CYBERSECURITY MATURITY MODEL CERTIFICATION: INTRODUCTION
Obtaining a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification conveys readiness and capability in cybersecurity. As such, individuals who obtain this certification are often viewed as far more trustworthy and qualified when it comes to certain roles.
The certification draws from a large collection of different frameworks, inputs, and processes in order to provide a comprehensive education. The end result for the individual obtaining the certification is developing well-rounded skills and knowledge of major cybersecurity practices.
Contractors who work directly with the Department of Defense can benefit from receiving the certification. Additionally, however, subcontractors who fulfill or execute Department of Defense contracts can also benefit.
By the year 2026, any contractor or subcontractor that works with or for the Department of Defense will require at least some level of certification. So, it’s in your best interest to pursue this obligation now if this situation applies to you.
As time goes on, contractors who have higher levels of certification will likely be a much more competitive force within their industry. This becomes increasingly true when working on projects or contracts that handle crucial information that must be safeguarded at all costs.
In order to better understand the benefits of receiving a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, you will need to have a strong grasp of the framework it uses. This will allow you to have a better idea of what you can expect.
Let’s take a brief look at what you should know.
THE COMPONENTS
In order to progress within your certification level, you will need to complete the required assessments for each component. So, there is a form of linear progression implemented in this certification, something that allows users to gauge their progress and development.
This is particularly important to note for those who only require a low level of certification. Although there are plenty of benefits associated with achieving additional certification levels, you will save the most time by completing only what is necessary.
LEVELS AND DOMAINS
There are 17 primary domains within the certification. These include core topics like recovery, physical protection, access control, etc.
Within these domains, there are different levels of practice. It’s important to note that not every domain spans all five certification levels. Personnel security, for example, only encompasses two levels and contains only two practices
Access control, on the other hand, spans all five levels and contains 26 practices. So, certain categories are emphasized more than others in relation to how crucial they are while on the job.
To have a better view of the certification as a whole, you can consider the following information:
- There are 17 total domains
- There are 171 total practice
- There are five total levels of certification
Keep this in mind while moving forward in order to have a solid idea of what you can expect during the process. This will ensure that you are fully mentally prepared in order to handle the above obligations.
Afterward, you can reap the rewards for years to come and avoid complications that you may have otherwise encountered.
A CYBERSECURITY MATURITY MODEL CERTIFICATION WILL BE GAME-CHANGING
So, be sure to use the above information to your advantage. Once you obtain your Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, you’ll find that plenty of doors begin to open for you.
Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.
ISO certification follows the same process, regardless of the ISO standard you are seeking:
- Establish, implement and verify your ISO management system
- Stage 1 audit – Documentation Review
- Stage 2 audit – Full system audit
- Closure of any findings
- Certification!
The standards that best suit your company vary by the industry you are in. In order to identify the standards that will provide your company with the greatest benefits, we recommend the following:
- Talk to your customers – many of them may require certain ISO standards.
- Evaluate your companies risks – see where your companies great liabilities are what needs to be controlled (e.g. quality, environmental aspects, health & safety hazards, IT security, etc.).
- Be proactive and identify new business opportunities – evaluate new areas / industries you want to grow your business. Often times, these new industries may require some sort of certification in order to enter. Certification takes time, so being proactive and having the certifications before bidding on projects can put you ahead of your competition.
The time to become ISO certified really depends on a few different factors:
- The resources you have available to support the ISO process
- Your own internal timeframe that you need / want to be certified by
- The standard’s requirement for how much evidence you need to support certification
Certification requires you to show through objective evidence that you have an effective ISO management system in place. In order to do this, you need to show that you have sufficient evidence available to support this claim. At a minimum, most standards will require 3 months of evidence of implementing your management system in order to be certified.
Some standards, such as IATF 16949, may require a minimum of one year of evidence to support certification.
The cost for certification can vary greatly from one company to another. There are typically several factors that go into the costs for certification:
- Certification body fees
- Certification body audit day rates
- Auditor travel costs
- Standard license fees (e.g. R2, RIOS, eStewards license fees)
- Consulting Fees
Audit time and consulting time is typically based on the following factors:
- Number of employees
- Number of processes and the risks associated with those processes
- Number of locations
We have the experience to help you navigate the certification body costs and possible discounts they can offer.
You can Request a Quote here or get an Instant Quote here
ISO certification shows your customers that you follow industry best practices and that your business is well structured and ready for growth.
Each ISO standard has its own benefits, for example:
- ISO 9001 – Ensures you provide your customers with a quality product or service
- ISO 27001 – Protects your information, data and reputation
- ISO 14001 – Reduces your environmental impact
- ISO 45001 – Protects your workers
- Responsible Recycling (R2) – ensures responsible management of used electronics
Common benefits across all ISO standard include:
- Increased efficiency
- Reduced costs
- Improved customer satisfaction
- More engaged employees
- Reduced risks
- Reduced insurance premiums
- Helps with project bidding
By achieving and maintaining an ISO certification, you are showing your company’s commitment to achieving your objectives, improving your business and increasing the credibility and customer confidence in your product or service.
Yes. We have been providing remote auditing and consulting services for years. We have found remote auditing and consulting to be just as effective as on-site. We use a variety of tools to ensure we are thorough in our remote services, while saving you time and money.
The great thing about working with Glacier consulting is that you don’t need anything in place to get started. We will work with you ever step of the way to ensure you have everything you need to get certified.
Most companies have far more in place than they realize. Just because it may not be documented, doesn’t mean you don’t have processes in place. We will work with your team to improve, streamline and formalize these processes.
One of the most common questions we get is how much time and effort does it take to get and maintain certification. The bulk of the effort should be at the beginning to get your management system established and implemented. To do this, we take what you already do and formalize it to meet the standard requirements. There may be some minor tweaking done, but this typically only improves and streamlines your process.
Once your ISO management system is in place, maintaining it should be as easy as breathing because it should become part of your culture and everyday operations. At the end of the day, you shouldn’t think of it as your ISO system, you should think of it as simply your way of operating your company.
We work with countless ISO standards. We’ve only listed the most common ISO standards typically sought after. We have a diverse team with tremendous knowledge in many of the ISO standards. Contact us and let us know what standard you are interested in. If we don’t offer that service, we can find you someone who can.
We can tailor a service specific to your needs to help you along your ISO journey. We can provide basic guidance to full “White Glove” support. If it’s business or ISO related, we’ve got you covered. A few of our services include:
- General ISO Consulting
- Documentation Prep
- Training
- Auditing
- Maintenance
Contact us with any questions you have or for services not listed here.
