SSE: Your CMMC Compliance Solution
SSE is CMMC Level 2 Certified and is also accredited by The CYBER AB (formerly the CMMC Accreditation Body) as a Registered Provider Organization (RPO), and we have maintained networks to the NIST 800-171 and NIST 800-53 standards since they came into existence. Our experience in managing classified data and controlled unclassified information (CUI) through evolving cybersecurity regulations is built on first-hand experience as a defense contractor.
When you work with our team, we create a customized plan for your compliance. Not only can we assist your company through the initial assessment and remediation work with our gap assessment services, but we can continue our role as trusted advisors, maintaining service and ongoing support to ensure your continuous compliance.
Levels of CMMC Compliance
Whether you need Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 CMMC compliance, SSE can help you get and stay compliant!
Level 1: Foundational
Level 1 is 17 controls with 59 assessment objectives. The 54 page assessment guide applies to companies that focus on protecting Federal Contract Information (FCI) and is based on FAR 52.204-21. These controls protect covered contractor information systems and limit access to only authorized users.
Level 2: Advanced
Level 2 is 110 controls (inclusive of Level 1), 320 assessment objectives, and a 270 page assessment guide that applies to companies working with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The requirements of Level 2 are now completely aligned with NIST 800-171, Rev. 2.
Level 3: Expert
Level 3 focuses on reducing risk from Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and is designed for companies working with CUI on the DoD’s highest priority programs. Specific security requirements are still being determined by the DoD, but will most likely be based on the 110 controls of NIST 800-171 in addition to a subset of NIST SP 800-172 controls.Our Simplified Approach to CMMC Compliance
SSE utilizes a four step process to help you plan, prepare, protect, and perform to cybersecurity standards for compliance. This proven process most often starts with a complimentary CMMC Readiness Assessment that can be delivered to you in just 1 to 2 weeks.
The road to CMMC compliance begins with a survey of your current environment and future needs to evaluate your organization’s level of assessment readiness and help inform a potential roadmap for CMMC compliance and budget considerations for your business to help plan for next steps.
Don’t trust yourself grading your own work. Get outside expertise and ensure you have updated documentation. Even at Level 1, a senior company official must affirm compliance status; a third-party verification is peace of mind.
SSE’s NIST 800-171 and CMMC Gap Assessment is a detailed evidence collection, assessment, and analysis of a company’s environment and its readiness state for an audit or assessment submission. It includes:
- Verification against all 110 NIST 800-171 and CMMC 2.0 (Level 1 and 2)
- Review and verification of existing IT tools
- Review of any existing System Security Plan (SSP)
- Review of any existing Plans of Action and Milestones (POAMs)
- Review of any existing policies/procedures and physical security practices
The output is the identification and documentation of all gaps in the form of a complete Security Assessment Report (SAR) that includes the following deliverables:
NIST 800-171 Assessment and Scoring
- Detailed Compliance Matrix for both NIST 800-171 and CMMC Levels 1 and 2
- Security Findings Traceability Matrix – SSP Information
- Plans of Action and Milestones (POAMs) for all unmet requirements
A complete Gap Assessment plays a critical role in the compliance process because if initial or incomplete efforts result in a failed audit, additional remediation could extend the process and potential investments further.
With the compliance gaps identified and documentation in place, SSE’s remediation services can be customized to subsidize and/or enhance previous or existing compliance efforts. These services were vetted to ensure compliance with the 110 controls defined by NIST 800-171 requirements and scoped to meet the evolving CMMC standards in a cost-effective manner.
- Documenting policies/procedures via SSE Model Policy Templates: Documentation is often the most lacking aspect of meeting requirements discovered in a Gap Assessment. SSE has developed Model Policy Templates for customization to a client’s environment for all IT and non-IT controls. This documentation can save your IT team days, weeks, or even months in trying to draft the necessary documentation to satisfy requirements.
- Implementing an IT plan with SSE’s Cybersecurity Tech Stack + Group Policy Objects (GPOs): In addition to replacing or upgrading any network infrastructure that may be outdated or insufficient to meet requirements, SSE’s Managed Cybersecurity Compliance offerings can be customized and added to the existing IT and cybersecurity services in order for their clients to meet requirements.
- Finalizing a System Security Plan (SSP): Finally, we look at the big picture, considering the steps needed to get to and maintain compliance across your organization. Leveraging software to track and report on compliance. Ensuring that your business has an updated System Security Plan (SSP) is one of the requirements of NIST 800-171 and CMMC.
Compliance is not a one-time effort. Our Cybersecurity-as-a-Service offering supports continuous monitoring and management of tools, settings, and policies, as well as evidence collection to sustain regulatory compliance with CMMC Level 1 and 2 requirements.
Given the DoD requires a Senior Company Official to annually affirm their on-going compliance, our outsourced services include ongoing monitoring of your network systems:
- Deployment, remediation, and management of the SSE Tech Stack
- Policies and procedures either completed by SSE or guided by SSE-provided templates
- Evidence collection and compliance reporting
- Issue identification and POA&M execution to maintain compliance
Getting started as soon as possible with a Gap Assessment can provide the documentation needed now for NIST 800-171 and help inform your organization’s specific needs, timeline, and budget to plan for CMMC certification.
While achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance may be a major task for DoD contractors, it can also become a competitive advantage with SSE as your partner.
Let Us Demonstrate How the SSE Team Can Help Prepare Your Business for Compliance.
Schedule a Complimentary Readiness Assessment
Grading Your Own Homework Could Be Costly.
