CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)
Definition
CMMC is the DoD's certification program verifying that defense contractors protect federal contract information and controlled unclassified information.
CMMC ends the era of self-attested cybersecurity on DoD contracts. Previously, contractors self-assessed their NIST 800-171 compliance and submitted a score to the SPRS database. CMMC adds mandatory third-party verification -- a C3PAO conducts an independent assessment and certifies the level.
CMMC levels
- Level 1 (Foundational) -- 17 basic cyber hygiene practices; annual self-assessment; applies to contracts with only FCI (Federal Contract Information), not CUI
- Level 2 (Advanced) -- 110 practices aligned to NIST 800-171; C3PAO assessment every 3 years; required for most DoD CUI contracts
- Level 3 (Expert) -- 134+ practices; government-led assessment; applies to the most critical defense programs
CMMC implementation timeline
CMMC requirements began appearing in DoD contracts in 2025. By 2026, most contracts handling CUI require Level 2 certification as a contract award condition -- not a future compliance checkbox. If you are pursuing DoD software work in 2026, your CMMC Level 2 assessment should be underway now.
Related terms
FedRAMP
FedRAMP is the U.S. government's standardized security authorization program for cloud services used by federal agencies, reusable across agencies once granted.
ATO (Authority to Operate)
An Authority to Operate (ATO) is the formal approval granted by a federal Authorizing Official that allows a software system to operate within a government environment after completing the NIST Risk Management Framework assessment process. ATOs are required before any federal system goes live and must be continuously maintained -- typically reviewed annually and triggered by significant system changes.
Section 508
Section 508 requires federal agencies to buy, build and use accessible technology that meets the Access Board's Revised 508 Standards, which adopt WCAG 2.0 AA.
NIST SP 800-171
NIST SP 800-171 is the National Institute of Standards and Technology publication that defines 110 security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems and organizations. Any company that handles CUI under a DoD contract must implement all 110 requirements and submit a self-assessment score to the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS).
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