An independent reference
Every CMMC term and Level 2 Requirement
CMMCpedia explains CMMC, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, one page per term and one page per requirement. Each page quotes the official source as Official Source Material. The author's own Practitioner Guidance follows, clearly labeled.
Everything the site publishes is listed below: first the terms by topic, then all 110 requirements by family, in the order NIST SP 800-171 gives them. You can also search the requirements, browse the vocabulary, read the whole reference on one page, or download it as a Markdown export.
The contract
10 terms
32 CFR Part 170
The regulation that creates the CMMC Program: the levels, the assessment types, the scoping rules, and the affirmation you sign each year.
Also called 32 CFR 170, Part 170, the CMMC Program rule
48 CFR (the DFARS rule)
The acquisition regulations. This is where the clauses live that put NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC into a contract you actually signed.
Also called 48 CFR, DFARS, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
DFARS 252.204-7012
The contract clause that put NIST SP 800-171 on your systems and requires you to report a cyber incident to DoD within 72 hours.
Also called 7012, DFARS 7012, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting
DFARS 252.204-7019
The solicitation provision that makes a current NIST SP 800-171 score in SPRS a condition of being considered for award.
Also called 7019, DFARS 7019, Notice of NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Requirements
DFARS 252.204-7020
The clause that keeps your NIST SP 800-171 score in SPRS, lets the Government assess you, and blocks subcontract awards without a score.
Also called 7020, DFARS 7020, NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Requirements
DFARS 252.204-7021
The contract clause that requires a current CMMC status at the level the contract names, an annual affirmation, and flow-down to subcontracts.
Also called 7021, DFARS 7021, Contractor Compliance With the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level Requirements
FAR 52.204-21
The clause holding the 15 basic safeguarding requirements for Federal Contract Information. It is the whole of CMMC Level 1.
Also called 52.204-21, FAR 52.204-21, Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems
Flow-down
Passing a contract requirement to your suppliers. Under 32 CFR 170.23 the CMMC level you flow down depends on what each supplier will handle.
Also called flowdown, flow down, flow-down clause
Prime contractor
The company holding the contract directly with the Government. It owns the CMMC obligation for the whole supply chain beneath it.
Also called prime, primes
Subcontractor
Any company furnishing supplies or services under a prime contract. CMMC reaches every tier that handles FCI or CUI, not just the first.
Also called sub, subs, supplier
What you protect
7 terms
Controlled technical information (CTI)
Controlled technical information with military or space use. It is the CUI category most defense work produces, and it must carry distribution statement B to F.
Also called CTI, controlled technical info
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
CUI is unclassified information a law, regulation, or Government-wide policy requires you to protect. Handling it puts you at CMMC Level 2.
Also called CUI, Controlled Unclassified Information
CUI marking
The banner and designation block an agency applies to CUI. Marking is the Government's job, and an unmarked document can still be CUI.
Also called CUI markings, banner marking, CUI banner marking, CUI designation indicator
CUI Registry
The National Archives list of every approved CUI category, its marking, and the law behind it. It is the authoritative list, and it is public.
Also called the Registry, NARA CUI Registry
Export-controlled information
Information whose export could harm national security. It is a CUI category, but export-controlled and CUI are not the same set of information.
Also called export control, EXPT, export-controlled
Federal Contract Information (FCI)
FCI is information a contract provides to you or generates for the Government that is not for public release. Holding only FCI means CMMC Level 1.
Also called FCI, Federal Contract Information
ITAR
The International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which control defense articles and technical data. Showing that data to a foreign person is an export.
Also called International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 CFR 120
Scope and assets
12 terms
Boundary
The line between what is inside your assessment scope and what is outside it. An assessor tests whether the line is actually enforced.
Also called assessment boundary, scope boundary, boundary protection
Contractor risk managed asset
An asset that could handle CUI but is not intended to, kept away by written policy. It gets a plan review rather than a full assessment.
Also called CRMA, contractor risk managed assets
CUI asset
An asset that can process, store, or transmit CUI. These are assessed against all 110 Level 2 requirements, so the count drives your cost.
