In this Q&A-style episode, we revisit the CMMC landscape following the implementation of the rule and the finalization of the Title 48 procurement rule. We break down what's changed, how CMMC requirements are phased into contracts and most importantly, the types of CMMC services available to help you take your next best step.

We dive into boundary identification and definition, gap analysis/assessment, documentation support, readiness assessments, and formal Level 2 C3PAO assessments, along with key questions you should ask service providers to avoid confusion and unnecessary costs.

Whether you're just starting out or preparing for assessment, this episode is designed to help you better navigate CMMC confidently and with clarity.

References

• Episode 11 – CMMC Rollout Q&A
• Phased Implementation of CMMC (each one year in length)
  • Phase 1: Level 1 and Level 2 self-assessments; possibility of Level 2 C3PAO
  • Phase 2: Level 2 C3PAO for initial contract award; possibility of Level 3 and Level 2 C3PAO for option year awards
  • Phase 3: Level 2 C3PAO for option year awards; Level 3
  • Phase 4: Level 3 and full implementation across all contracts
• Key questions to ask CMMC service providers
  • Does the assessment allow me to still leverage you as a C3PAO?
  • Does the assessment mimic a full formal assessment, including all evidence collection? This is important, as some only include interviews and live demonstrations, but do not include formal evidence gathering.
  • Can I use evidence collected in one of these preparatory assessments during my formal assessment? Generally, the answer is yes, but a good rule of thumb is that the evidence shouldn't be more than 90 days old during a formal assessment.
  • Do you offer a scoped preparatory assessment? Alternatively, you may want to only cover the controls for which a POA&M is not allowed. Ask if these are a possibility. They'll save you money, time, and give you the peace of mind you're looking for.
• Contact the Kratos CMMC team
• Cape Endeavors

In this episode, we take a practical look at how cyber insurance fits into the broader world of organizational risk. While we often talk about risk from a security and compliance perspective, insurance brings its own lens, which has become increasingly important as threats evolve, and claims grow more complex.

Today's guest, Mark Westcott, President & CEO of ACNB Insurance, breaks down the types of risks insurers care about most, how cyber policies are shaped and the key factors that influence underwriting decisions. We also explore how compliance frameworks and certifications play into premium pricing, risk scoring, and eligibility.

Learn about:

• The types of risks insurers prioritize—and why
• How insurers approach cyber insurance
• The connection between compliance standards, certifications and insurance rates
• Core benefits of cyber insurance beyond financial protection
• Whether regulations mandate cyber insurance and what drives adoption
• Key questions organizations should ask when evaluating cyber coverage

There's no shortage of cybersecurity tools, but most compromises don't happen because of technology failures, they happen because of a failure in organizational processes. In today's episode, we explore how penetration testing and red teaming expose the people, processes and operational weaknesses that technology alone cannot.

We discuss why security is ultimately a people problem, why organizations struggle to identify their own blind spots and how offensive testing reveals hidden vulnerabilities that technologies alone miss.

In today's broad ranging episode, we cover the following:

• Penetration testing vs. red team engagements
• What a real red team assessment looks like
• Attack vectors that still work surprisingly well
• Interesting "ins" from the real-world
• The ongoing role of social engineering
• Custom tooling vs. off-the-shelf frameworks
• Staying current with attacker techniques
• Finding business-logic flaws automated tools miss
• The hardest parts of offensive security work
• Common organizational mistakes that create risk
• Making findings actionable for engineering teams
• Skills the next generation of operators should build
• Soft skills that matter in offensive security
• How AI and cloud are changing modern red teaming
• Underestimated attack surfaces
• Whether offense will always outpace defense

In this episode, we dive into Zero Trust and how organizations can put it into practice. With the rise of cloud computing, traditional on-prem networking architectures began to fade. Yet the need for strong security never went away – it evolved. That's where Zero Trust comes in. At its core, Zero Trust isn't just about technology. It's about people, access, and trust – starting with the principle that no one is trusted by default.

Tune in to learn:

• Why Zero Trust is more of a mindset and not a technology or set of technologies
• The challenges organizations face when adopting it
• How Zero Trust technologies differ from traditional networking technologies

Reference material:

• NIST SP 800-207
• CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model

Waste, fraud, and abuse. These three words usually make headlines when government resources are misused on a massive scale. But the truth is, efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse extend far beyond the headline-grabbing cases.

In this episode, our experts explore how the government combats waste, fraud, and abuse, and why cybersecurity is now front and center in the conversation. Over the past 40 years, federal agencies have increasingly relied on contractors, which has in turn increased the need for enforcement mechanisms to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.

This episode goes over:

• The history and role of the False Claims Act
• How the Department of Justice's Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative is using it to tackle cybersecurity-related fraud
• The unique role of whistleblowers, who gain both protections and incentives to report fraud
• A real-world use case that illustrates how enforcement plays out
• Practical strategies organizations can adopt to reduce their False Claims Act risk

If your organization works with the federal government, this conversation is a must-listen.

Resources:

• DOJ's False Claims Act website
• The False Claim Act (law)

Email remains the most common form of non-verbal communication in organizations worldwide. It's where our professional and personal lives often collide – making it a prime target for malicious actors. While the junk mail of the digital age – spam – has mostly faded into the background, the threats haven't gone away. In fact, they've grown far more sophisticated.

Our experts explore how email threats evolved from basic to spam to today's complex phishing campaigns, spear phishing, whaling, and business email compromise. These attacks target people first – exploiting human behavior, namely our desire to trust, be helpful, and be someone who comes through in a time of need. You will learn about:

• The history of email threats
• How phishing attacks weaknesses in human psychology
• Real-world examples of phishing and spear phishing
• Best practices organizations can adopt to reduce risk

The cyber workforce is as diverse as the challenges it faces. From process designers and behavioral analysts to business strategists and communicators, cybersecurity thrives on a diversity of skill sets. It's important to understand what it takes to join the field, especially given the current shortage of cybersecurity professionals.

In today's episode, we're breaking down the misconception that cybersecurity is only for hackers and codebreakers. We'll dive into why soft skills like communications and organizational collaboration are just as essential as technical skills. We'll talk about how to break into the field. Spoiler alert: it's not as hard as you might think.

On this episode, we discuss:

• Why the cyber workforce is broader than you might think
• How non-technical skills are critical in a technical field
• The importance of soft skills
• Why cybersecurity needs process thinkers, analysts, and business minds, too

Today's guest is Mike Thompson. Mike brings a unique perspective to the table. Mike's experience spans recruitment, compliance sales, and cybersecurity assessments. His journey through the field offers great insight into the many ways professionals can contribute to cybersecurity without fitting the traditional mold.

Links:

• FedRAMP's R311 Requirements
• CMMC: Ecosystem Professionals > Assessing and Certification

Managing identities may be the most difficult and complex task facing any organization today. Often treated as an afterthought in system development, mishandling identity management can lead to serious consequences.

Because identities aren't just people — they're also systems and facilities, and managing them effectively requires more than just technology. From powerful service accounts to poorly defined access controls, identity management is the frontline of doing security right.

On this episode, we break down the following:

• Why identity is the most important security function
• The unique risks posed by non-human identities (service accounts)
• How to define and prioritize assets using a risk-based approach
• Practical strategies for managing identities and their privileges
• Why perfection isn't required

Today's guest is Terry McGraw. Terry is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army and now serves the CEO of Cape Endeavors, Inc, with over 20 years of providing expertise in cyber security threat analysis, security architectural design, network operations and incident response across both commercial and government sectors.

Links:

• Fido-2 Alliance
• Kerberoasting Attack
• Microsoft'S Enterprise Access Model