CMMC May Be Paused. Cyber Risk Isn't.

 The decision to suspend CMMC Phase II is going to be celebrated by a lot of companies across the Defense Industrial Base, and honestly, I understand why. The Pentagon's stated rationale was that the current approach created significant compliance costs and administrative burdens, particularly for small and non-traditional businesses.

But before everyone starts popping champagne, it's worth taking a step back and asking a bigger question:

If CMMC was intended to help secure the defense supply chain, what replaces it?

I've spent most of my career helping organizations navigate technology, cybersecurity, risk, and compliance. One thing I've learned is that compliance is often imperfect, but that doesn't mean the underlying problem disappears.

The threat landscape hasn't gotten easier.

* Nation-state actors are still targeting American innovation.
* Sensitive defense information still needs protection.
* The DOD supply chain remains a prime target.

What I think the Department is really saying is that the burden became too heavy relative to the intended outcome.

That's a fair debate to have.

* More innovation is good.
* Lower barriers to entry are good.
* Making it easier for small businesses to support our warfighters is good.

But...
* Less paperwork does not equal less risk.
* Less regulation does not equal less responsibility.
* Less compliance does not mean cybersecurity becomes optional.

The organizations that win in the future won't be the ones that do the bare minimum. They'll be the companies that recognize cybersecurity as a business requirement, not just a contract requirement.

My view is simple:
* Remove bureaucracy where it doesn't create value.
* Keep security standards that actually protect critical information.
* Focus on measurable outcomes instead of compliance theater.

The DIB needs both innovation and security. This shouldn't be an either/or conversation.

The next version of CMMC, or whatever follows it, needs to strike that balance. Because while slowing down innovation is a problem, weakening the defense supply chain is a much bigger one.