CMMC 2.0: The Path to Compliance and the Critical Role of Executive Affirmations
The Department of Defense (DoD) has officially entered a new era of cybersecurity. With the finalization of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, the "honor system" for defense contractors is effectively over. For the 220,000+ companies in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), the focus has shifted from planning for CMMC to executing it.
As we move through the phased implementation that began on November 10, 2025, contractors must understand not just the technical controls, but the legal accountability that now sits at the heart of the program: the Annual Affirmation.













