Remediation: Your action plan for CMMC compliance
Remediation is the critical process of fixing the security gaps identified during a CMMC Gap Assessment. A gap assessment reveals where your organization's current cybersecurity practices fall short of CMMC requirements. Remediation is the action-oriented phase where we, as your Compliance Partner, help you close those gaps to prepare for an official CMMC assessment.
How we handle the remediation process
Our approach to remediation is a structured process that turns assessment findings into actionable tasks, documented in your Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
Prioritize the findings. Not all security gaps are equal. We prioritize remediation efforts based on the risk level and complexity of the unmet controls. Critical controls are addressed first to ensure a foundational level of security and to meet the minimum score required for conditional certification.
Develop the POA&M. For every control that is "Not Met," we create a formal POA&M entry. This document details:
The deficiency: A clear description of the security gap.
The plan: The specific steps we will take to correct the issue.
Resources needed: The personnel, tools, and budget required for remediation.
Milestones: A timeline with clear, measurable milestones to track progress.
Completion date: A target date for achieving full compliance for that control.
Execute the remediation plan. As your Compliance Partner, we manage the technical implementation and procedural changes required to close the gaps. This can involve a wide range of activities:
Technical controls: Deploying multi-factor authentication, implementing secure backups, configuring firewalls, and updating software.
Operational controls: Developing and formalizing security policies, creating an incident response plan, and establishing regular security monitoring processes.
Training and awareness: Providing cybersecurity training to your staff to address human-related vulnerabilities.
Update the System Security Plan (SSP). As each control is addressed and a POA&M item is completed, we update your SSP to reflect the change. The SSP serves as the definitive record of your organization's security posture. When a control is remediated, the SSP is updated to show that it is now "Met," providing the necessary documentation for assessors.
Gather evidence. For every remediation task, we ensure that the appropriate evidence is collected. This can include screenshots of configurations, policy documents, training records, and system logs. This evidence is crucial for proving compliance during your CMMC assessment.
Continuous improvement. Our work doesn't end when the initial gaps are closed. We help you establish a culture of continuous monitoring and review to ensure your security posture remains strong and your CMMC documentation—including your SSP and POA&M—stays up to date with any changes to your environment or evolving threats.
The SSP's central role
Throughout the remediation process, the System Security Plan (SSP) acts as the central reference document. It outlines your baseline security environment, and the POA&M is effectively an appendix detailing how you will reach full compliance. Every action in the remediation plan directly contributes to making the SSP an accurate and compliant representation of your company's security.
By leveraging our expertise as your Compliance Partner, you can navigate the complexities of CMMC remediation, turning potential compliance obstacles into a clear and achievable pathway to certification.