Posted by: Aubrey Felix on April 1, 2025 at 3:39 pm
When it comes to cybersecurity compliance, small and mid-sized businesses are often overwhelmed by acronyms and regulations—CIS, CMMC, NIST 800-171. What do they mean? Which one applies to your business? And more importantly, where do you start?
If you’ve ever asked those questions, you’re not alone. This article breaks down the three most common cybersecurity frameworks that affect small to medium-size businesses and helps you understand how to get on the path to compliance—without the jargon. Let’s look at a simplified explanation of some compliance frameworks.
Why Compliance Matters for SMBs
You don’t have to be a big corporation to worry about compliance anymore. If you handle sensitive data, work with government contracts, or are part of a supply chain for a larger organization, you’re likely subject to one or more of these standards.
Compliance used to be optional. Now it’s just part of doing business.
Failing to comply can result in:
- Lost business or disqualification from contracts
- Increased cyber risk and potential data breaches
- Legal and financial consequences, especially if you handle regulated data
Now, let’s break down what each framework means.
Compliance Frameworks Simplified: A Quick Breakdown
CIS: Center for Internet Security Controls
Who it’s for:
Any business looking to establish baseline cybersecurity practices.Many companies use CIS as a starting point for compliance with other frameworks like CMMC and NIST.
What it covers:
The CIS Controls are a set of prioritized cybersecurity best practices designed to help organizations reduce their risk. There are three implementation levels (IG1, IG2, IG3) based on organizational size and maturity.
Examples of CIS recommendations:
- Implementing multi-factor authentication
- Keeping software up to date
- Limiting access to sensitive systems
Why it matters:
CIS provides a great starting point for SMBs that want to get serious about cybersecurity without diving into heavy regulations.
CMMC: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
Who it’s for:
Businesses working with the U.S. Department of Defense or its contractors.
What it covers:
CMMC is a mandatory certification for any business in the DoD supply chain. It includes practices from NIST 800-171 and adds maturity levels to demonstrate cybersecurity readiness.
Key requirements include:
- Controlling access to systems and data
- Regularly monitoring and auditing system activity
- Training employees on cyber hygiene
Why it matters:
If you want to win or keep DoD contracts, CMMC is a must. Non-compliance can disqualify you from federal opportunities.
NIST 800-171: Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
Who it’s for:
Organizations that handle CUI, often in regulated industries or government contracts.
What it covers:
NIST 800-171 includes 14 control families like Access Control, Incident Response, and System & Information Integrity. It provides specific guidelines for securing systems that store or process sensitive federal data.
Key requirements include:
- Limiting system access to authorized users only
- Enforcing strong password and authentication policies
- Encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit
- Monitoring systems for unauthorized activity
- Creating and testing an incident response plan
- Performing regular security assessments and audits
Why it matters:
This framework is often the foundation of both CMMC and other compliance requirements. If you’re handling any form of government data, NIST 800-171 likely applies.
Choosing the Right Framework
Not every business needs to implement all three frameworks, but here’s a quick guide:
| Your Situation | Start With |
|---|---|
| General cybersecurity best practices | CIS |
| Working with DoD or government supply | CMMC + NIST 800-171 |
| Handling Controlled Unclassified Info | NIST 800-171 |
Need help determining where you fall? That’s where a managed service provider like TAZ Networks can help.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity compliance might sound complex, but it doesn’t have to be. Frameworks like CIS, CMMC, and NIST 800-171 give you a roadmap for protecting your business—and earning the trust of your clients, partners, and regulators.
Not sure where your business fits? TAZ Networks helps companies across Southeast Michigan assess their compliance requirements and implement practical solutions to stay secure and audit-ready. Contact us to get started.