The 5 Stages of Grief with CMMC

1. Denial — “This Doesn’t Apply to Us”

Typical Quotes:

• “We don’t work directly with the DoD, so we’re fine.”

• “Boeing wouldn’t cut us over cybersecurity.”

• “Our ERP’s in the cloud; that covers us, right?”

Reality Check:

• If you receive technical data, drawings, NC code, or TDPs from a prime, you’re in scope.

• The flow-down requirement means CMMC doesn’t care if you’re Tier 1 or Tier 12 — if CUI touches your shop, you need compliance.

• Denial often ends abruptly when a prime sends a Supplier Cybersecurity Questionnaire or threatens to reassign work.

---

2. Anger — “This Is Ridiculous”

Typical Quotes:

• “The government is out of control.”

• “We’ve been making these parts for 30 years without a problem.”

• “Why should we spend money on IT when we could buy another Haas?”

Reality Check:

• Attacks on defense suppliers are skyrocketing.

• CMMC isn’t just paperwork — it addresses real vulnerabilities like unpatched CAD stations, stolen NC programs, and ransomware on shop floors.

• Without compliance, primes legally can’t send you certain drawings or NC files.

What Helps:

• Break down CMMC into bite-sized milestones.

• Show leadership exactly what’s optional vs. non-negotiable.

• Reframe it: CMMC isn’t an IT tax — it’s the price of staying in the game.

---

3. Bargaining — “We’ll Find a Shortcut”

Typical Quotes:

• “Can’t we just sign a self-attestation form?”

• “If we delete the CUI after we print it, we don’t need security, right?”

• “What if we just buy a firewall and tell the auditor we’re secure?”

Reality Check:

• Level 1 does allow self-attestation, but Level 2 — which most machine shops fall under — requires third-party certification (C3PAO).

• Primes are demanding evidence — POA&Ms aren’t good enough anymore.

• Half-measures like throwing a firewall on the network won’t protect offline CNCs, CAD stations, and traveler workflows.

What Helps:

• Build a segmented CMMC enclave (like what you’re doing with Core Vault).

• Keep CNC machines offline and isolate them from IT networks.

• Use FIPS 140-2 USBs for NC transfers.

• Set a realistic roadmap instead of scrambling during audits.

---

4. Depression — “We Can’t Afford This”

Typical Quotes:

• “This is going to bankrupt us.”

• “We’ll lose our biggest customer.”

• “I’m too small for this — there’s no way we can compete.”

Reality Check:

• The costs are real:

  • Enclave builds: $20k–$100k+

  • Annual audits: $10k–$20k

  • Policies, training, logging — time sucks

• But not doing it is worse:

  • Loss of DoD contracts

  • Reduced eligibility for prime work

  • Increased cyber risk = higher insurance rates

What Helps:

• Start small: protect the minimum in-scope environment.

• Use outsourced enclaves — lower cost than trying to DIY.

• Prioritize high-value programs first; you don’t have to CMMC-secure your entire shop.

---

5. Acceptance — “Let’s Do This”

Typical Quotes:

• “Okay, we’ll build the enclave.”

• “Let’s train everyone on MFA and FIPS drives.”

• “We’re scheduling our C3PAO assessment next quarter.”

Reality Check:

• Acceptance = leverage.

• Shops that get compliant early become strategic suppliers:

  • Preferred by primes

  • Attract better-margin programs

  • Less competition, because many suppliers get cut

The Winning Formula:

• Use a phased roadmap

• Leverage specialized vendors (Core Vault, Overton, Exostar)

• Align policies, IT, and plant-floor workflows before auditors arrive