Delays have been the defining feature of the CMMC program so far. The rules were slow to develop, the deadlines were frequently pushed back, and just as things were gaining traction, key requirements were suspended.
Defense contractors still need to be working towards compliance and taking cybersecurity very seriously. But with so much uncertainty around the CMMC program, it’s understandable that many contractors have waited to start, advance, or complete their certification.
Understandable until you consider all the consequences of getting CMMC certified later rather than sooner. Early action comes with significant advantages. Conversely, late movers face an uphill climb. As you plan where your CMMC journey goes from here, consider the hidden costs of further delays.
Cost #1: Lost Contract Opportunities
Everything else being equal, a defense contractor with stronger cybersecurity is likely to win a contractor over a competitor with weaker controls in place. And since primes are penalized for cyber breaches that affect their subcontractors, they have a compelling interest to pick the most secure partners. Waiting to comply with CMMC can have a direct result on lost contract opportunities. Likewise, any uncertainty about CMMC status can delay deals and jeopardize relationships in ways that have dramatic impacts on revenue.
Cost #2: Increased Implementation Pressure
Getting CMMC certified at level 1 takes anywhere from 30 days to 4 months, and level 2 can take over a year. Waiting forces contractors to compress a large amount of work into a smaller window of time. Rushing this process not only puts certification in jeopardy but potentially results in security gaps that attackers can find and exploit. Furthermore, getting everything done as quickly as possible increases the cost and disruption dramatically.
Cost #3: Higher Cybersecurity Risk
Until certification is attained, security gaps and defensive weaknesses are present. Attackers who are highly motivated to target the defense industrial base will look for companies that are not CMMC certified, knowing they’re easier to exploit. Cyber attacks can be extremely expensive to recover from, bringing operations to a stand still. They can also have the potentially much worse effect of labeling a contractor as insecure or irresponsible, even if they later comply with CMMC.
Cost #4: Greater Resource and Remediation Costs
Just as a rushed CMMC journey can lead to inflated costs and resource consumption, so can a CMMC journey that is slow, paused, or otherwise inefficient. Contractors end up spending more time, budget, and internal resources than is necessary, often on work that has to be redone due to changing circumstances.
Cost #5: Competitive Disadvantage
Contractors that are already CMMC compliant signal they take cybersecurity seriously and want to stay on the right side of regulators. In addition to winning more contracts, they have a better chance of forging long-term, high-value relationships with customers. Everyone else will find it harder to break into markets when customers have identified their preferred suppliers and have no incentive to consider alternatives.
Moving Forward on Your CMMC Journey
Defense contractors who are still waiting to get CMMC compliant are not doing themselves any favors. Neither are those who consider their CMMC journey complete, since staying compliant requires ongoing evaluations, adjustments and improvements. Everyone in the defense industrial base needs to consider CMMC, and all the cybersecurity protections that come with it, to be a top priority and an essential operational asset. Anything less puts compliance and security at risk, which in turn puts the entire business in danger.
Guide Technologies understands the stakes after partnering with a diverse group of defense contractors to move their CMMC journey forward. We can help you get certified by assessing your compliance gaps and putting the missing pieces in place. We can also help you stay certified by acting as your cybersecurity and compliance partner. Either way, relying on experts helps you minimize the time, budget, and risk associated with your CMMC journey.
Confidently move forward with Guide Technologies. Contact us to discuss where you go next.
