Cybersecurity Blog
Category: Compliance
ISMG Editors: AI Phishing Kits Go Mainstream
Posted July 18, 2026 in AI, Compliance, HIPAA, CMMC, Cybersecurity
The landscape of digital threats has shifted dramatically with the mainstreaming of artificial intelligence phishing...
CMMC Phase II Suspended: What Defense Contractors Should Do Now
Posted July 15, 2026 in CMMC, NIST, Compliance, Cybersecurity, AI
On July 13, 2026, the Department of War announced the immediate suspension of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model...
How We Scored 110 on Our Own CMMC Self-Assessment
Posted July 1, 2026 in CMMC, Compliance, NIST
Petronella Technology Group earned a perfect 110 SPRS score on its own CMMC Level 2 self-assessment. Five lessons for...
From a Perfect 110 to Negative 170: Why a Defense Contractor Paid $507,144 for a False SPRS Score
Posted June 26, 2026 in Compliance, Cybersecurity
A defense contractor self-reported a perfect SPRS score of 110, then a DIBCAC review found negative 170. The $507,144...
Why CMMC SSPs and POA&Ms Fail at Assessment (and How to Pass the First Time)
Posted June 23, 2026 in CMMC, Compliance, NIST, AI, Cybersecurity
Most CMMC System Security Plans fail before the assessor opens them. See exactly what C3PAOs check in your SSP and...
CMMC vs NIST 800-171: Complete Comparison 2026
Posted May 21, 2026
NIST 800-171 vs CMMC explained: 110 controls, 3 levels, C3PAO assessments, DFARS 7021 enforcement. Plain-English...
CUI vs FCI: Defense Contractor Guide (2026)
Posted May 21, 2026
CUI vs FCI explained: FAR 52.204-21, 32 CFR 2002, NIST 800-171, CMMC Level 1/2/3 mapping, flowdown rules, and 5...
ComplianceForge Alternative: 7 Trade-offs (2026)
Posted May 21, 2026
DIY CMMC template packs vs RPO-reviewed compliance SaaS. 7 honest trade-offs to weigh before buying ComplianceForge...
How to Calculate Your SPRS Score for CMMC (2026)
Posted May 21, 2026
Step-by-step DoD SPRS score calculation guide for CMMC and NIST 800-171: weighted deductions, partial credit, POA&M...
DFARS Clauses Field Guide for CMMC Contractors 2026
Posted May 21, 2026
Definitive 2026 field guide to DFARS 252.204-7008, 7012, 7019, 7020, 7021 for DoD contractors. Plain-English clause...
CUI Handler Field Manual: 9 Questions Answered (2026)
Posted May 21, 2026
Definitive 2026 field manual on Controlled Unclassified Information: marking, protection, configuration, decontrol,...
Summit7 Alternative: 7 Trade-offs Before You Pick (2026)
Posted May 20, 2026
Evaluating Summit7 vs a smaller CMMC RPO? 7 trade-offs to weigh: practitioner specialization, full-team RP cert, AI...