Watch the February MAD Security Town Hall Webinar replay 👇
CMMC is Not Just an IT Project
This Town Hall focused on persistent misconception across the Defense Industrial Base. Many organizations still treat CMMC compliance as an IT initiative. In reality, CMMC is an organizational commitment that impacts leadership decisions, contracts, culture, budgeting, and daily operations.
Hosted by Adam Starnes and joined by Jaclyn Jones, MAD Security’s CMMC Compliance Lead, the discussion intentionally zoomed out. Instead of focusing strictly on timelines or enforcement phases, the conversation centered on alignment. How CMMC connects to business strategy. How documentation must match operational reality. How culture influences audit outcomes. And how contract competitiveness is directly tied to readiness.
The message was clear. Organizations that treat CMMC as a siloed security project struggle. Those who integrate compliance across departments perform far better during certification.
Key Takeaways from February Town Hall
|
CMMC Is an Organization-Wide EffortCMMC does not live solely within IT. While technical safeguards matter, many requirements fall outside the security team. HR manages onboarding and offboarding. Facilities enforce badge systems and visitor processes. Leadership approves budgets and formally accepts risk. Contracts teams manage flow-down requirements and supplier expectations. When IT is expected to answer for every control during an assessment, misalignment becomes obvious. Assessors speak directly to the individuals responsible for each process. If departments are unprepared or disconnected, confidence drops quickly. Callout: If CMMC lives only in IT, your assessor will see the cracks within the first day. For a detailed breakdown of expectations, review the full CMMC Requirements. |
 |
Culture Shows Up During the AuditCompliance is not just technical. It is behavioral. Assessors observe how employees naturally operate. They watch how visitors are handled. They notice whether badge procedures are enforced. They listen to how staff describe their responsibilities. If processes exist only on paper, it becomes clear very quickly. Assessors are not looking for scripted answers. They are looking for repeatable processes embedded into daily operations. When CMMC is built into company culture rather than activated for audit week, evidence exists naturally. Small behaviors signal maturity. They also signal gaps. Organizations preparing for certification can reference the CMMC Assessment Guide to better understand how culture and consistency are evaluated. |
 |
Documentation, Implementation, and Proof Must AlignOne of the most common assessment failures is misalignment. Policies may describe an ideal process. However, if that process is not implemented or cannot be proven through evidence, the control fails. The reverse is also true. A technical control may be correctly configured, but if documentation is outdated or inaccurate, the control can still fail. Successful organizations align three elements:
Callout: If you cannot produce evidence within minutes, not hours, your audit readiness is at risk. Assessors expect consistency over time. Recently implemented tools without historical evidence can create doubt. Maturity is demonstrated through repeatability and documentation accuracy. Structured oversight such as Virtual Compliance Manager (VCM) services helps maintain alignment continuously rather than reactively. |
 |
CMMC Impacts Contracts and CompetitivenessCMMC readiness directly affects contract positioning. Prime contractors are evaluating subcontractors based on SPRS scores, certification timelines, and overall compliance posture. If an organization cannot clearly communicate its status or demonstrate a realistic path to certification, it may be viewed as higher risk. Compliance is not just about passing an audit. It is about protecting eligibility and revenue within the Defense Industrial Base. Proactive alignment through services such as GRC Gap Assessments helps organizations identify weaknesses before they impact competitiveness. |
 |
Leadership Engagement Changes OutcomesLeadership involvement shapes success. Executives do not need to understand every technical detail. They need to understand business risk, contract eligibility impact, accountability, and budget implications. When leadership prioritizes CMMC, the organization follows. When leadership is disconnected, compliance becomes reactive and fragmented. CMMC is not a one-time project. It is an operational commitment that requires sustained ownership. |
Q&A Highlights
MAD Security’s Role in Alignment and Readiness
At MAD Security, organizations receive support aligning cybersecurity, compliance, and business objectives rather than treating CMMC as a siloed project.
As a CMMC Registered Provider Organization and Managed Security Services Provider, MAD Security supports clients before, during, and after certification.
Through coordination, documentation oversight, evidence management, and continuous monitoring, organizations maintain alignment across departments.
Callout: Alignment across people, processes, and proof is what separates confident audits from stressful ones.
Free Resources and Next Steps
MAD Security offers several free resources to help organizations evaluate their readiness and begin aligning compliance with business strategy.
If you are unsure where your organization stands, these tools provide clarity and direction.
These resources are designed to help you move forward deliberately rather than reactively.
Final Thoughts
CMMC is more than cybersecurity. It is alignment.
Alignment across leadership, departments, documentation, implementation, and evidence.
Organizations that embed compliance into daily operations strengthen audit readiness, protect contract eligibility, and position themselves more competitively within the Defense Industrial Base.
If you are unsure where your alignment stands today, now is the right time to find out.
Original Published Date: February 26, 2026
By: MAD Security
