Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a system of compliance levels that helps the government, specifically the Department of Defense (DOD), decide if an organization or business has the necessary security to work with vulnerable data. In a nutshell, the goal of CMMC is to ensure that defense contractors do not get hacked, resulting in the loss of sensitive defense information that could find its way into the wrong hands.

In the near future, all government contractors and subcontractors will need to be CMMC rated and follow CMMC regulations.

Companies are not able to self-certify, so government contractors will need to go through a third-party certification process. Once a current certification level is identified, the company will then begin the process of certification for the level desired.

There are three levels to CMMC, with level one being the most foundational form of security, to level three which is the highest level. Not all government contractors and subcontractors will be required to be certified at the same level, but as standard cybersecurity practices, should strive to be at a level two.

STRYKER will be moving forward with CMMC. By doing so, we are ensuring our future as a defense industrial base supplier. We are looking forward to being a part of the elite group of secure DOD supply chain manufacturers and protecting the data that is critical to the U.S. defense systems.

As we make our way through the journey of CMMC, we’d like to share our experience with you. By sharing what we have learned, we hope to help make this process easier for those who also plan on getting cybersecurity certified.