Also called CUI assets, Controlled Unclassified Information asset
Customer responsibility matrix
The document from a service provider that says which requirements it meets and which are yours. The rule requires one for every ESP.
Also called CRM, customer responsibility matrices
Enclave
A separated environment built to hold the controlled work and nothing else. It is the usual way a small company keeps its assessment small.
Also called CUI enclave, secure enclave
External service provider
An outside provider handling your CUI or your security protection data. What it handles decides how it enters your assessment.
Also called ESP, external service providers
Inheritance
Relying on someone else's control to meet a requirement. It is allowed, and you still have to show the control exists and works.
Also called inherited controls, inheriting
Out-of-scope asset
An asset that cannot handle CUI and protects nothing that does. It is not assessed, and you must be ready to justify the claim.
Also called out-of-scope assets, OOS asset
Scope
The set of assets that will be assessed. Scope is the single decision that drives your cost, your evidence burden, and your assessment length.
Also called CMMC Assessment Scope, assessment scope, scoping
Security protection asset
An asset that provides security functions for your assessment scope. It is in scope and assessed against the requirements it is relevant to.
Also called SPA, security protection assets
Shared responsibility matrix
A cloud provider's description of which parts of security it owns and which you own. Read it as the starting point, not as your evidence.
Also called SRM, shared responsibility model, shared responsibility matrices
Specialized asset
Equipment that can handle CUI but cannot be fully secured: IoT, OT, Government furnished equipment, restricted systems, and test equipment.
Also called specialized assets
Assessment
17 terms
Assessment objective
One lettered determination statement inside a requirement. Every applicable objective must be met, or the whole requirement is scored not met.
Also called assessment objectives, determination statement
Assessor
The certified person who conducts your assessment. Assessors test objectives against evidence, and they do not advise you on how to fix gaps.
Also called assessors, CMMC Certified Assessor, CCA, assessment team
C3PAO
A CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization. It is the company that performs a Level 2 certification assessment and charges you for it.
Also called CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization, third-party assessor organization
Cyber AB
The Accreditation Body. It is the single organization DoD contracts with to authorize and accredit the assessors and other ecosystem members.
Also called Accreditation Body, CMMC Accreditation Body, The Cyber AB
DCMA DIBCAC
The Government team that assesses defense contractors directly. It performs Level 3 assessments and the High assessments under DFARS 252.204-7020.
Also called DIBCAC, Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center
Enduring exception
A system where full compliance is not feasible and never will be. Documented in your SSP with mitigations, it is assessed as met.
Also called enduring exceptions
Evidence
What you show an assessor to prove a requirement is met. It must be final, not draft, and it must match what your plan claims.
Also called assessment evidence, artifacts
NIST SP 800-171
The publication holding the 110 security requirements that make up CMMC Level 2. Revision 2 is the version the CMMC Program uses.
Also called 800-171, SP 800-171, NIST 800-171
NIST SP 800-171A
The companion publication holding the assessment objectives. It is the document an assessor actually works from, so it is the one to read.
Also called 800-171A, SP 800-171A, NIST 800-171A
Not applicable
A finding that a requirement or objective does not apply to your environment. It counts the same as met, and it needs a written reason.
Also called N/A, not applicable finding
Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M)
A POA&M lists the CMMC requirements you have not met, who fixes each one, and by when. It buys a Conditional status and 180 days, not a pass.
Also called POA&M, POAM, Plan of Action and Milestones
Policy
A short written statement of what your organization requires. It is approved, dated, and it says what people must do, not how.
Also called policies, security policy
Procedure
The written steps that carry out a policy. It names who does what, in order, and it produces the records your assessment relies on.
Also called procedures, standard operating procedure
Self-assessment
An assessment you conduct on your own system. It carries the same requirements as a certification assessment and the same legal weight.
Also called self-assessments, Level 2 self-assessment, Level 1 self-assessment
SPRS
The Supplier Performance Risk System. It holds your NIST SP 800-171 score, your CMMC status, and the annual affirmation you sign.
