What is CMMC? An Australian View
CMMC 2.0 from an Australian Viewpoint
What is CMMC 2.0?
If you’re an Australian business considering opportunities in the US defence supply chain, you may have already heard of CMMC. But for many, it’s still an unfamiliar acronym sitting among the alphabet soup of international compliance frameworks. What does it actually mean? Why is it important? And how does it affect Australian companies seeking to engage in one of the world’s largest defence markets?
Defining CMMC
CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It is a framework introduced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to standardise and enforce cybersecurity practices across its vast network of contractors and subcontractors. In simple terms, if you want to supply to the US DoD, you may need to demonstrate that your business meets a defined set of cyber security requirements — and prove it through certification.
Unlike voluntary standards, CMMC is contractual. It’s not a nice-to-have. If your target opportunities require it, no certification means no contract.
Why Did the US Create CMMC?
The global defence industry is increasingly targeted by cyber attacks. Sensitive information, even when held by small subcontractors, can become a weak link in the chain. The DoD recognised that requiring cyber maturity only of prime contractors was insufficient. Attackers often exploit smaller, less-prepared suppliers.
CMMC was developed to enforce consistent standards across the entire supply chain. From the largest aerospace prime to the smallest engineering consultancy, all contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must demonstrate compliance.
What Does CMMC Cover?
CMMC is based heavily on existing US standards such as NIST SP 800-171, which defines security requirements for protecting sensitive information. It requires companies to implement and demonstrate:
Application Control Measures
Making sure only the right people can access the right information at the right time. This includes things like user accounts, multi-factor authentication, and permissions that stop staff or outsiders from seeing sensitive data they don’t need for their job.
Incident Response Planning
Having a clear, documented plan for what your business will do if a cyber incident occurs. This covers detecting an incident, containing the damage, investigating the cause, and restoring operations. It also ensures roles and responsibilities are defined so you can act quickly.
Risk Assessment Process
Regularly reviewing your systems and operations to identify potential security risks before they become problems. This helps prioritise which risks need attention, what controls should be in place, and where to invest effort to reduce exposure.
Security Awareness Training
Training staff to recognise and respond to cyber threats. Phishing emails, weak passwords, and unsafe browsing habits are common risks — awareness programs build a security-first culture so people don’t become the weakest link.
System & Communication Protection
Safeguarding the technology and communication channels your business relies on. This includes using firewalls, encryption, secure remote access, and monitoring tools to ensure information is protected while it’s stored or transmitted.
- The depth and complexity of the requirements scale depending on the level of certification required.
Why Should Australian Businesses Care?
For Australian businesses working in or seeking entry into the US defence sector, CMMC represents a gatekeeper. The US is the largest defence market in the world, and its prime contractors often rely on international partners for specialised skills, technologies, and supply chain depth.
Without CMMC certification at the appropriate level, your business cannot engage directly in contracts that require it. And over time, more US DoD contracts will mandate CMMC as the program continues its rollout.
An Australian business may need one, two, or all three depending on its strategic goals.
How Does This Relate to DISP or ISO?
Many Australian defence suppliers already work toward DISP (Defence Industry Security Program) membership or maintain ISO 27001 certification. While there is overlap, CMMC is a separate requirement tied to US contractual obligations. For example:
DISP ensures protection of Australian Defence information.
ISO 27001 demonstrates strong information security management globally.
CMMC is specific to US DoD contracts.
An Australian business may need one, two, or all three depending on its strategic goals.
What is the Path to Certification?
CMMC requires assessment by an accredited third-party assessor in the United States. That can feel daunting for an Australian company with limited exposure to US compliance processes.
That’s where Cyber Wyze comes in. We provide:
Readiness Assessments: Measuring your current security posture against CMMC requirements.
Remediation Planning: Helping close the gaps with practical, business-aligned solutions.
Certification Onramp: Leveraging our relationship with a US certification partner to streamline the assessment process.
This creates a clear path for Australian businesses to achieve certification with confidence.
The Bigger Picture
Even beyond contractual eligibility, CMMC brings value. By aligning with its standards, businesses strengthen their overall cyber resilience. This not only protects your US Defence opportunities but also enhances trust with commercial clients, Australian Defence, and international partners.
CMMC is more than just another acronym. For Australian businesses eyeing the US Defence market, it’s a gateway requirement. It ensures that your business is not just technically capable, but also trusted to safeguard sensitive information.
Cyber Wyze specialises in guiding Australian companies through this journey. From readiness to remediation, and finally into certification through our US partner, we provide the onramp you need to compete and succeed in the world’s largest defence market.
Where to Start?
Most businesses benefit from starting with a CMMC Assessment to understand their current maturity level and identify priority actions. From there, you can create a targeted uplift plan to reach your compliance and security goals.