Did you know our average Gap Assessment score for all the companies we have assessed to date is -89. What’s more shocking is that the average -89 score is more than -100 points lower than what those companies had assessed themselves previously! Get outside expertise and ensure you have an objective-based assessment with the necessary evidence collection and documentation.
Even at Level 1, a senior company official must annually affirm their compliance status; a third-party verification is risk mitigation and peace of mind.
Avoid Risk with Advice from a CMMC Compliance Company
According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), the False Claims Act is “the government’s primary civil tool to redress false claims for federal funds and property involving government programs and operations.” Not being up-to-date with requirements or misrepresenting your compliance status not only puts CUI at risk but could jeopardize your business’s success and reputation as well.
Firms that fail to abide by the cybersecurity standards in their contracts may face hefty penalties. Those penalty fines, combined with the potential loss of existing or future government contracts, could create substantial risks to businesses’ revenue streams. There can also be criminal risk for knowingly and willfully making a false claim or statement. Such reckless misstatements risk liability under the False Claims Act.
In a 2022 settlement by the DOJ, a DoD manufacturer was fined $9.0M and a whistleblower and former employee received $2.61M as his share of the False Claims Act recovery.
CMMC: What to Know for Compliance
Since becoming law in 2017, NIST 800-171 has governed the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) by DoD contractors and subcontractors. Companies must adhere to the specific 110 controls of NIST 800-171 in order to be eligible for and complete government projects that involve CUI.
While companies may have been able to ‘’self-attest’’ to NIST 800-171 requirements in the past, the DoD has strengthened its review and enforcement. With the implementation of the DFARS Interim Final Rule in 2020, companies are now required to submit a scored self-assessment into the DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) based on their compliance with the 110 requirements of NIST 800-171.
With the Title CFR published in the Federal Register in October 2024, defense contractors and subcontractors will have to certify—and potentially overhaul—their cybersecurity controls and policies to comply with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Companies that fail to abide by the cybersecurity standards required by their contracts may face hefty penalties, which could be as much as the entire contract value. These penalties and the potential loss of government contracts could create substantial risks to businesses’ revenue streams.
Depending upon the level of cybersecurity maturity your company needs to meet requirements, it could take months to become compliant. If your business is already compliant, you still need to ensure continuous monitoring support is in place to meet requirements.
Get CMMC Compliant. Gain a Competitive Advantage.
Evolving CMMC requirements can feel overwhelming. Our team of experienced professionals with DoD expertise provides our clients with a thorough understanding of their DoD contractual requirements and a roadmap to meet them.
Let us demonstrate how our dedicated team can help prepare your business for CMMC compliance.
When you work with our team, we create a customized plan for compliance. Not only do we help you work through the initial assessment and remediation work, but we continue our role as trusted advisors, maintaining service and ongoing support to ensure compliance with industry standards.
Certifications
SSE is CMMC Level 2 Certified. SSE scored a perfect 110 during our Joint Surveillance Voluntary Assessment (JSVA) in November of 2024 conducted by DIBCAC and a C3PAO.
SSE has been accredited by The CYBER AB (formerly the CMMC Accreditation Body) as a Registered Provider Organization (RPO) with Certified CMMC Professionals (CCPs) and Registered Practitioners (RPs) on staff.
SSE takes seriously the need to have well trained employees to ensure first time quality. All of our team members are certified in our tools that are necessary to do their jobs. These certifications are the foundation of our business and your peace of mind.
CMMC Compliance Articles
As a long-standing DoD contractor and IT and cybersecurity services provider, SSE has been supporting DoD contracts for over 15 years, managing networks to meet regulatory compliance.
Key Updates in CMMC 2.0
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Nov 4th, 2021 that the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) version 1.0 will…
What to Know Before Your NIST 800-171 Assessment Submission
Working with government agencies like the Department of Defense (DoD) requires meeting specific and evolving regulations related to NIST 800-171…
Why Did The DoD Create CMMC?
CMMC: Why Did The US Department of Defence Create These Critical Security Guidelines From 2017, the US Department of Defence…Frequently Asked Questions about CMMC Compliance
CMMC, or Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, is a program from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that is applicable to Defense Industrial Base (DIB) contractors to ensure that DoD contractors are properly protecting sensitive information.
All DoD contractors will be required to comply with CMMC. Companies that intend to work with federal contracts in any form should consider CMMC compliance a minimum requirement to display competency in matters of cybersecurity.
If your company were to fail a compliance audit or not meet the CMMC requirements, you’ll miss out on any and all government contracts that require this compliance.
CMMC certification will be required of any contractor or subcontractor that stores, processes, or transmits any Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI). If you have the below FAR and DFARS clauses in your contracts…you need to comply!
- FAR 52.204.21 – indicates that the DoD contracting officer believes ‘’Federal Contract Information’’ or FCI is present and CMMC Level 1 requirements would apply
- DFARS 252.204-7012 – indicates that the DoD contracting officer believes ‘’Controlled Unclassified Information’’ or CUI is present and NIST 800-171 requirements are in effect now and CMMC Level 2 requirements would apply
The length of time it takes to become CMMC certified will depend on which maturity level you intend to achieve and your current state as it relates to your network and cybersecurity.
- Level 1: Typically, reaching Level 1 certification will take several months to complete. However, depending on the current cybersecurity posture and resources, it could be reached in as little as 30-90 days.
- Level 2: Reaching Level 2 takes an average of 6-12 months to complete as it requires the company to implement necessary practices, demonstrate their effectiveness, and document sufficient evidence.
- Level 3: Because of its complexity, reaching Level 3 can take up to 18-24 months or longer. This level requires organizations to implement required cybersecurity controls and perform a government-led audit.
These timelines will vary depending on your organization’s size, complexity, and current security posture.
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