If your organization handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for the Department of Defense (DoD), you’re likely familiar with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements. But there’s a critical component that often gets overlooked in compliance discussions: your communications infrastructure, specifically voice calling capabilities.
Understanding the CMMC Framework
CMMC was established to protect sensitive defense information throughout the defense industrial base (DIB) supply chain. The framework builds on NIST SP 800-171 requirements and mandates that contractors demonstrate specific cybersecurity practices and processes. For organizations handling CUI, achieving CMMC Level 2 or higher isn’t optional—it’s a prerequisite for bidding on and maintaining DoD contracts.
The Communication Security Gap
Many organizations focus on securing their documents, emails, and data storage while inadvertently creating a compliance gap in their voice communications. When your team discusses CUI over phone calls—whether it’s contract details, technical specifications, or project timelines—those conversations require the same level of protection as your documents and emails. Standard commercial calling solutions, even from reputable providers, typically don’t meet the stringent security requirements for handling CUI. This is where GCC High becomes critical.
Specific CMMC Requirements Addressed by GCC High Calling
GCC High calling capabilities directly support multiple CMMC practice domains:
Access Control (AC): GCC High provides robust identity and access management, ensuring only authorized users can initiate or receive calls involving CUI discussions.
Audit and Accountability (AU): Comprehensive logging and monitoring of calling activities create the audit trail required for CMMC compliance, tracking who communicated, when, and through which channels.
System and Communications Protection (SC): The isolated infrastructure and encryption capabilities fulfill requirements for protecting communications containing CUI.
System and Information Integrity (SI): Intuity UC’s GCC High security monitoring and threat detection help identify and respond to potential security incidents affecting your communications infrastructure by resolving security breaches before negative impact.
What is the Risk of Non-Compliant Voice?
Using non-compliant calling solutions creates several risks:
- Contract Loss: DoD contracts increasingly require CMMC certification before contract award. Non-compliant communications infrastructure can prevent certification.
- Data Breaches: Inadequately protected voice communications can lead to CUI exposure, triggering breach notification requirements and potential penalties.
- Audit Failures: During CMMC assessments, auditors examine your entire technology stack. Commercial calling solutions typically can’t demonstrate the necessary security controls.
- Supply Chain Removal: Prime contractors are increasingly requiring their subcontractors to demonstrate CMMC compliance, including communications infrastructure.
Implementation Considerations
Transitioning to GCC High calling requires planning:
- Assessment: Evaluate your current calling infrastructure and identify where CUI is discussed over voice communications.
- Migration Planning: Develop a phased approach to migrate users to GCC High calling, prioritizing teams that regularly handle CUI.
- Training: Ensure your team understands when to use GCC High calling versus standard commercial solutions for non-CUI communications.
- Documentation: Maintain clear policies and procedures around the use of GCC High calling for CMMC compliance documentation.
- Integration: Consider how GCC High calling integrates with your other Microsoft 365 GCC High services for a unified, compliant collaboration environment.
Beyond Compliance: Operational Benefits
While compliance drives the initial need for GCC High calling, organizations often discover operational benefits:
- Unified Platform: Integrating calling with Teams GCC High creates a seamless collaboration environment.
- Enhanced Security Posture: The security improvements benefit all communications, not just those involving CUI.
- Competitive Advantage: CMMC certification, supported by compliant infrastructure, positions you favorably for DoD contracts.
- Future-Proofing: As CMMC requirements evolve and expand, having GCC High infrastructure in place provides flexibility.
Conclusion
CMMC compliance isn’t just about protecting documents and emails—it’s about securing every channel through which CUI flows in your organization. Voice communications represent a significant portion of daily business activities and leaving them unprotected creates a critical vulnerability in your compliance posture.
Intuity UC’s GCC High calling provides the secure, compliant infrastructure needed to protect these communications while meeting CMMC requirements. For organizations serious about winning and maintaining DoD contracts, implementing GCC High calling isn’t just important—it’s essential.
As CMMC assessments become mandatory across the defense industrial base, the question isn’t whether to implement GCC High calling, but how quickly you can deploy it to ensure your organization remains competitive and compliant in the defense marketplace.
Is your organization prepared for CMMC assessment? Evaluating your communications infrastructure is a critical step in achieving and maintaining compliance. To discuss your company’s unique challenges related to GCC High conferencing and calling, please contact Intuity UC at 800 811-1086 or email sales@intuityuc.com.