How many CMMC controls are there?

Cyber security is becoming increasingly important, particularly within certain sectors, such as the business sector. The risk of cyber attack is high for companies and corporations of all shapes and sizes, and understanding how to mitigate this risk is crucial for anyone working within cyber security. 

At the start of 2020, the Department of Defense released the first version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification – also known as the CMMC. The framework was released as a means of being able to better assess and offer an improved approach to the cybersecurity system of the Defense Industrial Base – also called as DIB. 

The purpose of the CMMC is to make sure that the right levels of cybersecurity processes are positioned in place and are working effectively to ensure that key federal information remains protected and that controlled unclassified information is kept private. 

What is CMMC, how many controls are there, and how does it work? There’s a lot more to CMMC than meets the eye, there are different levels of protection and different targets that different corporations need to meet. There’s no one size-fits-all approach here, everything must be specifically targeted in order to see results. 

Below, we have put together a guide to everything that you need to know about CMMC controls – read on for everything that you should know!

How does CMMC work and what are the different levels?

The CMMC system maps out the cybersecurity best practices at five different levels – known as maturity levels. These process levels range from simple Level 1 to the more advanced Level 5, with practices ranging from simple cyber hygiene at Level 1 to progressive cyber hygiene at the highest level, Level 5.

To become certified, you undergo an accreditation from the CMMC Accreditation Body – a non-profit, independent organisation.

Prior to CMMC being brought in, contractors were responsible for the process of implementing best cyber security practices themselves. Contractors would often be audited and needed to be able to clearly show the level of security that they were working to. 

How many CMMC controls are there? 

The CMMC system has a wide number of controls within it; these controls differ by business type and maturity level. 

Companies are expected to show compliance with the required practices and processes of the associated CMMC level and the controls within it. It is also expected that companies will work with the right level of CMMC consultant, such as a C Level Executive, for their company’s requirements and needs. 

There are 171 practices – or controls – that are noted across the five CMMC levels of maturity. These processes serve to help measure how mature an organisation’s cybersecurity levels are and whether the procedures in place are effective enough for preventing risk or lowering the risk of attacks from cyber criminals. 

There you have it, a simple guide to how many CMMC controls there are in place, and how businesses should work with these controls and utilize them to ensure that their corporation remains protected at all times.