Understanding CMMC, Protecting CUI, and Getting Ahead of Federal Cybersecurity Standards
As cybersecurity threats grow more sophisticated, government agencies and contractors are under increasing pressure to protect sensitive data. A cornerstone of this effort is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), a compliance standard that every business handling federal data should understand. For companies working within the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain or aspiring to, application allowlisting is not just helpful, it’s essential.
This was the central theme in the recent webinar, “Application Allowlisting: A Critical Step for CMMC Success”, featuring Adam Austin (Totem Technologies), Willie Crenshaw (Federal Cybersecurity Consultant), and Corey Munson (PC Matic).
What is CMMC?
CMMC is a framework designed to ensure that Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is properly protected across the DoD’s supply chain. CUI may not be classified, but if exposed, it could cause serious harm to national security or public trust.
The CMMC model has three levels of cybersecurity maturity:
- Level 1: Basic safeguarding of Federal Contract Information (FCI)
- Level 2: Protection of CUI, aligned with NIST SP 800-171 controls
- Level 3: Advanced protection, typically for contractors handling highly sensitive data
If your organization handles CUI, whether you’re a prime contractor or subcontractor, you’re subject to Level 2 or Level 3 and will need to meet strict requirements, including application allowlisting.
Why Is CMMC More Urgent Than Ever?
Though CMMC has been in development for years, it’s now entering its enforcement phase. Final rulemaking is in progress, and by the end of this calendar year, the DoD will begin requiring contractors to prove compliance. This includes third-party assessments and serious contractual and legal consequences for non-compliance.
Application Allowlisting
Allowlisting is a security control where only pre-approved software applications are permitted to run on your systems. It flips the traditional antivirus model, blocking unknown or unapproved programs by default instead of trying to identify every known threat.
As explained in the webinar, this approach is akin to TSA gate security:
“You can’t get past security without being on the list. That’s allowlisting,” said Adam Austin.
Why It Matters for CMMC
Application allowlisting is required for contractors at CMMC Levels 2 and 3, where the protection of CUI is involved. It falls under the Configuration Management domain of NIST SP 800-171, an area that’s critical but often overlooked.
“Configuration management is the most important aspect of cybersecurity,” said Adam Austin. “Allowlisting is a part of that, and it’s been ignored for too long.”
What Business Owners Need to Know
Even if your company doesn’t directly contract with the DoD, the CMMC model is becoming a federal standard. Civilian agencies are expected to follow suit. If your organization is in the federal supply chain—or wants to be—this matters now.
Getting Started Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Historically, allowlisting was seen as too difficult to implement. But as demonstrated in the webinar, solutions like PC Matic make it practical, scalable, and effective for small to mid-sized businesses.
Whether you rely on their expert-managed Global Allowlist or create your own local lists, PC Matic provides a fast track to CMMC-aligned protection.
Watch the full webinar replay:
