CMMC Necessities and Cisco’s Safety Portfolio alignment to NIST CSF 2.0
The Cybersecurity Maturity Mannequin Certification (CMMC) is a framework developed by the U.S. Division of Protection (DoD) to make sure that contractors have sufficient cybersecurity measures in place to guard delicate info. CMMC applies to DoD contractors, who should obtain certification to be eligible for future authorities contracts. Larger schooling establishments that carry out analysis below DoD contracts are additionally topic to CMMC necessities. A fast breakdown of the CMMC Ranges are as follows:
CMMC 2.0 Stage 1: Often called “Foundational,” is designed for contractors dealing with Federal Contract Data (FCI). This stage focuses on primary cyber hygiene practices and contains 17 practices that align with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-21.
These practices are elementary and goal to guard FCI from unauthorized entry and disclosure.
CMMC 2.0 Stage 2: Known as “Superior,” is meant for organizations dealing with Managed Unclassified Data (CUI). This stage requires compliance with the 110 safety necessities outlined in NIST SP 800-171. Stage 2 emphasizes safeguarding CUI by implementing a extra complete set of cybersecurity practices.
Organizations should exhibit a extra mature and proactive cybersecurity posture to guard delicate info successfully.
CMMC 2.0 Stage 3: Often called “Knowledgeable,” is reserved for organizations managing extremely delicate info and going through superior persistent threats. Stage 3 builds on the practices in Stage 2 and incorporates further necessities from NIST SP 800-172. This stage focuses on superior cybersecurity practices, reminiscent of enhanced monitoring and response methods, to make sure strong safety towards refined cyber threats.
Organizations at this stage should exhibit the very best diploma of cybersecurity maturity and functionality.
For graphical clarification of the CMMC mannequin and it’s Ranges see Determine 1: CMMC Mannequin under:

Cisco has presently mapped their Cisco Safety portfolio to the Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Know-how (NIST) NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 (See Determine 2: Cisco Functionality Mapping to NIST CSF 2.0).
Obtain Cisco’s NIST CSF 2.0 Mapping white paper right here.

Mapping Cisco’s Safety portfolio to NIST CSF 2.0 is necessary for a number of causes. First, it ensures that Cisco’s options align with a widely known and complete cybersecurity framework, facilitating higher integration and interoperability throughout numerous industries and sectors. This alignment helps Cisco exhibit to its clients that its safety choices are designed to satisfy international requirements and finest practices, enhancing buyer belief and confidence.
Mapping to NIST CSF 2.0 permits Cisco to offer a structured method for organizations to manipulate, determine, defend, detect, reply, and get well from cybersecurity threats, thereby supporting clients in successfully managing their cybersecurity dangers. By aligning its portfolio with NIST CSF 2.0, Cisco may handle different evolving regulatory necessities and trade requirements (reminiscent of CMMC), guaranteeing its merchandise stay related and efficient.
So, right here is the excellent news!
The NIST CSF 2.0 may be immediately mapped to NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172 (the driving drive behind CMMC). Which means that the NIST CSF 2.0 mapping is considerably related to CMMC, and the Cisco NIST CSF 2.0 mapping can help you with attaining your CMMC Compliance.
Extra excellent news!
Moreover, to make issues even simpler, the inner mapping work of CMMC and the NIST CSF 2.0 has already been finished. The NIST Nationwide Cybersecurity Middle of Excellence (NCCoE) and the U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) Workplace of Cybersecurity, Vitality Safety, and Emergency Response (CESER) have developed this detailed mapping between the CMMC Framework and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). This bidirectional mapping permits customers of both Framework to map their ends in the context of the opposite Framework!
With Cisco’s functionality mapping of the Cisco Safe portfolio to NISTs CSF 2.0 is extraordinarily useful in aiding with CMMC Compliance.
The way it all works
Mapping NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172 to the Cybersecurity Maturity Mannequin Certification (CMMC)
The Cybersecurity Maturity Mannequin Certification (CMMC) is designed to boost the safety of delicate unclassified info that’s shared by the Division of Protection (DoD) with its contractors. It incorporates a set of cybersecurity requirements and finest practices right into a certification framework. At its core, CMMC integrates components from established cybersecurity pointers, notably NIST Particular Publication (SP) 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172.
NIST SP 800-171 outlines safety necessities for shielding Managed Unclassified Data (CUI) inside non-federal methods, providing 14 households of safety necessities that align carefully with the CMMC domains. These domains embody Entry Management, Incident Response, and Threat Administration, amongst others, that are immediately mapped to the safety necessities laid out in NIST SP 800-171 to make sure compliance and improve safety measures.
NIST SP 800-172 builds upon the inspiration set by NIST SP 800-171, offering enhanced safety necessities for shielding CUI in essential methods. Whereas NIST SP 800-171 focuses on primary safeguarding necessities, NIST SP 800-172 introduces further controls to counter superior persistent threats (APTs). These controls are significantly related to increased CMMC ranges, the place extra mature and complicated cybersecurity practices are required.
The superior safety measures in NIST SP 800-172 align with the CMMC domains by guaranteeing that contractors implement strong safety mechanisms, reminiscent of enhanced monitoring, incident response, and asset administration, that are essential for safeguarding delicate info towards more and more refined cyber threats.
The connection between the CMMC framework and NIST SP 800-171 and SP 800-172 is additional solidified by way of an in depth mapping of practices throughout CMMC’s ranges of maturity. Every CMMC stage requires the implementation of particular practices which are largely derived from the necessities present in these NIST publications.
As organizations progress to increased CMMC maturity ranges, they need to implement extra stringent practices outlined in NIST SP 800-172, thus enabling them to successfully reply to complicated cyber threats. This complete mapping ensures that contractors progressively improve their cybersecurity posture, safeguarding the DoD’s delicate info all through the availability chain.
How can we use the NIST CSF 2.0 to assist with CMMC?
Now that we perceive relationship of NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172 above with CMMC we are able to discuss in regards to the relationship. between NIST SP 800-171 / NIST SP 800-172 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).
NIST SP 800-171 and the NIST CSF 2.0 are each pivotal in guiding organizations to handle and mitigate cybersecurity dangers successfully. NIST SP 800-171 focuses particularly on defending Managed Unclassified Data (CUI) in non-federal methods and organizations.
Managed Unclassified Data (CUI) refers to info that the U.S. authorities deems essential to safeguard or disseminate controls in accordance with legal guidelines, rules, or government-wide insurance policies. CUI requires particular dealing with and dissemination protocols to guard delicate info that might have an effect on the federal government’s operations, privateness, or safety if improperly launched.
NIST SP 800-171 offers a set of 110 safety necessities organized into 14 households, reminiscent of Entry Management and Incident Response, to determine a strong cybersecurity posture. These necessities align with the NIST CSF 2.0’s core features Govern, Determine, Shield, Detect, Reply, and Get well (see Determine 3: NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0) by providing particular safety measures that organizations can implement to realize these overarching objectives.

