CMMC In 2025 Contracts: Are You Prepared Today?

Christopher Souza | CEO

CMMC Is Coming

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) upcoming 48 CFR rule, expected to be finalized in early 2025, will mark the point when CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) requirements begin appearing in defense contracts, making compliance essential for contractors.

Compliance with NIST 800-171 and achieving the appropriate CMMC level will soon determine your eligibility to bid on DoD contracts, so we’ve developed this overview to help position your organization for a favorable C3PAO CMMC certification outcome, starting with what you need to know today.

What You Need to Know

Mandatory Compliance: Updated DFARS contract clauses (e.g., DFARS 7012) will require specific CMMC levels for eligibility and compliance will no longer be optional. Under CMMC 2.0, only non-critical, low-impact controls may be included in a POA&M whereas critical controls like MFA, encryption for CUI, incident response, and boundary protection must be fully implemented before certification.

Tight Timeline: After the rule’s finalization, contractors will have only 6-8 months to address gaps and achieve compliance. Once the 48CFR rule is finalized, contractors will need to be compliant to NIST 800-171 today and considered ‘CMMC-ready’. Organizations must meet the minimum scoring threshold, and unresolved POA&M items typically require resolution within 30-180 days.

Supply Chain Pressure: Prime contractors are increasingly requiring subcontractors to be NIST 800-171 compliant and preparing to flow down CMMC requirements. With the SEC cybersecurity rules mandating public disclosure of cyber risks, publicly traded primes are placing greater scrutiny on subcontractors’ cybersecurity and compliance postures to mitigate liability and protect shareholder interests. Non-compliance could jeopardize your business relationships.

Criticality of Improving SPRS Scores: Achieving a Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score of 110 is essential for full NIST 800-171 compliance and demonstrates a strong cybersecurity posture. The DFARS 7024 clause allows the DoD to validate these scores during contract evaluations, making accurate and well-documented scores critical for eligibility. Many organizations face scores as low as -100 due to misunderstood controls and insufficient documentation, jeopardizing contract opportunities and increasing risk in the supply chain.

Your External Service Providers’ (ESP) Compliance Posture Matters! Your ESP must be CMMC-ready or FedRAMP Moderate compliant due to their access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and critical systems. These vendors fall under the CMMC compliance scope, and their non-compliance could jeopardize your organization’s certification and security posture, as well as increase risks of breaches within your supply chain.

Why Act Now?

Considering that the industry average for contractors to become NIST 800-171 compliant and ‘CMMC-ready’ takes 6-18 months (depending on your current posture) and with the finalization of the 48 CFR rule fast approaching, delaying your implementation strategy could:
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• Exclude your organization from bidding on critical contracts
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• Expose you to legal risks under the False Claims Act
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• Create undue pressure to rush compliance under tight deadlines
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How TSI Can Help:

At Technical Support International (TSI), we’re experts in navigating the complexities of NIST 800-171 and CMMC 2.0 compliance. As a CMMC Registered Provider Organization (RPO) and C3PAO readiness assessed organization with years of proven experience, we offer:
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• Comprehensive Assessments: Identify gaps in your cybersecurity and compliance posture.
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• End-to-End Solutions: From initial planning to implementation and ongoing support.
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• Proven Results: We’ve successfully guided defense contractors through DFARS compliance and CMMC readiness.
• Tailored IT Solutions: Including GCC High, PreVeil, Azure GovCloud, and FedRAMP-certified services.
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Time Is of the Essence

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to ensure your organization is ready to meet these critical changes. To learn more about how we can help your organization, we welcome you to visit our NIST 800-171 and CMMC support pages which can be found using the links below:
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• TSI’s NIST SP 800-171 Services & Solutions
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• TSI’s CMMC 2.0 Support Plans.
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Stay ahead of the curve—waiting to meet CMMC requirements could put your contracts at risk, leaving opportunities open for competitors or exposing your organization to unnecessary liabilities. Securing the defense industrial base requires proactive action, and every contractor plays a crucial role. Don’t wait until enforcement begins to start strengthening your cybersecurity posture. Contact us today using the contact information in my signature below to learn how TSI can help you navigate NIST 800-171 compliance and the CMMC certification process.

About Technical Support International

TSI is 35-year old cybersecurity (MSSP) and IT support (MSP) company specializing in helping DIB organizations address their NIST 800-171 and CMMC compliance obligations. As a CMMC-AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO), TSI offers a complete NIST 800-171 and CMMC support solution to help guide our clients toward a successful certification audit and provide the assurance that they’re adhering to these expansive compliance requirements.