IT Support Built for Defense & Aerospace

CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It is the Department of Defense's framework for ensuring that every company in the defense supply chain protects sensitive information. If your company bids on or performs work under DoD contracts, CMMC certification is becoming a requirement in new contracts starting in 2025-2026. Without it, you cannot win new defense work and you risk losing existing contracts at renewal.

Level 1 covers 17 basic cybersecurity practices for companies handling Federal Contract Information (FCI). Self-assessment is allowed. Level 2 aligns with all 110 NIST 800-171 controls and requires protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Most defense subcontractors in the Everett aerospace ecosystem need Level 2 because they handle technical drawings, specifications, or test data. Level 2 requires a third-party assessment by a C3PAO.

If your IT environment has no existing security controls, expect 6 to 12 months for a full Level 2 implementation. If you already have some controls in place — MFA, endpoint protection, encrypted backups — the timeline may be 3 to 6 months. We start with a gap assessment that identifies exactly what you need and builds a realistic timeline.

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) includes engineering drawings, technical specifications, test data, manufacturing processes, and export-controlled technical data created for or on behalf of the government. If your contract includes DFARS clause 252.204-7012 or references NIST 800-171, you almost certainly handle CUI. If you build parts for Boeing defense programs or support Naval Station Everett operations, you likely handle CUI.

ITAR controls the export of defense-related technical data. For your IT environment, this means ITAR-controlled data cannot be stored on servers outside the United States, accessed by non-U.S. persons, or transmitted through cloud services routing data through foreign infrastructure. We configure your environment with U.S.-controlled cloud infrastructure, access controls restricting data to authorized personnel, and monitoring for unauthorized access.

A national compliance firm hands you a checklist and leaves. ROI Technology lives in the same defense ecosystem as your company. We understand the Everett aerospace supply chain, Boeing and Navy contract requirements, and the operational realities of running a small manufacturing operation. We implement controls AND maintain them as your ongoing IT provider. When your C3PAO assessor asks a question, we are in the room with documented evidence.

A failed assessment means you cannot bid on contracts requiring that CMMC level until you remediate findings and pass reassessment. This can take months and cost contract opportunities. We conduct internal readiness assessments using the same criteria C3PAOs use, identify gaps before the formal assessment, and ensure every control is properly implemented and documented before you sit for the real thing.