Understanding and achieving CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is vital for businesses working with the Department of Defense, and it's not as simple as saying, "Trust me, we're secure." In this episode, John Riley sits down with the passionate and insightful Valerie Cobb, a CMMC expert with Omnistruct, to dissect the complexities and necessities of CMMC. Valerie doesn't hold back, addressing common misconceptions like "we're too small" or "Congress will change it," with a direct, no-nonsense approach that matches her zeal for protecting critical data. Together, they dive into why CMMC is crucial now more than ever, contrasting it with the limitations of FedRAMP and highlighting the shift from self-attestation to third-party and DOD audits. Valerie emphasizes that compliance is not just a cost, but an opportunity for businesses to stand out, encouraging proactive steps towards certification and leveraging it as a strategic advantage in securing government contracts. If you're looking to understand CMMC and how it can transform your business's security posture and growth potential, this episode is a must-listen!