Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is a modern system generated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that needs formal third-party audits of defence industrial base (DIB) contractor cybersecurity practices. The audit is managed by autonomous CMMC third-party assessor organizations (C3PAO) authorized by the CMMC Accreditation Body. CMMC swell upon DFARS 252.204-7012 while adding third party scrutiny and certification needed. It safeguards federal contractor information (FCI) and regulated unclassified information (CUI) processed by the DIB.

CMMC ensures more robust security for the supply chain and initiates better accountability for the prime contractor. CMMC certification will become a prerequisite for the DoD contract award. It requires an evaluation of the contractor’s technical security controls, process maturity, documentation, policies and method to ensure more robust security and resiliency. CMMC seems to retort some crucial issues with the cybersecurity compliance method that has been exploited for the last several years.

Why is CMMC significant?

Defense Industrial Base(DIB) grip and use crucial government data to develop and deliver goods and services to their consumers. It helps assure security like military departments and government agencies do. However, you should consult with good CMMC consultants.

Does CMMC apply to all government contractors: CMMS applies only to DoD contractors. The DoD is now commencing to require certification with specific contracts. In future, CMMC may employ all non-DoD government contractors as well.

What’s distinct about CMMC?

The U.S. government has offered cybersecurity outlines for contractors for several years. But, there was a limited way for contractors to prove their robustness of cybersecurity programs. Fortunately, CMMC initiates a dimensional set of certifications, guided by third-party surveyors. Now, contractors must achieve CMMC authentication to win government contracts in future.

Azure services meet the adequate security requirements relevant to CMMC:

In October 2016, the USA Department of Defense(DoD) proclaimed a final rule implementing Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement(DFARS) provisions that apply to all DoD contractors who process, store or transmit covered defence data through their information framework. Azure maintains a FedRAMP High Authorization to operate (P-ATO) is the highest bar for FedRAMP compliance.

CMMC and Azure co-operation: Both Azure and Azure Government have FedRAMP High authorizations in place that address critical security controls related to the protection of federal contract information (FCI), controlled unclassified (CUI) and covered defence information(CDI). Both cloud environments offer similar controls for data encryption. It includes assistance for customer-managed encryption keys deposited in FIPS 140 validation hardware security modules(HSMs) managed by Azure Key Vault. However, an accredited third-party assessment organization (3PAO) has attested that both Azure and Azure Government fulfil the applicable criteria of DFARS Clause 252.204-7012.

Azure offers- FedRAMP High Provisional Authorization to operate (P-ATO) emitted by the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board (JAB).

Azure Government offers: FedRAMP High Provisional Authorization to operate (p-ATO) released by the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board (JAB).

DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide(SRG) affects Level 5 Provisional Authorization(P.A.).

A contract improvement to assist defence contractors in meeting the terms in the DFARS Clause 252.204-7012 that apply to cloud service providers. When defence contractors must comprise the DFARS Clause 252.204-7012 flow-downs in subcontracts, Microsoft can approve the flow-down terms relevant to cloud service providers for Azure authority. For getting information about the contract amendment, contact your Microsoft account manager or CMMC consultants.

Microsoft Product Placement for CMMC Level3 is a reciprocal dashboard depicting how Microsoft cloud services satisfy requirements for CMMC practices. The omission view depicts the practices for shared coverage where the underlying cloud platform provides coverage for specific practices but demands extra customer configuration to satisfy the complete coverage requirements. This capacity helps you drill down into each practice to find out customer-owned actions needed to meet practice requirements for CMMC compliance.