The debate over whether the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will show up in defense contracts is officially over. With the Title 48 final rule published and taking effect November 10, 2025, it requires your immediate attention. If you wait until you see CMMC requirements in solicitations, you have waited too long. Organizations must now align their CMMC preparation with the reality of the implementation phases and their appropriate level.   The CMMC Level 2

If an Organization Seeking Certification (OSC) has met most, but not all, security requirements, it may be eligible for a Conditional Certificate of CMMC Status. This is possible if the unmet requirements are documented on an existing and valid POA&M that complies with the regulations in 32 CFR §170.21. However, if an OSC has unmet security requirements and a valid POA&M is not attainable, the C3PAO will recommend that no certificate be issued.  The details of how POA&Ms work

As CMMC Assessors, we have been closely watching the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) journey, offering guidance, dispelling myths, and preparing the defense industrial base for the inevitable. Today, we bring you news of monumental significance that confirms what we have stressed for years: CMMC is no longer a distant threat; it is an immediate reality for your DoD contracts.  The big reveal, the one we have all been anticipating, happened on July 22nd, 2025