What It Is

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 is a U.S. DoD certification program ensuring cybersecurity protections for Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). It uses a tiered, cumulative model with three levels, drawing from FAR 52.204-21 basic safeguards, NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 (110 requirements), and NIST SP 800-172 enhancements.

Key Components

• **Three levelsLevel 1 (17 FAR practices), Level 2 (110 NIST controls across 14 domains like Access Control and Incident Response), Level 3 (+24 APT-focused controls).
• Assessments via self-assessment (Levels 1/2), C3PAO (Level 2), or DIBCAC (Level 3).
• System Security Plan (SSP), evidence artifacts, and limited POA&Ms (180-day closures).
• Reporting to SPRS or eMASS with annual affirmations.

Why Organizations Use It

• Mandatory for DoD contract eligibility, preventing disqualification and debarment.
• Mitigates supply chain risks, reduces breach costs, enhances resilience.
• Provides competitive advantage, market access, and primes' subcontractor trust.

Implementation Overview

• **PhasedGovernance, scoping/gap analysis, remediation, pre-assessment, formal audit, sustainment.
• Targets DIB primes/subcontractors handling FCI/CUI; enclaves for segmentation.
• Requires cross-functional teams, tools like SIEM/MFA, triennial recertification.

What It Is

UAE PDPL (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 Concerning the Protection of Personal Data) is a comprehensive federal regulation establishing the UAE's first economy-wide framework for personal data processing. Effective from 2 January 2022, it applies onshore with risk-based approach, mandating controls proportionate to risks from new technologies, large volumes, or sensitive data.

Key Components

• Core principles: fairness, purpose limitation, minimization, accuracy, security, storage limitation.
• Obligations: DPOs and DPIAs for high-risk processing; RoPAs for controllers/processors.
• Data subject rights: access, portability, correction, erasure, objection.
• No fixed control count; compliance via records, security, breach notification; enforced by UAE Data Office.

Why Organizations Use It

• Mandatory for onshore entities and foreign processors of UAE data subjects.
• Mitigates fines, breach risks; builds trust in digital economy.
• Aligns with GDPR for multinationals; enhances cybersecurity maturity.

Implementation Overview

Phased: discovery, gap analysis, remediation, operationalization. Applies to private sector onshore; excludes free zones, government, sectoral data. No certification; audit-ready records for regulator.