In a decisive move that reshapes the landscape of defense contracting, the Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a clear message to contractors and subcontractors: compliance with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements is not optional, and waivers will be exceptionally rare.
According to the recent CMMC Implementation Policy memo issued by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, any hope of bypassing CMMC through waivers is no longer a viable strategy. The document states plainly that the DoD "does not anticipate approving waiver requests except under extraordinary circumstances and only when determined to be in the best interest of national security."
Let that sink in: extraordinary circumstances. This is the government's way of saying that your organization should not count on a waiver — because it's almost certainly not coming.
What This Means for Contractors
If your company works with the DoD or handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this policy change carries immediate and significant implications. The DoD is tightening enforcement around cybersecurity, and the message is clear: all contractors must meet the required CMMC level at the time of contract award.
This eliminates the wiggle room that once existed, where some organizations could delay implementing the necessary controls under the assumption that they might receive an exception or that enforcement would be lenient. That era is over.
The Clock Is Ticking
With CMMC 2.0 final rulemaking expected to roll out imminently, organizations in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) must act now to ensure they meet compliance requirements. CMMC 2.0 streamlines the model into three tiers (Foundational, Advanced, and Expert), but make no mistake — each tier requires demonstrated implementation of cybersecurity controls aligned with NIST SP 800-171 or NIST SP 800-172.
If you’ve been waiting for “later,” this is your wake-up call. Start your gap assessments. Engage with Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs). Implement technical controls. Train your workforce. Document everything.
Accelerate Compliance with Beskar’s VDI Solution
Achieving CMMC compliance doesn’t have to mean costly hardware upgrades, complex system overhauls, or months of infrastructure rework. That’s where Beskar comes in.
SABRkeyTM, our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution, is purpose-built to meet or exceed CMMC level 1 and level 2 requirements – designed to get organizations secure and audit-ready fast, without disrupting your existing IT environment. With SABRkey you get:
- Pre-confifififigured secure environments aligned with NIST SP 800-171 controls
- A secure enclave accessible anywhere on any device even remotely and on personal devices
- Continuous monitoring and logging for audit-readiness
- Zero-trust access controls and multi-factor authentication baked in
- Rapid onboarding — your team can be up and running in days, not months
- No need for expensive equipment replacements or intrusive assessments
Whether you’re a small subcontractor or a mid-sized prime, Beskar provides a plug-and-play path to compliance that simplifies your journey and gets you operational faster—so you can stay focused on your mission and win contracts with confidence.
Why This Matters Beyond Compliance
This isn’t just about checking a box or avoiding penalties. This is about national security. The DoD has made it abundantly clear that protecting sensitive defense information within the supply chain is a matter of strategic urgency. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and insider threats are increasingly sophisticated—and the DIB remains a high-value target. By meeting CMMC requirements, your company not only positions itself for continued eligibility in DoD contracts, but also strengthens its overall cyber resilience — a competitive differentiator in today’s security-conscious market.
Final Thoughts
The era of leniency is over. With this new DoD memo, the Department has drawn a hard line in the sand. Waivers will be the rare exception, not the rule. If your business is part of the defense ecosystem, CMMC compliance is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s an operational imperative.
Don’t wait for a contract to be out of reach before you take action. Let Beskar help you fast-track compliance, reduce risk, and win more defense business—without the headaches.
Ready to get compliant fast? Contact us to learn more about how SABRkey, Beskar’s secure VDI platform, can support your CMMC journey.
