Winning a federal contract means more than just submitting a strong proposal. In today’s risk-sensitive landscape, agencies want assurance that your organization can handle sensitive data securely. This is where security assessments come in.
Security assessments are evaluations conducted either internally or by third parties to ensure that an organization meets specific cybersecurity controls. For government contractors, these assessments are often aligned with NIST SP 800-171, DFARS 7012, or the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).
As CMMC requirements grow more prevalent, contractors are expected to demonstrate that they not only have policies in place but also that they can enforce and monitor them. These assessments typically review system boundaries, access controls, encryption, incident response plans, and vendor risk management practices.
A growing number of companies now prepare for these evaluations by establishing secure environments—sometimes referred to as compliance enclaves—that isolate systems handling controlled unclassified information (CUI). One such solution is the CMMC enclave, a dedicated cloud-based architecture tailored for meeting strict security requirements.
Preparing for an assessment can be time-consuming, but it’s a proactive step toward winning and maintaining contracts. It sends a strong signal to prime contractors and government agencies that your business takes security seriously.