Perspective from practitioners who have done the work.
Analysis, guidance, and plain-language explanations on compliance, cybersecurity, and operational excellence from the Ikaan team.
CMMC Phase 2 Is Paused: What Defense Contractors Still Need to Do
DoD suspended CMMC Phase 2 in July 2026 pending a program review. Your Phase 1 self-assessment, SPRS reporting, and DFARS 7012 obligations did not pause with it. Here is what still applies, what changed, and why the contractors who keep preparing now will be ahead when a finalized framework lands.
What Defense Contractors Need to Do Before November 10, 2026
CMMC Phase 2 begins November 10, 2026. For thousands of defense contractors and subcontractors, that date is not a suggestion. It is a contract requirement. Here is what you need to have in place, in the order you need to do it, with enough time to actually get it done.
Why Your C3PAO Cannot Help You Prepare for CMMC
Most defense contractors do not know this: C3PAOs are legally prohibited from providing consulting or remediation services to organizations they assess. That separation exists by design. It also means that finding a certified assessor is only half of what you need. Here is what the other half looks like.
The Hidden Cost of Separating IT Management from Cybersecurity
Most organizations manage IT and cybersecurity through separate vendors. It feels like specialization. In practice it creates accountability gaps, compliance blind spots, and a security posture that nobody fully owns. Here is what that gap actually costs and what an integrated program looks like instead.
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