Also called Supplier Performance Risk System
System Security Plan (SSP)
The document describing your system and how it meets each requirement. It is itself a requirement, and it cannot go on a POA&M.
Also called SSP, system security plan
Temporary deficiency
A known gap with a fix under way, documented in an operational plan of action. Handled properly, it is assessed as met.
Also called temporary deficiencies
Certification
11 terms
Affirmation
The annual statement by a senior official that you still meet the requirements. It is entered in SPRS and it carries personal weight.
Also called affirmations, affirmation of continuous compliance, affirming official
CMMC
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It is the program that verifies a defense contractor meets the security requirements already in its contract.
Also called Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
Conditional certification
The status you hold when your assessment left items on a POA&M. It lasts 180 days and expires if the closeout does not happen.
Also called Conditional CMMC Status, conditional status
Data flow diagram
A drawing of how CUI moves through your organization. It is the artifact that makes a scoping decision defensible, and it is usually done first.
Also called data flow diagrams, CUI data flow
FedRAMP
The Federal program that authorizes cloud services. A cloud service holding your CUI must meet the FedRAMP Moderate baseline or its equivalent.
Also called Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, FedRAMP Moderate
Final certification
The status you hold when every requirement is met. It lasts one year at Level 1 and three years at Level 2 and Level 3.
Also called Final CMMC Status, final status
FIPS 140 validation
A cryptographic module tested and certificated under the NIST validation program. Encryption that is merely strong does not satisfy the requirement.
Also called FIPS validation, FIPS 140, FIPS-validated cryptography
Level 1
The 15 basic safeguarding requirements for FCI, assessed by you every year. No plan of action is permitted at Level 1, ever.
Also called CMMC Level 1, Level 1 (Self)
Level 2
The 110 requirements of NIST SP 800-171, assessed by you or by a C3PAO depending on what your contract says. This is where most CMMC work happens.
Also called CMMC Level 2, Level 2 (Self), Level 2 (C3PAO)
Level 3
The 24 additional requirements from NIST SP 800-172, assessed by the Government. Final Level 2 (C3PAO) is a prerequisite for even starting.
Also called CMMC Level 3, Level 3 (DIBCAC)
Network diagram
The drawing of your assessment scope. Table 3 requires one for every in-scope asset category, and an assessment starts from it.
Also called network diagrams, scope diagram
Access Control AC
22 requirements
- AC.L2-3.1.1
Authorized Access Control
Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, and devices (including other systems).
- AC.L2-3.1.2
Transaction & Function Control
Limit system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.
- AC.L2-3.1.3
Control CUI Flow
Control the flow of CUI in accordance with approved authorizations.
- AC.L2-3.1.4
Separation of Duties
Separate the duties of individuals to reduce the risk of malevolent activity without collusion.
- AC.L2-3.1.5
Least Privilege
Employ the principle of least privilege, including for specific security functions and privileged accounts.
- AC.L2-3.1.6
Non-Privileged Account Use
Use non-privileged accounts or roles when accessing nonsecurity functions.
- AC.L2-3.1.7
Privileged Functions
Prevent non-privileged users from executing privileged functions and capture the execution of such functions in audit logs.
- AC.L2-3.1.8
Unsuccessful Logon Attempts
Limit unsuccessful logon attempts.
- AC.L2-3.1.9
Privacy & Security Notices
Provide privacy and security notices consistent with applicable CUI rules.
- AC.L2-3.1.10
Session Lock
Use session lock with pattern-hiding displays to prevent access and viewing of data after a period of inactivity.
- AC.L2-3.1.11
Session Termination
Terminate (automatically) a user session after a defined condition.
- AC.L2-3.1.12
Control Remote Access
Monitor and control remote access sessions.
- AC.L2-3.1.13
Remote Access Confidentiality
Employ cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of remote access sessions.
- AC.L2-3.1.14
Remote Access Routing
Route remote access via managed access control points.
- AC.L2-3.1.15
Privileged Remote Access
Authorize remote execution of privileged commands and remote access to security-relevant information.
- AC.L2-3.1.16
Wireless Access Authorization
Authorize wireless access prior to allowing such connections.
