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How Continuous Compliance Strengthens Security for Government Contractors

How Continuous Compliance Strengthens Security for Government Contractors

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For government contractors, cybersecurity readiness is more than a requirement—it is a critical factor in protecting sensitive federal data, maintaining eligibility for contracts and reducing exposure to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Achieving and sustaining CMMC or FedRAMP certification is essential, but continuous compliance is what ensures organizations remain secure, audit-ready and resilient in the face of evolving risks.

What Is Continuous Compliance?

Continuous compliance is an ongoing process of monitoring, updating and improving security controls to ensure they always meet regulatory standards, such as CMMC for DoD contractors and FedRAMP for cloud service providers. Unlike a one-time certification, it emphasizes proactive management of policies, technology and employee practices into daily operations, allowing contractors to maintain a stronger, more consistent security posture.

Why Continuous Compliance Matters

Real-time monitoring and proactive security management enables organizations to detect cyber threats in real-time, drastically improving response times and allowing for quick containment before incidents escalate. Studies show that 35% of government contractors experienced publicly reported breaches, with 14% experiencing multiple incidents, highlighting the critical need for ongoing vigilance.

Beyond risk mitigation, continuous compliance improves audit preparedness for both CMMC and FedRAMP certifications. Regular monitoring enhances visibility into an organization’s IT environment, allowing teams to track network security, user activity and system logs. This visibility supports informed decision-making, enabling companies to proactively assess risks and improve security controls. It also eliminates the scramble to gather documentation or fix gaps just before an audit.  

From a financial perspective, proactive compliance is far more efficient than reactive fixes. On average, organizations face $14.82 million in fines, penalties and operational losses, compared to $5.47 million spent maintaining compliance.

Implementing Continuous Compliance

Government contractors can strengthen their cybersecurity posture through a combination of strategic practices:

  • Conducting regular assessments of policies, technical controls and procedures to maintain alignment with federal standards.
  • Providing ongoing training to ensure employees understand and adhere to CMMC and FedRAMP protocols.
  • Leveraging automation and monitoring tools to track control effectiveness, detect vulnerabilities and flag potential threats.
  • Integrating governance processes that align federal cybersecurity requirements with internal risk management strategies for a holistic, audit-ready posture.

These activities help ensure that CUI and other sensitive data remain protected across systems, processes and personnel.

Achieving Synergy Between CMMC & FedRAMP

Continuous compliance isn’t limited to a single framework. By integrating CMMC and FedRAMP requirements into daily operations, organizations create a unified security posture that supports multiple certifications and regulatory standards. This holistic approach simplifies audits, reduces duplication and ensures a stronger, more resilient security environment.

Next Steps

Continuous compliance is not a one-time effort but a long-term investment in security, contract readiness and organizational resilience. Frazier & Deeter works with government contractors to implement sustainable compliance programs that protect sensitive information, maintain audit readiness and reduce risk across the supply chain.

Contact our team to explore how Frazier & Deeter can help your organization maintain continuous compliance and strengthen its cybersecurity posture for long-term success.

Contributors

Andrew Hicks, Partner, Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC

Jessie Sandell, Director, Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC

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