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CMMC & NIST for Defense Contractors

Partner with the industry experts to simplify
the complexities of compliance

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Adopt a comprehensive approach to compliance

At ISI, our expertise lies at the intersection of compliance, cybersecurity, and managed IT solutions, making us the go-to partner to guide defense contractors through the complexities of CMMC and compliance requirements as a whole.

The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) has been left with more questions than answers on CMMC. No matter where you are in your compliance journey, our comprehensive solution enables you to pursue your DoD contracts with confidence.

From identifying your level of CMMC and streamlining assessment preparation, to ongoing maintenance and vendor management, we empower you to position yourself for success so you can focus on your core business activities.

A Definitive Guide to CMMC

Our Unique Expertise

Certified by Cyber-AB

We are a leading Registered Provider Organization (RPO).

3 RPs on Staff

Get expert assistance on preparation for your CMMC certification.

180+ NIST Assessments Completed

We are highly skilled in completing this crucial step to achieving CMMC compliance.

900+ Customers

ISI is trusted nationwide by small and midsize businesses in the DIB.

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Designed with you in mind

As a leading Registered Provider Organization (RPO), ISI excels in guiding companies to achieve compliance with CMMC Level 2. From tool selection to policy creation, we have kept compliance at the forefront, centering the importance and impact on a potential client’s CMMC status.

Our CMMC solution includes a curated security stack that enables clients to achieve 65% compliance during the onboarding and initial compliance phases alone. Our proven track record and highly experienced team are here to help make your compliance journey a smooth one, so you can focus more of your time on growing your business.

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CMMC requirements are changing, be prepared

Defense contractors must achieve CMMC compliance requirements to bid on new contracts (starting in 2025) and keep their existing ones (starting in 2028). However, this is not an isolated event; it builds upon existing frameworks such as the NIST 800-171, which contractors should already comply with. Let’s back it up to  where we started and how we got here. The story of compliance around Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) began in 2015 when the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published NIST 800-171. Since then, additional regulations such as DFARS, and CMMC have entered the equation and expanded upon this original framework.

Your path to CMMC compliance

Defense contractors will need to meet the compliance requirements of NIST 800-171 to prepare for their assessment – and ISI will be there through every critical step.

  • Selecting CMMC provider (commonly referred to as an RPO)
  • Identifying your CMMC level
  • Specifying your CMMC assets
  • Selecting a technical design
  • Ensuring cloud compliance
  • Planning, recording, and adopting
  • Completing assessment
  • SelectingCMMC provider (commonly referred to as an RPO)
  • Identifying your CMMC level
  • Specifying your CMMC assets
  • Selecting a technical design
  • Ensuring cloud compliance
  • Planning, recording, and adopting
  • Completing assessment

FAQs

Here's everything you need to know

What is CMMC?

CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It is a program designed by the DoD to protect the Pentagon’s supply chain and standardize compliance across the DIB. CMMC expands upon an existing compliance framework called NIST 800-171 which has been in place since 2017.

What does the future of CMMC look like?

CMMC 2.0 is expected to become law in 2025. We are expecting to see CMMC published as a final rule before the end of 2024, making CMMC 2.0 active. Assessments can begin in earnest by C3PAOs at this point. Sometime early next year, the CMMC requirement will begin to appear in new DoD contracts and potentially in modifications to existing contracts. By 2028, the CMMC requirement will appear in ALL applicable DoD contracts.

How long does it take to prepare for a CMMC assessment?

Our team estimates that the preparation period leading up to the CMMC assessment could span 9-12 months. With the CMMC requirement starting to appear in contracts early 2025, the time is now to get ahead of your competition. 

Who needs to follow NIST 800-171?

Simply put, organizations handling CUI must adhere to NIST 800-171 requirements. This includes both prime and subcontractors working for the Department of Defense (DoD), research institutions receiving federal grants, and organizations that store, handle, or process CUI for federal agencies. Organizations can confirm their handling of CUI by carefully examining their government contracts for specific clauses and by checking for a CUI designation block.

How is NIST 800-171 assessed?

Assessment of compliance with NIST 800-171 relies on the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score. Achieving compliance entails attaining an SPRS score of 110, indicating the implementation of each of the 110 security controls. Within each security control, specific requirements are detailed, varying in complexity and associated costs.