Scoping of Your CUI Boundary: We help you identify and limit the scope of your CUI boundary, ensuring you only apply compliance measures where necessary, thus reducing the overall cost of compliance.
- Leveraging Existing Tools: Our experts can guide you on using tools such as Microsoft 365 E3/E5 licenses, which already include features that satisfy CMMC requirements, helping you avoid the cost of purchasing additional software.
- Shared Security Models: We help you collaborate with other contractors to implement shared security models and enclaves, splitting the costs while still meeting CMMC requirements.
- Phased Implementation: Stratify IT helps you implement compliance in phases, addressing the most pressing compliance gaps first, spreading out the costs, and reducing immediate financial strain.
- Building Internal Expertise: Through customized training and resources, we equip your internal IT and security teams to handle compliance requirements efficiently, reducing reliance on costly external consultants.
Collaborating with C3PAOs
Stratify IT works closely with C3PAOs (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations) to streamline your certification process, ensuring that your compliance journey is as smooth and cost-effective as possible. We guide you every step of the way, from pre-assessments to full certification.
Conclusion
CMMC compliance doesn't have to be a financial burden. By properly scoping your CUI boundary, leveraging existing tools, considering shared environments, implementing in phases, and investing in internal expertise, contractors can significantly reduce costs while maintaining security and regulatory adherence.
Contact Us
Ready to achieve CMMC compliance with confidence? Contact Stratify IT today to learn how we can support your compliance journey, enhance your cybersecurity resilience, and facilitate a smooth C3PAO assessment.
For more insights on compliance and cybersecurity, explore our leadership blogs for expert guidance and best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
To reduce the cost of CMMC compliance, businesses can focus on strategies such as properly scoping their CUI boundaries, leveraging existing tools like Microsoft 365, and considering shared security models. Implementing compliance in phases and building internal expertise can also help spread costs over time and reduce reliance on expensive external consultants.
Properly scoping your CUI boundary involves identifying which systems handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and applying compliance controls only to those systems. This prevents over-protection of systems that don’t require compliance, helping you avoid unnecessary expenses.
Yes, many businesses already have software tools like Microsoft 365 that include built-in security features that satisfy CMMC compliance requirements. By leveraging these existing tools, you can save costs on purchasing additional solutions while ensuring your business meets the necessary cybersecurity standards.
Shared security models allow businesses to share the costs of CMMC compliance by using enclaves or cloud-based shared environments. This approach enables multiple contractors to use the same secure infrastructure, reducing individual costs while ensuring compliance with CMMC requirements.
Implementing CMMC compliance in phases allows businesses to prioritize high-risk areas first and address compliance gaps gradually. This phased approach helps spread the costs over time, enabling businesses to manage their budgets more effectively while ensuring that critical cybersecurity needs are addressed early.
Building internal expertise helps businesses reduce reliance on costly external consultants for ongoing CMMC compliance. By training your internal IT and security teams, you can manage compliance more efficiently and handle audits and assessments without incurring additional consulting fees.
For defense contractors, key cost-saving tips include:
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Properly scoping CUI boundaries to avoid unnecessary coverage.
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Leveraging existing software tools that meet CMMC requirements.
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Joining shared security models with other contractors to split costs.
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Implementing compliance in phases, focusing on high-risk areas first.
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Building internal expertise to reduce long-term consulting costs.
The timeline for achieving full CMMC compliance varies based on the size of your organization and the complexity of your systems. By using a phased approach, businesses can focus on critical areas first, manage costs effectively, and gradually achieve compliance over time. This method allows you to distribute compliance expenses across multiple budgets.