ISACA Joins CMMC Program to Boost Cyber Defense Talent

In a significant development for the Department of Defense’s ongoing cybersecurity efforts, ISACA has been named as a licensed partner publisher under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, a move expected to bolster the availability of qualified professionals in the defense industrial base. As reported in “ISACA Chosen as Cybersecurity Assessor and Instructor Certification Partner for CMMC Program” by DefenseScoop, the nonprofit professional association will now be responsible for training and certifying individuals as CMMC assessors and instructors.

This designation positions ISACA among a select group of organizations authorized by the CMMC Accreditation Body — also known as the Cyber AB — to administer approved curricula and facilitate credentialing for assessors and instructors participating in CMMC assessments. Designed to secure the defense supply chain from growing cyber threats, the CMMC framework serves as a risk management protocol requiring defense contractors to meet stringent cybersecurity standards in order to handle controlled unclassified information.

The certification of professionals plays a central role in the implementation of the CMMC program, which applies to hundreds of thousands of companies doing business with the DoD. By enabling ISACA to deliver instructor-led training and assessments in accordance with Cyber AB guidelines, the department aims to accelerate the development of a skilled labor force capable of conducting credible and standardized evaluations across the defense contracting ecosystem.

According to the DefenseScoop article, ISACA’s involvement is viewed as part of a larger strategy to expand the infrastructure needed to support full rollout of CMMC compliance across government contractors, many of whom are currently grappling with new federal requirements aimed at hardening digital defenses. The organization’s deep experience in certifying professionals in areas such as auditing, information security, and governance makes it a strategic partner in bolstering the CMMC ecosystem.

As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve rapidly, the DoD seeks to fortify its supply chain not only by imposing compliance demands, but also by ensuring the existence of a robust and vetted talent pool to enforce those requirements. Stakeholders across government and industry have expressed ongoing concerns about both the clarity and the scalability of CMMC implementation, and ISACA’s inclusion is seen by some as a step toward addressing both.

With its reputation for rigorous standards and global reach, ISACA’s contributions are expected to bring consistency to the training and certification process, thus enhancing trust in the overall CMMC scheme. Future developments will signal how quickly and efficiently the CMMC framework can be scaled to meet the cybersecurity imperatives of an increasingly interconnected defense environment.