The pause in Phase II of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program has caused a ripple effect throughout the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Companies that freeze their readiness work often create quiet gaps in precisely the areas most critical: access control, account takeover exposure; privileged account management; strong, phishing-resistant authentication enforcement; data protection at rest and transit; logs capturing reality; visibility into environments; and evidence availability on demand. This pause provides an opportune moment to strengthen supplier cybersecurity: revisit expectations set for suppliers, re-evaluate how subcontractors handle controlled data, validate mechanisms for data sharing, draw clearer lines of responsibility, and push for better third-party visibility.
Keep implementing NIST SP 800-171 controls, maintain Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms), ensure system security documentation is up to date, collect and organize evidence as you go, conduct periodic internal assessments, review access-control processes, sharpen incident response plans, and track changes across protected environments. For cybersecurity professionals, the key is not “slow down” but “get ahead.” By reducing risk, enhancing readiness, and strengthening the foundational security measures that will remain relevant long after any single deadline has passed, CMMC (Commonmark Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) serves as a vital step towards building a more resilient Defense Industrial Base. Earlier, he founded Product Fuse and held leadership roles across cybersecurity, digital forensics, and legal technology.
