CMMC Level 1 establishes basic cyber hygiene practices for organizations handling Federal Contract Information (FCI). It's the entry-level tier of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification structure, which ensures defense contractors protect sensitive government data.
The structure uses a tiered approach to cybersecurity, with Level 1 focusing on protecting FCI. This information flows between the U.S. government and its contractors, subcontractors, and vendors during the research, development, or production of products and services.
Organizations must implement 46 basic cybersecurity practices to achieve Level 1 compliance. These practices map to 17 domains, including access control, audit and accountability, and configuration management.
| Domain | Number of Practices | Example Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Access Control | 10 | Limit information system access to authorized users |
| Audit and Accountability | 3 | Create and retain system logs |
| Configuration Management | 3 | Establish and maintain baseline configurations |
| Incident Response | 3 | Test incident response procedures |
CMMC Level 1 applies to organizations in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that handle FCI but not Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). These organizations include:
According to the Department of Defense, over 300,000 companies in the DIB will eventually require some level of CMMC certification.
Many organizations confuse CMMC Level 1 with other cybersecurity frameworks or levels. Here are key distinctions:
To achieve CMMC Level 1 compliance, a small manufacturing company working with a defense contractor might:
After implementing these practices, the organization would undergo an assessment by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) to verify compliance.
CMMC Level 1 is important for protecting the DIB supply chain. By establishing a baseline of cybersecurity practices, the Department of Defense aims to reduce cyber threats and ensure the integrity of defense systems.
Organizations that achieve CMMC Level 1 compliance gain a competitive advantage in the defense sector. They demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity and increase their chances of winning contracts with the Department of Defense and its prime contractors.