NIST 800-171 guides.
Every PolicyCortex article on NIST 800-171 — practical, cited guidance for defense contractors navigating CMMC Level 2 and NIST 800-171 before the November 10, 2026 deadline.
- POST-01
The $507K LOGZONE Settlement: Your SPRS Score Is Now False Claims Act Evidence
On June 18, 2026, DOJ settled with a defense contractor whose self-reported SPRS score of 110 turned out to be -170. Here's what the LOGZONE case means for every contractor affirming a score before the November 2026 CMMC deadline.
Jul 1, 2026 9 MIN SPRS · False Claims Act · LOGZONE - POST-02
CMMC Level 2 Requirements in 2026: The Complete Guide for Defense Contractors
CMMC Phase 2 enforcement begins November 2026. This guide breaks down every requirement - 110 NIST 800-171 controls, C3PAO assessment process, timelines, costs, and what happens if you're not certified.
Mar 17, 2026 14 MIN CMMC · CMMC Level 2 · NIST 800-171 - POST-03
NIST 800-171 Cloud Compliance: The Practical Guide for AWS, Azure, and GCP
Implementing NIST 800-171 in cloud environments is fundamentally different from on-premises. This guide maps every control family to specific AWS, Azure, and GCP configurations - with the technical detail C3PAOs actually examine.
Mar 10, 2026 12 MIN NIST 800-171 · cloud compliance · AWS - POST-04
The CMMC Level 2 Self-Assessment Trap (And How to Avoid It)
Most defense contractors who submit optimistic SPRS scores don't realize they're creating legal exposure, not just compliance risk. Here's what C3PAOs actually examine - and why documentation rarely matches cloud reality.
Feb 18, 2026 9 MIN CMMC · self-assessment · NIST 800-171 - POST-05
Cloud Misconfiguration Statistics 2026: What's Actually Breaking Defense Contractor Environments
Data-driven analysis of cloud misconfiguration patterns across the Defense Industrial Base - top finding categories, specific failure modes, and what the numbers tell us about effective remediation.
Feb 10, 2026 8 MIN cloud misconfiguration statistics 2026 · CMMC assessment failures · cloud security findings - POST-06
NIST 800-171 Rev 3: Key Changes and How to Prepare
NIST SP 800-171 Revision 3 brings significant changes to the security requirements for protecting CUI. Here’s what changed and what it means for your compliance program.
Jan 14, 2026 NIST 800-171 · compliance · CUI - POST-07
CMMC 2.0: What Defense Contractors Need to Know
The CMMC program is officially active with assessments underway. Here’s a practical guide for contractors navigating the requirements.
Nov 20, 2025 CMMC · defense contractors · compliance
Connect a cloud. Watch it operate.
30-day pilot, $15K flat. Cleared founder runs the engagement personally.
