What It Is

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) certification framework verifying cybersecurity maturity for organizations handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). It employs a tiered, risk-based model with three cumulative levels drawn from FAR 52.204-21, NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2, and NIST SP 800-172.

Key Components

• 14 domains (e.g., Access Control, Incident Response) with 17 practices (Level 1), 110 (Level 2), plus 24 enhanced (Level 3).
• Enclave scoping for precise boundaries.
• Assessment via self, C3PAO, or DIBCAC; POA&Ms limited to 180 days.
• Triennial certifications, annual SPRS affirmations.

Why Organizations Use It

Essential for DoD contract eligibility, reducing breach risks and supply chain vulnerabilities. Provides competitive advantage, operational resilience, lower insurance costs, and stakeholder trust amid $57B+ annual cyber losses.

Implementation Overview

**Phased approachgovernance, scoping/gap analysis, remediation, pre-assessment, formal certification, sustainment. Targets DIB primes/subcontractors (300K+ entities); requires cross-functional teams, evidence collection (SSPs, logs), and flow-down compliance.

What It Is

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a US federal regulation establishing national standards to safeguard individuals' protected health information (PHI). It targets privacy, security, and breach notification for covered entities (providers, plans, clearinghouses) and business associates, employing a risk-based, scalable, technology-neutral approach focused on reasonable safeguards.

Key Components

• **Privacy RuleManages PHI uses/disclosures, minimum necessary standard, patient rights.
• **Security RuleAdministrative, physical, technical safeguards for ePHI.
• **Breach Notification RulePresumption-of-breach with four-factor assessment, 60-day notifications. Seven pillars including scope, BA governance, enforcement. Flexible controls; no fixed count. OCR enforces compliance.

Why Organizations Use It

• Legal mandate for PHI handlers, avoiding multimillion penalties.
• Enhances risk management, cyber resilience.
• Builds patient trust, enables secure data flows.
• Provides competitive edge in healthcare partnerships.

Implementation Overview

Phased: assess risks, build policies/training/safeguards, assure via audits/monitoring. Applies to healthcare organizations all sizes, US-centric. Requires six-year documentation, no certification but OCR reviews.