Stay on Track for Compliance: Start with an Accurate Self-Assessment

How Does CMMC Address Cybersecurity Standards? 

As cyber threats and data breaches occur more frequently, are harder to detect and defeat, and have increasingly significant impacts, cybersecurity has become a top priority in Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The Department of Defense (DoD) has been working to upgrade cybersecurity protocols and performance through the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).  

When officially launched, CMMC 2.0 will serve as a standardized set of cybersecurity protocols and security practices designed to safeguard Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Initially introduced and proposed as CMMC 1.0, the cybersecurity standards were revised to CMMC 2.0, streamlining the standard by focusing on effectively implementing the 110 security controls defined in the existing National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171). 

Companies in the DIB with current cybersecurity contractual obligations defined in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) must complete an accurate self-assessment of their NIST SP 800-171 compliance and submit that score to the DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS).    

Why Is the SPRS Score Important? 

Your SPRS score is more than a number – it’s a crucial metric in DoD contracting. When the DoD evaluates contract bids and prime contractors build their teams of suppliers, your SPRS score stands out prominently. Maintaining a strong score is essential, with contracting officers and buyers leaning heavily on SPRS scores for risk assessment. An impressive SPRS score bolsters your organization’s standing against competitors, but neglecting its accuracy can cost you contracts and lead to penalties.   

At Exostar, our trusted solutions are built to simplify and streamline compliance with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC requirements, including helping you track your status and correctly calculate your SPRS score.  

Create and Uphold Strong Policies with Exostar PolicyPro 

The forthcoming CMMC 2.0 dictates an accreditation process that will rely on an objective third-party audit to evaluate and confirm the effective implementation of NIST SP 800-171 controls for most organizations serving the defense supply chain. These controls identify policies that must be in place, accompanied by clear evidence that everyone in your organization knows and follows them.  

Exostar PolicyPro, part of our CMMC Ready Suite, is an invaluable tool in this process, delivering efficient policy creation, analysis, updates, documentation, and management capabilities to help your organization build, achieve, maintain, and enforce policies required by NIST cybersecurity standards. You can construct policies from scratch, utilize templates within Exostar PolicyPro, or leverage the tool’s artificial intelligence (AI) engine to review and update existing policies to align with requirements. With Exostar PolicyPro’s user-friendly Policy Builder, you can effortlessly develop all policies identified in the 14 control families that comprise the 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls.   

See how Exostar PolicyPro works in the video below.

Try Exostar PolicyPro for Free 

As a comprehensive, AI-powered, cloud-based solution, Exostar PolicyPro streamlines your security compliance efforts. Try it yourself with a no-obligation free trial.  

Prepare for an Accurate Self-Assessment with Certification Assistant 

Compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards can be complex, resource intensive, and time-consuming. Exostar’s Certification Assistant, another element of our CMMC Ready Suite, is a user-friendly, cloud-based tool designed to facilitate and streamline the cybersecurity self-assessment process in alignment with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC 2.0. As you prepare for and conduct your NIST SP 800-171 compliance self-assessment and enter that score in the SPRS, you need to aim for the highest score possible. To get there, Certification Assistant helps you understand each control so you can accurately determine your compliance status and score, track ongoing items to closure, and create required supporting documentation.

With Exostar’s Certification Assistant, you can: 

• Get insights and guidance on each of the requirements that comprise a CMMC/NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment and monitor your progress on your compliance journey 
• Calculate your SPRS score accurately 
• Generate your mandated System Security Plan (SSP) on demand 
• Develop your Plan of Actions and Milestones (POA&M) to address unmet requirements 

 See how Certification Assistant works in the video below.

Try Certification Assistant for Free

Advance along and accelerate your compliance journey with our no-obligation free trial. Experience the benefits of our solution designed to help you meet and maintain your NIST SP 800-171 obligations. 

Resources and Updates About CMMC 2.0 

Certification Assistant and Exostar PolicyPro work together with other components of our CMMC Ready Suite to provide a robust solution for organizations seeking to meet NIST SP 800-171 controls and CMMC practices. Certification Assistant will simplify compliance, while Exostar PolicyPro ensures that the necessary policies are in place, tailored, and maintained.    

To learn more about CMMC 2.0 and Exostar’s CMMC Ready Suite, we invite you to join our online events and explore other posts. You are always welcome to schedule a conversation with a cybersecurity expert at Exostar.