Today’s digital world is a constant and fast-paced game of cat-and-mouse, where cybercriminals are constantly trying to outsmart security teams at every turn. The stakes are high, and the consequences of getting hacked can be severe. With organizations losing an average of $2 million as a result of a data breach, it’s more important than ever to understand your organization’s cybersecurity risks, establish a risk management program, and implement processes that protect your data. To help you get started on the right foot with your company’s cybersecurity initiatives, we have outlined the steps to achieve Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

Step 1: Assess Your Cybersecurity Risk 

To determine the state of your organization’s cybersecurity risk, you must first understand what data you have, where it’s stored, who has access to it, and how it’s being used. Start by mapping out your network, and identifying all devices that store or transmit data, including servers, databases, and cloud services. Then, use a data inventory to document everything from employee emails to customer records. This will help you gain visibility into what data is being stored, where it’s being stored, and who has access to it. You also need to understand how this data is being used inside your organization. This includes knowing who is accessing which data, and for what purpose. You can start by mapping out which applications your employees use on a daily basis. This will help you identify which data is flowing through the various applications your team is using.

Step 2: Establish A Risk Management Program 

Once you have a clear understanding of your organization’s cybersecurity risk, it’s time to put a risk management program in place so you can proactively manage your cybersecurity risk. This will allow you to identify and prioritize cybersecurity risks, create a general cybersecurity plan, and put in place a process to regularly review your cybersecurity plan. You can start by creating a general cybersecurity plan. This should include a list of your current cybersecurity risks, a description of how these risks will be addressed, and a timeline for implementation. It’s also important to put a process in place so you can regularly review your cybersecurity plan. This will allow you to reassess your current risk level and keep your cybersecurity plan up to date.

Step 3: Implement An Information Security Program 

Now that you’ve established a risk management program, it’s time to put in place an information security program. This will ensure you’re doing everything you can to protect your data against cyber threats. At a minimum, an information security program should include the following: An inventory of your organization’s cyber assets: This includes the data you store, transmit, and process. This also includes the systems, software, networks, and other assets that support your data. An assessment of cybersecurity risks: This will allow you to identify the cyber threats you face and the impact they could have. An assessment of the effectiveness of your current cybersecurity controls: This will allow you to determine if your current controls are effective in mitigating your cybersecurity risks. An identification of any gaps in your cybersecurity controls: This will help you determine which areas you need to strengthen. An action plan for addressing the gaps in your cybersecurity controls: This will allow you to put a plan in place to strengthen your cybersecurity controls.

Step 4: Train Employees On Cybersecurity Best Practices 

Now that you have implemented a robust information security program, it’s time to train your employees on best practices to protect data. This is important since 85% of data breaches are attributable to human error. Additionally, according to a Ponemon study, only one-third of employees believe that their company fully understands its role in cyber security. Therefore, it’s crucial to train your team on best practices to protect your data against cyber threats. You can start by creating a comprehensive training program and rolling it out to all employees. It’s also important to track employee progress to ensure each person has completed the training. This will allow you to hold your team accountable for following best practices when it comes to protecting your data.

Conclusion 

It’s important for every organization to understand their cybersecurity risk and put measures in place to protect their data against cyber threats. This will help you mitigate risk, reduce the chances of a data breach, and protect your company’s reputation. To achieve CMMC, start by assessing your cybersecurity risk and then put in place a risk management program. Next, implement an information security program and train your employees on best practices to protect your data against cyber threats.