- AC.L2-3.1.17
Wireless Access Protection
Protect wireless access using authentication and encryption.
- AC.L2-3.1.18
Mobile Device Connection
Control connection of mobile devices.
- AC.L2-3.1.19
Encrypt CUI on Mobile
Encrypt CUI on mobile devices and mobile computing platforms.
- AC.L2-3.1.20
External Connections
Verify and control/limit connections to and use of external systems.
- AC.L2-3.1.21
Portable Storage Use
Limit use of portable storage devices on external systems.
- AC.L2-3.1.22
Control Public Information
Control information posted or processed on publicly accessible information systems.
Awareness and Training AT
3 requirements
- AT.L2-3.2.1
Role-Based Risk Awareness
Ensure that managers, systems administrators, and users of organizational systems are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities and of the applicable policies, standards, and procedures related to the security of those systems.
- AT.L2-3.2.2
Role-Based Training
Ensure that personnel are trained to carry out their assigned information security-related duties and responsibilities.
- AT.L2-3.2.3
Insider Threat Awareness
Provide security awareness training on recognizing and reporting potential indicators of insider threat.
Audit and Accountability AU
9 requirements
- AU.L2-3.3.1
System Auditing
Create and retain system audit logs and records to the extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of unlawful or unauthorized system activity.
- AU.L2-3.3.2
User Accountability
Ensure that the actions of individual system users can be uniquely traced to those users so they can be held accountable for their actions.
- AU.L2-3.3.3
Event Review
Review and update logged events.
- AU.L2-3.3.4
Audit Failure Alerting
Alert in the event of an audit logging process failure.
- AU.L2-3.3.5
Audit Correlation
Correlate audit record review, analysis, and reporting processes for investigation and response to indications of unlawful, unauthorized, suspicious, or unusual activity.
- AU.L2-3.3.6
Reduction & Reporting
Provide audit record reduction and report generation to support on-demand analysis and reporting.
- AU.L2-3.3.7
Authoritative Time Source
Provide a system capability that compares and synchronizes internal system clocks with an authoritative source to generate time stamps for audit records.
- AU.L2-3.3.8
Audit Protection
Protect audit information and audit logging tools from unauthorized access, modification, and deletion.
- AU.L2-3.3.9
Audit Management
Limit management of audit logging functionality to a subset of privileged users.
Configuration Management CM
9 requirements
- CM.L2-3.4.1
System Baselining
Establish and maintain baseline configurations and inventories of organizational systems (including hardware, software, firmware, and documentation) throughout the respective system development life cycles.
- CM.L2-3.4.2
Security Configuration Enforcement
Establish and enforce security configuration settings for information technology products employed in organizational systems.
- CM.L2-3.4.3
System Change Management
Track, review, approve or disapprove, and log changes to organizational systems.
- CM.L2-3.4.4
Security Impact Analysis
Analyze the security impact of changes prior to implementation.
- CM.L2-3.4.5
Access Restrictions for Change
Define, document, approve, and enforce physical and logical access restrictions associated with changes to organizational systems.
- CM.L2-3.4.6
Least Functionality
Employ the principle of least functionality by configuring organizational systems to provide only essential capabilities.
- CM.L2-3.4.7
Nonessential Functionality
Restrict, disable, or prevent the use of nonessential programs, functions, ports, protocols, and services.
- CM.L2-3.4.8
Application Execution Policy
Apply deny-by-exception (blacklisting) policy to prevent the use of unauthorized software or deny-all, permit-by-exception (whitelisting) policy to allow the execution of authorized software.
- CM.L2-3.4.9
User-Installed Software
Control and monitor user-installed software.
Identification and Authentication IA
11 requirements
- IA.L2-3.5.1
Identification
Identify information system users, processes acting on behalf of users, or devices.
- IA.L2-3.5.2
Authentication
Authenticate (or verify) the identities of those users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational information systems.
- IA.L2-3.5.3
Multifactor Authentication
Use multifactor authentication for local and network access to privileged accounts and for network access to non-privileged accounts.