This alignment ensures that organizations can use NIST SP 800-171 as a sensible information to meet the NIST CSF 2.0’s targets in a structured method.
NIST SP 800-172 extends the foundational safety necessities of NIST SP 800-171 by introducing further controls aimed toward countering superior persistent threats (APTs). These enhanced safety measures are significantly related for essential methods the place the danger of refined cyber-attacks is increased.
NIST SP 800-172 enhances the NIST CSF 2.0 by offering superior methods and practices that align with the NIST CSF 2.0’s detailed implementation tiers and profiles. For instance, the Detect perform of the NIST CSF 2.0 is supported by NIST SP 800-172’s emphasis on enhanced monitoring and anomaly detection, guaranteeing that organizations cannot solely defend CUI but additionally proactively determine and handle potential threats earlier than they’ll trigger important hurt.
Each NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172 function sensible assets for implementing the NIST CSF 2.0’s complete danger administration framework. Whereas the NIST CSF 2.0 offers a high-level, versatile framework relevant to varied industries and sectors, NIST SP 800-171 and SP 800-172 provide concrete, actionable necessities and controls that may be immediately utilized to guard delicate info. By mapping the precise safety necessities of NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172 to the NIST CSF 2.0’s core features and classes, organizations can successfully bridge the hole between strategic cybersecurity planning and sensible implementation.
This synergy permits organizations to develop a resilient cybersecurity program that not solely meets regulatory necessities but additionally aligns with trade finest practices to handle cybersecurity dangers comprehensively.
Conclusion
I’m proud to work for a corporation like Cisco, which presents a complete vary of safety instruments and assists clients in complying with CMMC. A big quantity of engineering effort has gone into aligning the NIST CSF 2.0 with the Cisco safety portfolio, making it extremely efficient for serving to clients meet CMMC necessities. There may be much more to stay up for, as this alignment with NIST CSF 2.0 permits Cisco to map to different frameworks reminiscent of CISv8, NIST SP 800-53, MITRE ATT&CK, ISO 27001, and even internationally with the European Union’s NIS2 directive. #LETsGO
Further Sources
Cisco
Cisco and CMMC Compliance
Companions
Purple River and CMMC Compliance
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