CMMC
DoD certification framework safeguarding FCI and CUI
ISA 95
International standard for enterprise-control system integration.
Quick Verdict
CMMC mandates cybersecurity certification for DoD contractors protecting FCI/CUI via tiered assessments, while ISA 95 provides voluntary models for manufacturing-ERP integration. Organizations adopt CMMC for contract eligibility; ISA 95 for seamless operations and data consistency.
CMMC
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0
Key Features
- Tiered levels matching FCI, CUI, APT protections
- Third-party C3PAO and DIBCAC assessments
- 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls verification
- DFARS flow-down to supply chain subcontractors
- 180-day POA&M remediation with scoping enclaves
ISA 95
ANSI/ISA-95 Enterprise-Control System Integration
Key Features
- Purdue levels 0-4 for system boundaries and interfaces
- Object models for equipment, materials, personnel semantics
- Activity models defining manufacturing operations management
- Standardized transactions for ERP-MES information exchange
- Alias services mapping equivalent identifiers across systems
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
CMMC Details
What It Is
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 is a DoD certification program verifying cybersecurity protections for Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). It uses a tiered, risk-based model with three cumulative levels to ensure appropriate safeguards against escalating threats.
Key Components
- **Three levelsLevel 1 (17 FAR 52.204-21 practices), Level 2 (110 NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 controls), Level 3 (+24 NIST SP 800-172 enhancements)
- 14 domains (e.g., Access Control, Incident Response)
- Assessment via self, C3PAO, or DIBCAC; SPRS/eMASS reporting
- POA&Ms limited to 180 days
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for DoD contracts; prevents ineligibility
- Reduces breach risks, enhances resilience
- Builds supply chain trust, competitive edge
- Lowers insurance, audit costs
Implementation Overview
Phased approach: scoping, gap analysis, remediation, assessment. Targets DIB contractors/subcontractors; 12-18 months typical. Requires SSP, evidence artifacts, annual affirmations.
ISA 95 Details
What It Is
ISA-95 (ANSI/ISA-95, IEC 62264) is an international framework standard for integrating enterprise business systems like ERP with manufacturing operations and control systems like MES and SCADA. Its primary purpose is to define consistent information models, hierarchies, and exchanges across the Purdue levels (0-4), focusing on the Level 3-4 interface using activity, object, and transaction models.
Key Components
- Hierarchical levels (0-4) and equipment models (Enterprise > Site > Area > Unit)
- Eight parts: models/terminology (Part 1), objects/attributes (Parts 2/4), activities (Part 3), transactions (Part 5), messaging/aliasing/profiles (Parts 6-8)
- Core principles: semantic consistency, boundary definition, tech-agnostic exchanges
- Compliance via alignment, no formal product certification but training certificates
Why Organizations Use It
- Reduces integration costs, errors, and risks in IT/OT convergence
- Enables data governance, OEE, traceability for regulated industries
- Supports Industry 4.0, cybersecurity segmentation, scalable architectures
- Builds stakeholder trust through shared vocabulary and auditable interfaces
Implementation Overview
- Phased: assessment, modeling, pilot, rollout with governance
- Key activities: canonical data models, alias mapping, transaction design
- Applies to manufacturing (discrete/batch/continuous), any size
- No mandatory audits; self-assessed via models and KPIs (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | CMMC | ISA 95 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Cybersecurity for FCI/CUI protection | Enterprise-manufacturing system integration |
| Industry | Defense Industrial Base contractors | Manufacturing, discrete/continuous/process |
| Nature | Mandatory DoD certification program | Voluntary integration reference architecture |
| Testing | Self/C3PAO/DIBCAC assessments every 3 years | No formal certification; internal validation |
| Penalties | Contract ineligibility, debarment | No penalties; integration risks/costs |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CMMC and ISA 95
CMMC FAQ
ISA 95 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
CIS Controls v8.1 for Cloud & Kubernetes: A Practical Implementation Playbook (AWS/Azure/GCP + IaC)
Translate CIS Controls v8.1 to cloud-native: Kubernetes patterns for IAM, logging, vuln mgmt, hardening on AWS, Azure, GCP + IaC. Practical playbook for teams.
SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria in Plain English: Side-by-Side Decoder with Real-World Analogies
Decode SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy) into plain English with tables, TL;DRs & analogies
From SOC to AI-Native CDC: Redefining Triage and Response in 2026
Explore the shift from SOCs to AI-Native CDCs. Autonomous agents handle Tier 1 triage in 2026, empowering analysts for complex threats. Discover the future of c
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
ISO 27032 vs SOC 2
Discover ISO 27032 vs SOC 2: Global Internet cybersecurity guidelines vs AICPA TSC for SaaS trust. Compare scopes, audits, implementation & choose your compliance edge now.
EN 1090 vs U.S. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
Compare EN 1090 steel/aluminium execution standards vs U.S. SEC cybersecurity rules: risk classes, FPC/CE marking, governance & 4-day incident disclosure. Navigate both for compliance mastery!
FISMA vs ISO 20000
Compare FISMA vs ISO 20000: US federal cybersecurity law meets global IT service mgmt std. Uncover compliance diffs, NIST RMF vs SMS, & strategies for agencies/contractors. Boost resilience now!