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Progress begins with mature capability. Adopt methodology that accelerates improvement, and receive the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).
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Mature Methodology Yields Results

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a new maturity model for organizations doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD), and builds on the NIST 800-171 control framework. It applies to organizations that store, process, and/or transmit either Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

 

The CMMC is intended to serve as a verification mechanism to ensure appropriate levels of cybersecurity practices and processes are in place to ensure basic cyber hygiene as well as protect FCI or CUI.

A Proven Approach to CMMC Preparation

Begin your path to compliance with help from a Registered Provider Organization.
Get Started

Mature Methodology Yields Results

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a new maturity model for organizations doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD), and builds on the NIST 800-171 control framework. It applies to organizations that store, process, and/or transmit either Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

 

The CMMC is intended to serve as a verification mechanism to ensure appropriate levels of cybersecurity practices and processes are in place to ensure basic cyber hygiene as well as protect FCI or CUI.

CMMC Practice Progression

Organized in five levels from “Basic Cyber Hygiene” to “Advanced/Progressive,” below is the maturity progression for an organization’s cyber security practices. In contrast to CMMC Maturity Process Progression, this scale measures compliance with specific frameworks or regulations determined for each level.

Benefits

Establish a path to maturity that meets your needs with our proven methodology.

Security Expertise

  • With insight and perspective from our team, measure your capability maturity against any applicable, required, or desired maturity models and frameworks.

Implement Quickly

  • Our dedicated security resources operate with a proven and well-defined methodology. This efficient approach balances your business needs to quickly implement needed capability.

Support Scalability

  • As your organization continues to grow, our security resources are available on-demand to provide additional support in a cost-effective manner without having to bring on additional resources.

Trusted By Customers

  • Dedication to maturity within your security program will help you create a durable reputation with your customers, business partners, and potential investors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cyber security maturity model?

A cyber security maturity model is a set of characteristics or indicators that represent capability and progression within an organization’s security program. A maturity model often has multiple levels to represent the efficiency of a security program’s processes.
A maturity model shows what level your security program is currently operating at to highlight areas for continuous improvement and efficiency in cyber security-related processes. Maturity models establish a cycle and approach to continuously improve an organization’s cyber security program.
No, but it is highly recommended since the maturity concept can help organizations rapidly identify gaps and improve their processes to comply with regulations and protect sensitive data.

CMM stands for Capability Maturity Model, which was initially designed to describe five levels of best engineering and management practices based on data from different industries. The CMM KPA (key performance areas) didn’t reveal architecturally significant flaws within organizations. CMM has since been replaced by other maturity models.

 

CMMI stands for Capability Maturity Model Integration and was initially designed as an improvement to the CMM. The CMMI’s maturity levels are also slightly different and focused on identifying architectural flaws within procedures.

 

The CMMI’s maturity levels are:

 

  • Level 0 — Incomplete. Everything is done ad hoc, and processes are unknown; work may or may not get completed. 
  • Level 1 — Initial. Unpredictable and reactive. Work is completed but is often delayed and over budget. 
  • Level 2 — Managed. Managed on the project level. Projects are planned, performed, measured, and controlled. 
  • Level 3 — Defined. Proactive, not reactive. Organization-wide standards provide guidance across projects, programs, and portfolios. 
  • Level 4 — Quantitatively Managed. Measured and controlled. The organization is data driven, utilizing quantitative performance objectives that align to the needs of internal and external stakeholders. 
  • Level 5 — Optimizing. Stable and flexible. Processes focus on continuous improvement and are built to pivot and respond to opportunity and change. 

 

CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, which combines controls such as different versions of NIST and ISO to measure the maturity of a company’s cyber security processes. This is a formal certification that’s required for any organization that works for the Department of Defense or does work for organizations related to or connected with the DoD.

It’s a program rolled out by the DoD (Department of Defense) for standards implementing cyber security across the Defense Industrial base. It’s meant to protect the information and data on DoD networks and improve overall cyber security.

 

CMMC is necessary for anyone in the defense contract supply chain, including those who work directly with the Department of Defense and subcontractors who work with others to fulfill and execute those contracts. CMMC is designed to ensure that contractors have appropriate cyber security controls and to measure their readiness, capabilities, and sophistication. Any contractor who wants a federal contract must meet minimum standards to improve information and data protection in the supply chain.

Yes, other maturity models such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework exist, but many are built into specific security frameworks.

There are slight differences in every security maturity model, but most follow the general progression below.

 

  • Level 1 — Initial: Typically incomplete, ad hoc, or unknown. Processes may be known or verbally communicated and are typically reactive. Security processes are not repeatable, measurable, or scalable. 
  • Level 2 — Repeatable: A formal program has been established to some degree. Some processes have been established, defined, and documented. 
  • Level 3 — Defined: The entire program has been formally documented, standardized, and defined for consistency across the organization. 
  • Level 4 — Managed: The organization’s security program is now being measured, refined, and adapted to make processes more effective and efficient. 
  • Level 5 — Optimizing: All security program processes are automated, documented, and regularly analyzed for continuous optimization. Cyber security is part of the organization’s overall culture, and processes are regularly evolving according to the organization’s needs. 

 

You can find out more about these levels on our blog about security maturity models.

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