While most of the focus of CMMC is on primary contractors, subcontractors (especially small and mid-sized firms) play an equally critical role in ensuring information security across the supply chain. As such, they are increasingly in the spotlight, both in terms of compliance requirements and as focal points for supply chain risk.
However, their smaller size and limited resources often make them more vulnerable to cyber threats. Attackers have long targeted the weakest links in the supply chain, and subcontractors usually serve as such entry points. The DoD’s implementation of CMMC aims to address this by enforcing standardized cybersecurity practices at every tier of the supply chain.