- IA.L2-3.5.4
Replay-Resistant Authentication
Employ replay-resistant authentication mechanisms for network access to privileged and non-privileged accounts.
- IA.L2-3.5.5
Identifier Reuse
Prevent reuse of identifiers for a defined period.
- IA.L2-3.5.6
Identifier Handling
Disable identifiers after a defined period of inactivity.
- IA.L2-3.5.7
Password Complexity
Enforce a minimum password complexity and change of characters when new passwords are created.
- IA.L2-3.5.8
Password Reuse
Prohibit password reuse for a specified number of generations.
- IA.L2-3.5.9
Temporary Passwords
Allow temporary password use for system logons with an immediate change to a permanent password.
- IA.L2-3.5.10
Cryptographically-Protected Passwords
Store and transmit only cryptographically-protected passwords.
- IA.L2-3.5.11
Obscure Feedback
Obscure feedback of authentication information.
Incident Response IR
3 requirements
- IR.L2-3.6.1
Incident Handling
Establish an operational incident-handling capability for organizational systems that includes preparation, detection, analysis, containment, recovery, and user response activities.
- IR.L2-3.6.2
Incident Reporting
Track, document, and report incidents to designated officials and/or authorities both internal and external to the organization.
- IR.L2-3.6.3
Incident Response Testing
Test the organizational incident response capability.
Maintenance MA
6 requirements
- MA.L2-3.7.1
Perform Maintenance
Perform maintenance on organizational systems.
- MA.L2-3.7.2
System Maintenance Control
Provide controls on the tools, techniques, mechanisms, and personnel used to conduct system maintenance.
- MA.L2-3.7.3
Equipment Sanitization
Ensure equipment removed for off-site maintenance is sanitized of any CUI.
- MA.L2-3.7.4
Media Inspection
Check media containing diagnostic and test programs for malicious code before the media are used in organizational systems.
- MA.L2-3.7.5
Nonlocal Maintenance
Require multifactor authentication to establish nonlocal maintenance sessions via external network connections and terminate such connections when nonlocal maintenance is complete.
- MA.L2-3.7.6
Maintenance Personnel
Supervise the maintenance activities of maintenance personnel without required access authorization.
Media Protection MP
9 requirements
- MP.L2-3.8.1
Media Protection
Protect (i.e., physically control and securely store) system media containing CUI, both paper and digital.
- MP.L2-3.8.2
Media Access
Limit access to CUI on system media to authorized users.
- MP.L2-3.8.3
Media Disposal
Sanitize or destroy information system media containing Federal Contract Information before disposal or release for reuse.
- MP.L2-3.8.4
Media Markings
Mark media with necessary CUI markings and distribution limitations.
- MP.L2-3.8.5
Media Accountability
Control access to media containing CUI and maintain accountability for media during transport outside of controlled areas.
- MP.L2-3.8.6
Portable Storage Encryption
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of CUI stored on digital media during transport unless otherwise protected by alternative physical safeguards.
- MP.L2-3.8.7
Removable Media
Control the use of removable media on system components.
- MP.L2-3.8.8
Shared Media
Prohibit the use of portable storage devices when such devices have no identifiable owner.
- MP.L2-3.8.9
Protect Backups
Protect the confidentiality of backup CUI at storage locations.
Personnel Security PS
2 requirements
Physical Protection PE
6 requirements
- PE.L2-3.10.1
Limit Physical Access
Limit physical access to organizational systems, equipment, and the respective operating environments to authorized individuals.
- PE.L2-3.10.2
Monitor Facility
Protect and monitor the physical facility and support infrastructure for organizational systems.
- PE.L2-3.10.3
Escort Visitors
Escort visitors and monitor visitor activity.
- PE.L2-3.10.4
Physical Access Logs
Maintain audit logs of physical access.
- PE.L2-3.10.5
Manage Physical Access
Control and manage physical access devices.
- PE.L2-3.10.6
Alternative Work Sites
Enforce safeguarding measures for CUI at alternate work sites.
