Defense Industry Struggles to Meet CMMC Readiness
As the Pentagon’s long-awaited Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program nears implementation, a growing number of defense industry leaders are raising alarms about the sector’s overall readiness, according to a recent report titled “Compliance gaps linger in defense industry ahead of CMMC enforcement,” published by DefenseScoop.
The Department of Defense (DoD) plans to begin enforcing the CMMC 2.0 requirements in federal contracts as early as 2025, intensifying the pressure on the defense industrial base to align its cybersecurity practices with federal standards designed to protect sensitive, unclassified information. Yet, despite years of planning and phased rollouts, many companies—especially small and mid-sized contractors—remain behind in preparing for compliance.
The DefenseScoop article outlines the concerns of executives and policy experts who point to persistent confusion around the evolving CMMC frameworks, inconsistent guidance from federal agencies, and a limited supply of authorized assessors capable of certifying firms in a timely manner. These systemic issues risk stalling progress just as the DoD prepares to shift from voluntary participation to mandatory enforcement.
At the heart of the debate is the safeguarding of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which, if compromised, could undermine national security and give foreign adversaries access to critical defense technologies. CMMC 2.0, announced in 2021, was designed to simplify requirements and reduce burdens on contractors compared to the initial iteration of the framework. However, many in the industry argue that the streamlined model still poses serious challenges in terms of implementation and cost, particularly for smaller vendors with limited cybersecurity infrastructure.
Senior defense officials maintain that the CMMC program is vital to ensuring the integrity of the defense supply chain. They argue that recent cyber incidents tied to nation-state actors have demonstrated the vulnerability of government data in the hands of private contractors. However, leaders across the sector warn that without adequate training, financial support, and clear timelines, the policy could inadvertently reduce the pool of eligible defense suppliers.
“While the DoD has emphasized the importance of flexibility and collaboration, what we’re hearing from companies is frustration over the pace and complexity of rollout,” said a policy analyst quoted in the DefenseScoop report. “Many firms are still trying to decode what compliance actually looks like in practice.”
As Pentagon acquisition offices prepare to incorporate CMMC clauses into contracts, industry associations and cybersecurity consultants are calling on the government to expand outreach efforts and consider extending grace periods for smaller firms showing good faith efforts toward compliance. They also urge the DoD to address the bottlenecks in third-party assessments, which some fear could delay certification for hundreds of companies.
The publication of the final CMMC rule, expected later this year, will trigger a countdown toward mandatory adherence. Until then, defense contractors face a narrowing window to fortify their networks, implement security controls, and mitigate risks—while grappling with a regulatory landscape that remains complex and, in some areas, still unsettled.
The DefenseScoop article underscores the tension between urgency and preparedness, a balance the Pentagon must navigate carefully as it seeks to elevate the cyber resilience of its supply chain without inadvertently weakening it in the process.
