CMMC Is the Starting Line, Not the Finish

This commentary urges defense and critical infrastructure organizations to move beyond basic compliance (CMMC/NIST 800-171) by implementing a Harden‑Detect‑Respond (HDR) operating model focused on continuous hardening, visibility, detection, threat hunting, and 24x7 response. It outlines seven key practice areas—people, infrastructure, endpoints, visibility, detection, hunting, and incident response—to build resilience against nation‑state and criminal threats.