CMMC 2.0 Compliance Deadline Approaches for Government Contractors
The Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 requirements are being phased into contracts throughout 2026, and many small government contractors in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are not yet compliant.
What Is CMMC 2.0?
CMMC 2.0 is a cybersecurity framework that the DoD requires for any contractor handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It replaces the previous self-attestation model with a structured certification process.
The Three Levels
- Level 1 (Foundational) — 17 basic cybersecurity practices. Self-assessment allowed. Required for contracts involving Federal Contract Information (FCI).
- Level 2 (Advanced) — 110 practices aligned with NIST SP 800-171. Third-party assessment required for critical contracts. Covers CUI protection.
- Level 3 (Expert) — Additional practices beyond NIST 800-171. Government-led assessment required.
Why Gulf Coast Contractors Should Act Now
The Gulf Coast region is home to numerous defense contractors, shipbuilders, and military support businesses. Many are small companies that have historically self-attested to NIST 800-171 compliance without fully implementing all controls.
Under CMMC 2.0, those companies will need to demonstrate actual compliance through assessments. The timeline for contracts requiring CMMC certification is accelerating, and businesses that aren't prepared risk losing their government contracts.
Getting Started
- Determine which CMMC level your contracts require.
- Conduct a gap assessment against the required practices.
- Develop a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for any gaps.
- Implement required technical controls (encryption, access controls, monitoring).
- Schedule your assessment with an authorized C3PAO.
WITTCO helps government contractors across the Gulf Coast implement the technical controls needed for CMMC compliance, from network segmentation to continuous monitoring.
