Across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), a quiet standoff is happening. “The game of chicken” if you will.
Organizations Seeking Certification (OSCs) are looking to their current MSPs and thinking:
“They’ve always taken care of us… surely they can handle this too.”
Meanwhile, MSPs are thinking: “We’ll figure this out along the way…How hard can it really be?
No one wants to disrupt the long-term relationship.
No one wants to absorb unexpected costs/time.
No one wants to admit they may not be ready.
So, both sides wait…
And the problem is simple:
CMMC isn’t something you can “figure out later”.
Not Just Another IT Project
A huge misconception is treating CMMC like an upgrade on IT systems.
But really, CMMC is a full organization transformation.
It requires:
- Strict alignment to the 110 controls and 320 assessment objectives
- Clearly defined shared responsibilities between you and your MSP
- Locked-in and repeatable processes, tools and documentation
- Continuous compliance and support… not just a one-time deal
And most importantly… You do not pass until you get everything right.
Let’s Do the Time Warp
If your current MSP has not gone through CMMC themselves, they will need to:
- Learn the framework
- Build a Shared Responsibility Matrix
- Align their tools and services
- Train their staff
- Develop repeatable policies and procedures
All while also trying to help you get compliant.
That’s not a small lift… That’s building the plane while flying it.
The Cost Illusion
The big elephant in the room when speaking of CMMC is… cost.
At first glance, a traditional MSP may look cheaper, and a CMMC-focused MSP looks expensive.
But… That is only the upfront cost.
What’s missed is the total cost over time.
Because an MSP has to:
- Learn CMMC from scratch
- Rebuild processes
- Buy new and more expensive tools
- Rush implementation to meet deadlines
You will most likely not save money.
You are delaying the bill… and increasing it.
In many cases, OSCs can end up pay double, or sometimes triple, what they would have paid by starting with a mature MSP.
The Risk No One Talks About
CMMC exists for one reason:
To validate your protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
And if you are in the DIB, you are a target.
Not hypothetically… actively.
And threat actors don’t just target large organizations…
They target:
- Small contractors
- Subcontractors
- MSPs supporting them
Because those are often the weakest links.
So, when an MSP steps into the CMMC space, they aren’t just offering IT services.
They are:
- Accepting increased risk
- Becoming part of a national security supply chain
- Operating under stricter scrutiny
And that level of responsibility requires a different kind of organization.
The Danger of The Waiting Game
The biggest risk in this “game of chicken” isn’t choosing a “right” or “wrong” MSP… It’s not choosing one at all.
What happens if you wait?
- Your timeline shortens
- Your options narrow
- Your costs increase
- Your stress multiplies
And eventually you’re forced into a rushed decision under pressure.
And in that is where mistakes happen.
The Finish Line?
At some point, the “game of chicken” ends.
And you will either come out passing or come out failing.
The path you choose for CMMC matters just as much as the final destination.
The more you play this game, the more you are postponing the inevitable.
And in CMMC, postponing risk comes right back faster and more expensive than before.
You don’t win a game of chicken by waiting longer than the other side.
You win by making a decision early.
Because in this case, the stakes are not just compliance, but your future in the DIB.
If you have questions or want to go deeper into this topic, feel free to reach out. Or check out our podcast, Climbing Mount CMMC.