The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security mandate for contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Compliance is essential for eligibility in DoD contracts.
A major challenge in achieving CMMC compliance lies in securing legacy data-sharing methods, which require CUI data to leave the owner’s control. Traditional tools like email encryption and SFTP are insufficient as organizations shift toward digital workplace platforms.
A key innovation to support CMMC compliance is enabled by the ‘Zero Trust’ security model which governs the Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud (M365 GCC), an Impact Level 5 (IL5) platform authorized for storing and sharing CUI data. This certification is grounded in the Zero Trust principle of least privilege—granting users only the access necessary for their roles.
eSHARE’s Trusted Collaboration suite builds on M365 GCC’s native capabilities to help organizations meet and exceed CMMC requirements. It applies the principle of least privilege to link sharing, so data can be accessed and shared entirely within the secure M365 GCC environment. This eliminates the need for private networks, file transfers, or email encryption for collaboration—and doesn’t require the data owner to give their CUI away.
Key features of eSHARE’s Trusted Collaboration include:
➙ Data Lifecycle Control: Keeps all shared data within the M365 GCC tenant using “Trusted Shares.”
➙ Zero Trust Alignment: Enforces least-privilege access for both internal and external users.
➙ Contextual Enforcement: Applies access controls based on classification, DLP, and ABAC signals.
➙ Continuous Governance: Provides detailed forensic logs for auditing and compliance.
eSHARE supports nearly 90% of the NIST SP 800-171 requirements, making it a powerful tool for organizations pursuing CMMC 2.0 accreditation. It also holds FedRAMP Moderate Authorization, with plans for FedRAMP High, indicating its readiness to handle sensitive federal data.
The platform addresses all major CMMC compliance areas:
➙ Data classification and labeling via integration with Microsoft Purview.
➙ Access control through link-based sharing and elimination of guest accounts.
➙ System configuration monitoring and automatic remediation.
➙ Incident response with real-time alerts and SIEM integration.
➙ Audit logging with forensic-level detail.
➙ User training through in-context awareness prompts.
➙ Encryption by keeping data within encrypted M365 environments.
➙ External collaboration via secure, revocable Trusted Shares.
eSHARE’s Trusted Collaboration suite is a cost-effective solution for continuous CMMC compliance that leverages and enhances Microsoft 365 GCC’s link-sharing capabilities. It ensures that sensitive data remains protected throughout its lifecycle, aligning with modern cybersecurity standards and DoD expectations.
🔗 Achieve full CMMC Level 2 certification with GCC High & eSHARE
