CMMC Certification: What You Need to Know

## Executive summary: The article outlines CMMC 2.0—its tiered model, assessment and contract enforcement approach—and details Level 1 (basic cyber hygiene), Level 2 (NIST SP 800-171–based controls for protecting CUI), and anticipated Level 3 (advanced protections against APTs). It provides a five-step roadmap (NIST 800-171 compliance, updated SSP, POA&M, remediation, and ongoing maintenance), implementation timelines, and recommends third-party managed security support to help DoD contractors achieve and sustain certification.