The CMMC Rule Goes Live

🚨 It’s Official: The CMMC Rule Goes Live Today! 🚨

Today, December 16th, marks a historic moment for the defense industrial base: the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rule is officially live! After years of anticipation, extensive rule-making, and some skepticism, the Department of Defense (DoD) has finalized the framework.

For many, this is the culmination of years of effort—but for defense contractors and managed service providers (MSPs), it’s just the beginning of a critical new chapter.

What Does This Mean?

The CMMC framework is now in place to safeguard sensitive Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) throughout the supply chain.

The journey to this milestone wasn’t simple. For years, the DoD’s silence during rule-making left some wondering if CMMC would ever become reality. Today, the answer is clear—and the message is simple: the time to act is now.

What’s Next for Contractors and MSPs?

• Defense Contractors: Assess your current cybersecurity posture and identify gaps that could hinder compliance. Determine the CMMC level required for your contracts and start preparing.
• MSPs Supporting Defense Contractors: Ensure your services align with the CMMC framework, including managed IT, data handling, and system security. Non-compliant MSPs could put clients’ assessments—and contracts—at risk.

How to Prepare

Partnering with a CYBER-AB certified consultant like Prescott is essential for navigating this complex process. Certified experts can:

• Conduct readiness assessments.
• Implement required controls.
• Guide you through preparation for formal assessments.

Pro Tip: Don’t procrastinate—achieving compliance can take 12–18 months. Some prime contractors are already requiring full compliance for new contracts.

Strengthening National Security

The finalization of CMMC is about more than compliance; it’s about ensuring the resilience of the defense supply chain and bolstering national security.