When it comes to CMMC, you need to have a plan of action and milestones. Our guide will walk you through this process.
Did you know that one in three small to medium-sized businesses need to undergo an assessment in the next year or two in order to maintain CMMC compliance? And another one in four fear they won’t be able to afford to implement the necessary updates. Do you know where you stand in terms of this important compliance regulation?
If not, then you need to create your plan of actions and milestones. Don’t worry if you don’t know what that is or where to get started because we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about POAM and CMMC compliance.
POAM stands for plan of action and milestones. This acronym refers to a specific document IT managers use to identify risks within their company’s system. Every company worries about cybersecurity, and for good reason. Cybercrime has hit an all-time high around the globe.
To combat this, IT departments everywhere are working to stay CMMC compliant through the use of risk analysis. They document this risk analysis and outline the steps needs to plug the gaps and ensure the best corrective actions are taken to prevent a cyberattack.
Your POAM must include the following items:
Your IT department impacts your entire company. Having the right cybersecurity controls means that you and your team can properly detect and prevent security risks. Everyone benefits when you stay compliant and mitigate the risk of cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity changes every day. And you must stay abreast of changes happening both internally and externally. Employees come and go, passwords get forgotten, and criminals find new tactics for phishing for information.
Lastly, another benefit of using a POAM is that it builds accountability for your team. Everyone knows what is expected of them and when. Each step is outlined along with the necessary milestones that must be reached by certain deadlines.
Stop trying to create elaborate workarounds trying to fix original systems. There are newer and more robust systems that can replace your legacy programs. Sometimes it makes more sense to take a hard look at your legacy systems to see if they should be fixed or replaced completely.
Unfortunately, you do need to consider your budget, after all, worldwide risk management budgets are expected to escalate over 12% to $150 billion in the next year. While you might want to run out and invest in the newest programs, take the time to analyze your budget. Then determine the best plan of action based on your finances so that you can keep your company solvent.
Don’t forget that the people using your system aren’t thinking about cybercrime in the same way your IT department does. They will unintentionally ask a co-worker to use their system and thus learn their password. Additionally, they receive so many emails they aren’t aware of how many of them are phishing.
Your team members are your biggest asset, however, they can also be your biggest liability when it comes to cybersecurity. The majority of your risks and weaknesses are unintentional and inadvertent mistakes. While there will be certain unscrupulous and intentional breaches, the majority are in fact benign.
If you’re ready to start creating your plan of actions and milestones then you can’t afford to delay any longer. And if you’re worried that you might not be able to stay up to date with the ever changing DoD regulations then you need to work with a professional.
Contact us today about a security risk assessment for your business.
(210) 477-7900
POAM stands for plan of action and milestones. This acronym refers to a specific document IT managers use to identify risks within their company’s system.
Every company worries about cybersecurity, and for good reason. Cybercrime has hit an all-time high around the globe.