Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) was created by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that contractors protect sensitive government information. CMMC Level 1 is the foundational level and applies to organizations that handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) only. While Level 1 is the simplest tier, it still requires planning, documentation, and consistent cybersecurity practices. This article outlines a roadmap to help organizations become CMMC Level 1 ready.
Step 1: Identify Scope and FCI
Before implementing any controls your main focus should be defining what is in scope. You will need to identify systems, people, and any processes that handle FCI . Make sure that you’re mapping where FCI is processed, stored, and transmitted(exclude systems that never touch FCI). Following this step will give you a clearly documented scope that limit’s compliance efforts only to whats required.
Step 2: Review the 17 Level 1 practices for CMMC Level 1
CMMC level 1 practices fall into 6 domains. This includes:
- Access controls( AC )
- Identification and Authentication ( IA )
- Media protection ( MP )
- Physical protection ( PE )
- Systems and communications protection ( SC )
- System and information integrity ( SI )
Examples of practices you will learn include limiting system access to authorized users, using passwords or other authentication methods, protecting physical access to systems, and using basic malware protection. This step helps you understand exactly what you will need to implement.
Step 3: Complete a CMMC Level 1 Gap assessment
A gap assessment is a detailed evaluation of your current practices against the CMMC level 1 requirements. You will review your current security controls and be able to document which practices are being met and which are not. This step will help you identify missing policies or technical controls and give you a prioritized list of gaps to fill.
Step 4: Implement security controls
Now its time to address the gaps you’ve identified. Some common implementation tasks include:
- – Enforcing strong password policies
- – Limiting user access based on roles
- – Installing and updating antivirus software
- – Configuring firewalls or secure routers
- – Locking server rooms and offices containing FCI
This step will help you be sure all 17 practices are fully implemented and operated. (Remember Level 1 emphasizes consistency not advanced tools.)
Step 5: Create compliance documentation
While level 1 requires minimal documentation written evidence is still important. I recommend these documents:
- – Access control policy
- -Acceptable use policy
- – Incident response contact procedures
- – Asset inventory of in-scope systems
Your documentation should reflect what your company is practicing. This step gives you written proof that your practices are defined and consistent.
Step 6: Train employees
While training is not a Level 1 requirment, Employee behavior is critical to compliance. Your training topics could include:
- – Recognizing phishing attempts
- – Proper password usage
- – Handling FCI appropriately
- – Reporting security incidents
Training doesn’t need to be complicated but be sure to keep it documented. This step with ensure that employees understand responsibilities and procedures.
Step 7: Complete the CMMC Level 1 Self Assessment
CMMC level 1 requires organizations to complete a self assessment annually and submit results to the Supplier Performance Risk system ( SPRS). The self assessment assures that all gaps have been filled and all practices have been implemented. You will need to:
- – Validate all 17 practices are in place
- – Complete assessment scoring ( Level 1 is pass/fail )
- – Have a senior official attest to compliance.
This step proves your company is CMMC Level 1 ready.
Step 8: Maintain CMMC Level 1 Compliance
CMMC Level 1 is not a one time effort! You should be reviewing access lists regularly, applying system updates and patches, refreshing employee training annually , and reassessing compliance before contract renewals. This step ensures you have continuous readiness for DoD contracts.
Key takeaways
Becoming CMMC Level 1 ready is achievable for organizations of all sizes. By clearly defining scope, addressing the 17 required practices, documenting procedures, and maintaining consistent cyber hygiene, companies can confidently meet DoD requirements.