CMMC operationalizes these requirements. It moves cybersecurity from policy statements to auditable, enforceable certification, particularly for organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Under CMMC Level 2, contractors must:

• Fully implement NIST SP 800-171 controls
• Demonstrate consistent, repeatable security practices
• Undergo third-party assessments (or annual self-assessments where permitted)
• Maintain documented evidence—not intentions

Critically, CMMC assessments increasingly evaluate how organizations manage supply-chain risk, aligning directly with NIST 800-161 principles.

DFARS 252.204-7021 — Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Requirements

• It is contract law, not guidance
• It is mandatory when included in a DoD solicitation or contract
• It is enforceable (award eligibility, performance, termination risk)
• It implicitly requires NIST SP 800-161 aligned supply-chain risk management

When DFARS 252.204-7021 is in your contract, you must comply or you cannot perform.

How LP3 helps defense contractors:

Meeting these requirements is not a one-time effort, it demands continuous visibility, documentation, and governance. This is where LP3 plays a critical role.

• Centralize compliance management across CMMC, NIST 800-171, and NIST 800-161
• Track control implementation and evidence in real time
• Manage supplier and subcontractor risk, aligning with C-SCRM requirements
• Maintain assessment readiness, reducing disruption and audit fatigue
• Demonstrate due diligence to primes, assessors, and contracting officers

By integrating compliance, risk management, and supply-chain oversight into a single platform, LP3 enables organizations to move from reactive compliance to sustained operational resilience. 

Organizations that treat CMMC and NIST 800-161 as strategic priorities gain a competitive advantage demonstrating trust, reliability, and mission readiness. 

Compliance is no longer a checkbox exercise. It is a leadership responsibility that touches IT, legal, procurement, operations, and executive governance. Organizations that start early, assess honestly, and build sustainable cybersecurity programs will be the ones positioned to thrive in the evolving defense marketplace. The question is no longer if compliance will be enforced—but whether your organization is fully compliant.