Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

A U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity compliance framework that establishes the security requirements contractors must meet to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Under the CMMC 2.0 model, contractors are assessed at one of three levels based on the sensitivity of the information they handle: Level 1 requires basic cybersecurity practices for FCI and annual self-assessments; Level 2 aligns with the 110 security requirements of NIST SP 800-171 for CUI and generally requires third-party certification or, in limited cases, self-assessment; and Level 3 adds selected requirements from NIST SP 800-172 for the DoD’s highest-priority programs and requires government-led assessments. As CMMC requirements are incorporated into DoD solicitations and contracts, the appropriate CMMC level becomes a condition of contract award and continued performance.