CMMC Nears Reality: Cyber Readiness or Contracting Roadblock for Small Businesses?
After years of debate, delays, and revisions, the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is officially moving from theory to enforcement. The final CMMC 2.0 rule dropped in October 2024, and as of January 2025, DFARS clause 252.204-7021 is live. That means starting October 1, 2025, every new DoD contract—except for COTS-only buys—will carry mandatory CMMC language. For small contractors, this is no longer a “someday” compliance issue. It’s here, and it’s expensive.
CMMC Deadline Is Real This Time: Why Small DoD Contractors Can’t Afford to Wait
The Department of Defense just put every contractor on notice: by October 1, 2025, cybersecurity compliance won’t just be “on the horizon”—it will be baked into nearly every new DoD contract. DFARS 252.204-7021 makes it official: no CMMC certification, no award. And for small businesses? That’s a game-changer with real consequences.
CMMC 2.0 Is Here—What Small Contractors Need to Do Now
If you’re a small business working in the defense space, 2025 just got a lot more real. The Department of Defense finalized the long-awaited Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 rule in December 2024, and implementation has already begun. This isn’t just another bureaucratic update—CMMC 2.0 changes the rules of the game for every contractor and subcontractor in the DoD supply chain.