Web Systems for Defense Contractors: Navigating CMMC and DoD Requirements

Defense contractors face some of the most stringent cybersecurity requirements in any industry. Here's what CMMC compliance means for your web and backend systems — and how to prepare.

If your organization handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) as part of Department of Defense contracts, your web and backend systems are subject to some of the most rigorous cybersecurity requirements in any industry. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework, combined with NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS requirements, creates a comprehensive set of technical and procedural controls that must be implemented and verified before you can bid on — or retain — DoD contracts.

Understanding CMMC 2.0

CMMC 2.0, finalized in 2024, establishes three maturity levels. Level 1 (Foundational) requires 17 basic cybersecurity practices aligned with FAR 52.204-21 and is self-assessed annually. Level 2 (Advanced) requires 110 practices aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and requires third-party assessment (C3PAO) for most contracts involving CUI. Level 3 (Expert) requires 110+ practices based on NIST SP 800-172 and is assessed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) — reserved for the most sensitive programs. The vast majority of defense contractors handling CUI will need to achieve Level 2 certification.

What This Means for Your Web Systems

Your web and backend systems are a primary attack surface and a primary compliance concern. Every system that touches, stores, processes, or transmits CUI must meet the applicable CMMC requirements. This includes your company website if it has any authenticated portals, your project management systems, your document management systems, your communication platforms, and any custom applications used in contract performance.

Critical Technical Controls for Web Systems

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing systems that process CUI — no exceptions
• Role-based access control (RBAC) with documented access authorization procedures
• Comprehensive audit logging with tamper-evident log storage and regular review
• Encryption of CUI at rest (AES-256 minimum) and in transit (TLS 1.2 or higher)
• Vulnerability scanning and patch management with documented remediation timelines
• Incident response plan with defined roles, detection procedures, and reporting requirements
• Data loss prevention (DLP) controls to prevent unauthorized exfiltration of CUI
• Supply chain risk management for all software components and third-party services

Choosing a Compliant Hosting Environment

Not all cloud hosting environments are suitable for CUI. Your hosting provider must meet FedRAMP authorization requirements or provide equivalent security controls. AWS GovCloud, Microsoft Azure Government, and Google Cloud's assured workloads are the primary options for defense contractors. These environments provide the physical security, logical separation, audit capabilities, and contractual commitments (including ITAR compliance where required) that standard commercial cloud environments do not.

"CMMC compliance is not a checkbox exercise — it's a genuine security program. Organizations that treat it as paperwork rather than a real security improvement will struggle both with the assessment and with actual security incidents."

Our Defense Contractor Services

Henry Blount Web Services has experience designing and building web and backend systems for organizations operating under DoD cybersecurity requirements. We understand the technical controls required by NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC, the documentation requirements for SSPs and POA&Ms, and the architectural decisions that make compliance achievable and maintainable.