CMMC compliance is a vital part of the certification process for contractors in the defense industry, as it provides high-level clients like the DoD with assurances that a contractor can securely protect sensitive data. Some companies may feel tempted to wait on CMMC compliance, thinking that it’s too costly or not an immediate priority, but this is a risky move that can actually lead to a number of hidden costs. Below, we’ll go over why waiting on CMMC compliance can actually cost more money than it seems to save.
Why You Need Timely CMMC Compliance
Compliance with CMMC guidelines is fundamental to the financial health of a company or contractor in the defense industry. As a vital security measure, CMMC compliance stands alongside other security procedures like pentesting and SOC audits as a crucial step for contractors to follow before doing defense work.
Without adhering to CMMC frameworks, a contractor cannot bid on, win, or renew DoD contracts. Put simply, it’s a bit like owning a driver’s license. If you don’t have a license, you can’t legally drive a car, and if you don’t have CMMC compliance, you can’t do any contracting work for defense agencies.
The Risks of Delaying CMMC Compliance
Delaying compliance with CMMC might not seem like a bad thing right away, but many of its risks are substantially hidden, only compounding well after contractors have wasted too much time. Below are some ways that delaying CMMC compliance can hurt your company:
Timeline Delays
Achieving CMMC compliance can be a long and rigorous process with a timeline that companies often do not consider. From beginning to end, CMMC certification can take anywhere up to 18 or even 24 months, a timeframe that starts with initial scoping and runs all the way through a final C3PAO assessment. If your company waits too long to achieve CMMC compliance, you’ll not only have to go through the long process, but will also be well behind your competitors once you’re finished.
Added Costs
Waiting on CMMC compliance doesn’t just delay your company. It can also cost you more. Statistically, companies that achieve compliance early face lower costs in doing so, and those costs can be lowered even further with the assistance of automation and AI for various compliance tasks. Contractors who wait on CMMC compliance may end up paying a lot more money than they would have once they eventually get around to the process of achieving compliance, making it a money-saving strategy to secure compliance right away.
Reduced Availability
There is a limited number of certified C3PAO organizations, in comparison to the over 100 thousand companies who will need certification. If your company doesn’t jump on a capable assessor, it may be stuck waiting months for an available certification agency to become available. This only inflates your timeline further, putting you behind your competitors even more.
Missed Opportunities
The most visible cost of delaying CMMC compliance is its effect on your ability to do business in the defense industry. Because CMMC compliance is necessary for you to bid on a variety of contracts and RFPs, every month you wait means more and more opportunities for work will pass you by. This translates into direct financial losses, not from poor returns, but rather from lucrative work that you could have been doing, but were not able to do without certification. CMMC compliance opens up your market landscape significantly, allowing you to do more work and better work that will set you up for growth.
Don’t Wait! Make CMMC Compliance an Immediate Priority
CMMC compliance might seem like a costly, interminable process at the outset, but achieving it early can give your company a competitive advantage in DoD contract bids. Just as with other key certifications, such as HITRUST certification, CMMC compliance will open you up to new business opportunities.
If you work with the Department of Defense, it’s in your best interest to pursue CMMC compliance now. Waiting will cost you in the long run as demand for certified assessors and auditors increases.
About Nazy Fouladirad:
Nazy Fouladirad is President and COO of Tevora, a global leading cybersecurity consultancy. She has dedicated her career to creating a more secure business and online environment for organizations across the country and world. She is passionate about serving her community and acts as a board member for a local nonprofit organization.
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