Risk Assessment RA
3 requirements
- RA.L2-3.11.1
Risk Assessments
Periodically assess the risk to organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, and individuals, resulting from the operation of organizational systems and the associated processing, storage, or transmission of CUI.
- RA.L2-3.11.2
Vulnerability Scan
Scan for vulnerabilities in organizational systems and applications periodically and when new vulnerabilities affecting those systems and applications are identified.
- RA.L2-3.11.3
Vulnerability Remediation
Remediate vulnerabilities in accordance with risk assessments.
Security Assessment CA
4 requirements
- CA.L2-3.12.1
Security Control Assessment
Periodically assess the security controls in organizational systems to determine if the controls are effective in their application.
- CA.L2-3.12.2
Plan of Action
Develop and implement plans of action designed to correct deficiencies and reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities in organizational systems.
- CA.L2-3.12.3
Security Control Monitoring
Monitor security controls on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued effectiveness of the controls.
- CA.L2-3.12.4
System Security Plan
Develop, document, and periodically update system security plans that describe system boundaries, system environments of operation, how security requirements are implemented, and the relationships with or connections to other systems.
System and Communications Protection SC
16 requirements
- SC.L2-3.13.1
Boundary Protection
Monitor, control, and protect organizational communications (i.e., information transmitted or received by organizational information systems) at the external boundaries and key internal boundaries of the information systems.
- SC.L2-3.13.2
Security Engineering
Employ architectural designs, software development techniques, and systems engineering principles that promote effective information security within organizational systems.
- SC.L2-3.13.3
Role Separation
Separate user functionality from system management functionality.
- SC.L2-3.13.4
Shared Resource Control
Prevent unauthorized and unintended information transfer via shared system resources.
- SC.L2-3.13.5
Public-Access System Separation
Implement subnetworks for publicly accessible system components that are physically or logically separated from internal networks.
- SC.L2-3.13.6
Network Communication by Exception
Deny network communications traffic by default and allow network communications traffic by exception (i.e., deny all, permit by exception).
- SC.L2-3.13.7
Split Tunneling
Prevent remote devices from simultaneously establishing non-remote connections with organizational systems and communicating via some other connection to resources in external networks (i.e., split tunneling).
- SC.L2-3.13.8
Data in Transit
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of CUI during transmission unless otherwise protected by alternative physical safeguards.
- SC.L2-3.13.9
Connections Termination
Terminate network connections associated with communications sessions at the end of the sessions or after a defined period of inactivity.
- SC.L2-3.13.10
Key Management
Establish and manage cryptographic keys for cryptography employed in organizational systems.
- SC.L2-3.13.11
CUI Encryption
Employ FIPS-validated cryptography when used to protect the confidentiality of CUI.
- SC.L2-3.13.12
Collaborative Device Control
Prohibit remote activation of collaborative computing devices and provide indication of devices in use to users present at the device.
- SC.L2-3.13.13
Mobile Code
Control and monitor the use of mobile code.
- SC.L2-3.13.14
Voice over Internet Protocol
Control and monitor the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies.
- SC.L2-3.13.15
Communications Authenticity
Protect the authenticity of communications sessions.
- SC.L2-3.13.16
Data at Rest
Protect the confidentiality of CUI at rest.
System and Information Integrity SI
7 requirements
- SI.L2-3.14.1
Flaw Remediation
Identify, report, and correct system flaws in a timely manner.
- SI.L2-3.14.2
Malicious Code Protection
Provide protection from malicious code at designated locations within organizational systems.
- SI.L2-3.14.3
Security Alerts & Advisories
Monitor system security alerts and advisories and take action in response.
- SI.L2-3.14.4
Update Malicious Code Protection
Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.
- SI.L2-3.14.5
System & File Scanning
Perform periodic scans of organizational systems and real-time scans of files from external sources as files are downloaded, opened, or executed.
- SI.L2-3.14.6
Monitor Communications for Attacks
Monitor organizational systems, including inbound and outbound communications traffic, to detect attacks and indicators of potential attacks.
- SI.L2-3.14.7
Identify Unauthorized Use
Identify unauthorized use of organizational systems.