SECURITY & COMPLIANCE OPERATIONS // FEDRAMP · CMMC · NIST · ISO 27001
// FIELD NOTES — SECURITY & COMPLIANCE

The vCISOx blog.

Hard-earned notes on FedRAMP, CMMC, NIST 800-53, ISO 27001 — and what it actually takes to pass an audit the first time.

Does your company actually need CMMC? A painting contractor's guide.

Most small businesses doing federal work have no idea whether CMMC applies to them. If you paint hangars, lay asphalt, or ship parts to an Air Force base — this is for you.

CMMC Level 1 self-attestation: what the 17 practices actually want from you

“Level 1 is just 17 requirements” is technically true and practically misleading. Here’s what passing-grade documentation actually looks like — and the four mistakes that get SPRS submissions rejected.

FedRAMP Moderate vs. High — which baseline actually fits your stack

The difference between Moderate and High isn't 156 more controls. It's a different authorization path, a different cost structure, and a different set of agency customers. Here's how to pick.

The five evidence mistakes that kill a CMMC Level 2 assessment

CMMC L2 doesn't fail on controls — it fails on evidence. Here are the five patterns we see most often that turn a ready environment into a 'not-yet' outcome.

Why small businesses don't need a $300K compliance team

A 20-person company chasing FedRAMP or CMMC doesn't need a full security org. It needs three things done right — and a path to keep them right without blowing up burn.