Why “Good Enough” Security Will Cost You Contracts

“Good enough” security is becoming a costly assumption in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) as CMMC requirements expand and enforcement approaches. This solution brief distills findings from Keysight’s commissioned, independent primary research study on CMMC readiness, which combined qualitative interviews with cybersecurity and compliance leaders and a large-scale survey of decision-makers. The research reveals a clear disconnect between perceived preparedness and audit-ready compliance, signaling that many organizations may be overconfident in their current posture.

The brief outlines the most frequently cited barriers slowing progress toward CMMC readiness: requirements complexity, limited internal resources and expertise, and uncertainty about expectations, scope, and guidance. It also examines a common behavioral driver behind delays: “wait-and-see” compliance strategies that push action closer to enforcement, increasing the likelihood of rushed remediation, higher costs, and missed opportunities. Compounding the challenge, many organizations remain unclear about which CMMC level applies to them, or conflate CMMC requirements with related frameworks such as NIST, creating a false sense of security that often doesn’t hold up under external validation.

To help organizations respond, the brief emphasizes a shift from checklist-driven compliance to evidence-based assurance. It explains why continuously validating control effectiveness — supported by the right cybersecurity, network visibility, and test solutions — can reduce uncertainty, prioritize remediation, and produce audit-ready proof that stands up to scrutiny. The brief closes with next steps and directs readers to the full commissioned research white paper, The Power of Proof: Turning CMMC Compliance into Competitive Credibility, for deeper data, readiness insights, and practical guidance to accelerate compliance with confidence.