In this episode of Climbing Mount CMMC, Kaleigh and Bobby explore the intricate challenges that Managed Service Providers (MSPs) face when scaling Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance. As regulation pressures get closer and client expectations shift, service providers are finding that navigating the CMMC landscape requires more than just a technical expertise. It also demands strategic alignment across operations, sales, and long-term planning.
The Complexity of CMMC Scaling Throughout Your Compliance Journey
CMMC wasn’t created as a framework you can just set up and then forget about it. For MSPs, achieving and maintaining compliance involves a layered approach that blends security controls, client education, internal processes, and change management. Our hosts emphasize that scaling CMMC efforts across a growing client base requires more than just checking off certification requirements. It calls for a cultural and structural shift within the MSP organization, ensuring that every department understands their roles in maintaining security and compliance standards.
Your System Tools: A Double-Edged Sword
While tools are often seen as the cornerstone of a compliance strategy, Bobby and Kaleigh caution that they can often be a double-edged sword. The right tools can streamline documentation, automate tasks, and provide continuous monitoring. However, an over reliance on tools without a clear understanding of underlying processes can lead to gaps in compliance or even a false sense of security. Choosing your tools without a strategy, or implementing too many overlapping platforms, can actually create inefficiencies and introduce new risks.
Operational Structure Drives CMMC Scaling
A central theme of this episode is the importance of well-defined operational processes. For CMMC compliance to scale, ESPs must standardize their procedures across their organization. Without this operational foundation, scaling can lead to inconsistency, confusion, and audit failures. A strong operational backbone not only ensures compliance but also helps ESPs deliver predictable, high-quality service to clients.
The Four Horsemen of CMMC Compliance (Plus Three More)
- Vulnerability Scanning: This process systematically checks systems and networks for known security weaknesses. In CMMC, this is critical for identifying exploitable flaws. For ESPs, scalable vulnerability scanning means being able to assess multiple clients regularly without manual intervention.
- Patching: This act of updating software and operating systems to fix security vulnerabilities mitigates the risk of exposure. Service providers need to ensure patches are applied consistently across all endpoints and clients.
- Application Allow Listing: This is a security measure where only pre-approved applications are permitted to run and an important support system under CMMC. It prevents unauthorized or malicious software from executing in your environment and ensures system integrity at scale.
- Antivirus Testing: Be sure to verify that antivirus tools are functioning correctly by testing their ability to detect and respond to threats. For CMMC, this helps ensure protective technology is operating effectively and scaling for it involves scheduled checks across environments.
You also should take into account other supporting infrastructure:
- Account Change Control: The process of managing user account modifications in regard to CMMC emphasizes strict control over access privileges. For ESPs trying to view this at scale, it means automating and tracking these changes across multiple organizations to ensure compliance.
- Remote Access: An IT company has to be able to access client computers from remote using a remote access software. This is not as simple and straight forward with CMMC. When an IT team or an MSP has access to a CUI device, this opens many doors for assessors to address. This is why CMMC requires remote access to be properly secured and monitored.
- Ticketing: A system for logging, tracking, and resolving IT issues and changes in a CMMC context requires a scalable system. It ensures every event is captured and linked to compliance requirements across clients.
Change Managment is Non-Negotiable for CMMC Scaling
Implementing and scaling CMMC compliance introduces changes across all levels of an MSP, including technical, cultural, and procedural. Change management, therefore, becomes a non-negotiable component of an organization’s long-term success.
MSPs must treat compliance as an ever-changing process. Company leadership must support and communicate the changes that need to occur throughout their organization clearly. Because if you’re team isn’t ready, or they are unprepared, it can derail even the best compliance plans if not handled proactively.
Ongoing Maintenance: The Key to Long-Term Success
CMMC compliance is not a destination; it’s a journey.
Once certification is achieved, the real work begins. Because maintaining compliance requires just as much work. You must ensure you are actively continuing your organization’s regular reviews, policy updates, vulnerability assessments, and employee education.
This isn’t always an easy feat. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone who understands the process.