CMMC Changed the FSO Role.
Understand where industrial security ends, cybersecurity begins, and how FSOs fit into CMMC readiness.
Executive Brief
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has reshaped who owns readiness inside defense contractor organizations.
What was once treated as an information technology initiative now touches contracts, personnel, facilities, and daily security operations. That shift places Facility Security Officers (FSOs) at the center of compliance.
CMMC requires organizations to demonstrate protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across people, processes, and systems. Those expectations closely mirror responsibilities FSOs already manage under the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM).
Updates to 32 CFR Part 117 reinforced the expectation that contractors safeguard sensitive information across both classified and unclassified environments, further aligning traditional NISPOM responsibilities with CMMC readiness requirements.
Dig deeper below to learn why the FSO role has expanded, where industrial security and cybersecurity now intersect, and how FSOs help organizations remain eligible, inspection-ready, and contract compliant.
Why CMMC Expanded the FSO Role
CMMC is the Department of Defense (DoD) (also known as the Department of War) framework for verifying that contractors can protect CUI within non-federal systems.
At a high level:
- CMMC is established under Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 170
- Contract enforcement flows through Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7021
- Most contractors handling CUI must implement all 110 controls in National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171
- Certification by a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization is required for most CMMC Level 2 contracts
The impact is direct.
Compliance now determines contract eligibility.
For FSOs, this means:
- Security responsibilities extend beyond classified systems
- CUI must be protected with rigor appropriate to federal requirements, requiring formal controls, documentation, and accountability
- Coordination across IT, compliance, human resources, and contracts is required
CMMC readiness is no longer just technical. It requires coordination across security, contracts, personnel, facilities, and information systems.
Where Industrial Security and Cybersecurity Converge
Facility Security Clearance (FCL) and CUI
An FCL demonstrates an organization’s ability to safeguard classified information.
CMMC extends that expectation to CUI.
Key point: a cleared facility cannot remain contract-eligible if CUI environments are left unprotected.
NISPOM and CMMC Alignment
The update to Title 32 Part 117 aligned industrial security and cybersecurity expectations.
Common goals:
- Safeguarding sensitive information
- Maintaining personnel trust
- Enforcing disciplined incident reporting
CMMC adds a technical documentation layer such as access control, logging, and system boundaries. FSOs often serve as the bridge between security policy and cyber implementation.
What FSOs Do for CMMC Readiness
FSOs do not implement technical controls but should have an awareness of them. They ensure controls are enforced, understood, and defensible.
Personnel Security
- Train personnel who handle CUI
- Maintain documentation of annual training
- Integrate CUI awareness into insider threat and refresher briefings
Physical Security
- Restrict and log access to spaces storing CUI
- Ensure proper CUI markings and signage
- Maintain visitor access records
Systems Coordination
Partner with information technology teams to:
- Validate access permissions
- Confirm system boundaries align with the System Security Plan (SSP)
- Support labeling and handling procedures
Incident Reporting
Under DFARS 252.204-7012:
- Cyber incidents affecting CUI must be reported to the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center within 72 hours
- Evidence must be preserved
- Incidents must be reflected in the SSP and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M)
FSOs often help trigger escalation and ensure reporting discipline.
Documents FSOs Must Understand
FSOs may not own these artifacts, but they must understand how they support compliance:
- SSP: Defines scope and control implementation
- POA&Ms: Tracks remediation of gaps
- CUI References: Identifies applicable CUI categories
- Training Records: Demonstrate personnel accountability
- Vendor Risk Records: Track subcontractor CUI exposure
Organizations that centralize these records are consistently better prepared for both Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency reviews and CMMC assessments.
Why FSOs Anchor Readiness
FSOs already operate in inspection-driven environments.
That mindset aligns naturally with CMMC:
- Evidence over intent
- Documentation over assumptions
- Continuous readiness over one-time fixes
By integrating CMMC awareness into self-inspections, insider threat programs, and contract reviews, FSOs reduce duplication and close gaps before assessments occur.
Want the Full FSO Playbook?
Our FSO Guide to CMMC Readiness walks through responsibilities, checklists, document mappings, and coordination strategies in detail.
FAQs
Do FSOs need to be CMMC experts?
No. FSOs must understand how CUI protection extends into systems and support coordination across teams.
Is a cleared system automatically compliant?
No. Cleared systems and CMMC environments overlap but differ in scope and documentation.
Who owns CMMC readiness?
Security, IT, and compliance share responsibility. FSOs help keep efforts aligned.
Can CMMC issues affect our Facility Clearance?
Indirectly. Non-compliance can delay or jeopardize contracts tied to cleared work.
