Frequently Asked Questions

MDR provides 24/7 security monitoring, threat hunting, and incident response as a managed service for organizations lacking internal security expertise. It's essential for businesses that need enterprise-grade security but can't afford full-time security teams. Our managed IT service delivers expert security operations without the overhead.

Our MXDR service identifies threats in 4 minutes on average with 96% more potential threats detected in half the time compared to traditional solutions. We combine Zero Trust architecture with military-grade tools used by defense contractors, delivering enterprise security to organizations of all sizes.

Our MXDR platform uses behavioral analysis and cross-domain correlation to reduce false positives by up to 85%, allowing security teams to focus on genuine threats. Advanced automation and intelligent prioritization eliminate alert fatigue while ensuring critical threats receive immediate attention.

MDR eliminates the need for security analysts, threat hunters, incident responders, and security engineers while providing access to specialized expertise. Our team's 10+ years of experience and trust from 700+ companies ensures expert-level security operations without internal hiring challenges.

MXDR platforms provide extensive APIs and connectors for integrating existing security tools, SIEM systems, and infrastructure into a unified platform. Our managed IT solution integrates smoothly with your existing technology stack ensuring minimal disruption while enhancing overall security posture.

MDR services provide comprehensive audit trails, automated compliance reporting, and policy enforcement for multiple frameworks including CMMC, NIST, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Our MDR platform simplifies regulatory compliance through continuous monitoring and documentation.

Our MDR service provides continuous monitoring with sub-5-minute threat detection and 15-minute automated response capabilities. Advanced automation and 24/7 expert analysis ensure threats are contained before they can spread or cause significant damage.

Building an internal SOC requires $2-5 million annually for staffing, tools, and infrastructure, while MDR services provide equivalent capabilities at 60-80% lower cost. Our managed approach eliminates hiring challenges, training costs, and tool complexity.

XDR deployment typically requires 30-90 days depending on environment complexity and existing tool integration requirements. Cloud-native XDR platforms minimize infrastructure requirements while automated deployment tools accelerate implementation. Ongoing management requires minimal resources due to automation and integrated workflows. Our managed XDR service handles complete deployment and ongoing operations.

XDR platforms provide comprehensive audit trails, automated compliance reporting, and policy enforcement across all monitored security domains. Unified logging and investigation capabilities simplify compliance documentation while continuous monitoring ensures ongoing regulatory adherence. Our XDR solution addresses multiple compliance frameworks including CMMC, NIST, and industry-specific regulations.

XDR extends beyond endpoint-only monitoring to include network traffic, cloud workloads, email security, and identity systems in a unified platform. While EDR focuses solely on endpoint devices, XDR correlates data across your entire security infrastructure to detect cross-domain attacks and lateral movement. Our XDR platform provides complete visibility across all security layers.

Ridge IT delivers specialized advantages for defense contractors through certified government expertise that most MSSPs can't match. As a CMMC Registered Provider Organization, we're authorized by the Accreditation Body to provide official compliance consulting beyond typical point-in-time assessments. Our team maintains CMMC compliance ourselves for government clients, providing real-world implementation experience since supporting DIB customers for 5+ years. Our military-grade Zero Trust architecture (700+ deployments) automatically satisfies key CMMC controls while our intelligent enclave approach reduces per-user compliance costs from $60 to $20. We leverage DoD-approved technology platforms for audit familiarity, provide automated evidence documentation that CMMC auditors require, and deliver 15-minute response times with 98.7% threat prevention. Unlike general MSSPs adapting to government requirements, Ridge IT was purpose-built for mission-critical federal security from inception, this makes us the #1 MSSP for DoD.

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) continuously monitors endpoint activities, creating detailed behavioral baselines and identifying anomalies that indicate sophisticated attacks. Our platform correlates endpoint data with network intelligence, providing comprehensive visibility into attack patterns and enabling proactive threat hunting. Advanced machine learning algorithms detect zero-day threats and living-off-the-land attacks that bypass traditional security tools. Our cross-platform protection delivers enterprise-grade EDR capabilities.

IoT devices and non-traditional endpoints require specialized security approaches including network segmentation, device discovery and classification, and behavioral monitoring for devices that cannot run traditional security agents. Our platform provides comprehensive visibility into all connected devices, implements appropriate access controls, and monitors for suspicious activity across your entire IoT infrastructure. Our managed IT services extend protection to every connected device in your environment.

Comprehensive endpoint security addresses multiple compliance frameworks including CMMC, NIST, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOX requirements. Our platform provides automated compliance reporting, audit trail documentation, and policy enforcement capabilities that simplify regulatory compliance. Endpoint protection is particularly critical for organizations handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries. Our cybersecurity solutions ensure your endpoints meet all regulatory requirements.

Remote and hybrid workforces require comprehensive endpoint protection that works regardless of network location, including VPN-independent security, cloud-based management, and protection for personal devices accessing corporate resources. We provide consistent security policies across all devices, secure remote access capabilities, and compliance monitoring for distributed teams. Our managed IT platform secures distributed workforces without compromising productivity.

Our endpoint security platform delivers sub-minute threat detection with automated containment capabilities that isolate compromised devices within 15 minutes. Advanced behavioral analytics identify suspicious activity before traditional signature-based tools, while automated response workflows prevent lateral movement across your network. Real-time monitoring ensures threats are contained before they can spread or cause significant damage. Our cybersecurity team provides 24/7 monitoring and incident response.

Our endpoint security platform leverages the same detection technologies trusted by defense contractors and government agencies, including advanced behavioral analytics, zero-trust verification, and automated threat response. We implement NIST security frameworks, maintain security clearances, and deploy enterprise-grade tools that meet the most stringent security requirements. Our cross-platform protection extends military-grade security across your entire digital infrastructure, including messaging and social media.

Endpoints are any devices that connect to your network including laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, servers, and IoT devices. Each endpoint represents a potential entry point for cyber threats, making comprehensive endpoint protection critical for organizational security. Modern workforces using remote devices and BYOD policies dramatically expand your endpoint attack surface. Our cybersecurity architecture secures all endpoint types with military-grade protection.

Emerging threats include sophisticated prompt injection attacks designed to extract sensitive data, AI model poisoning attempts through malicious training data, and social engineering attacks specifically targeting AI interactions. Threat actors are developing Microsoft AI-specific attack techniques including conversation hijacking, context manipulation, and automated data exfiltration through AI responses. We detect and prevent these sophisticated AI-targeted attacks.

Effective M365 Copilot tuning involves configuring content filters, implementing context-aware security policies, and establishing user-specific permission boundaries. Organizations should customize agent responses to avoid sensitive information exposure, implement prompt injection detection, and create secure interaction patterns. We tune Copilot securely and optimize ongoing protection.

AI Agents introduce compliance complexities around data residency, audit trail requirements, and regulatory approval processes. The M365 Copilot API can create data flows that violate industry regulations if not properly configured. Healthcare, financial, and defense organizations face particular compliance challenges with agent-generated content and automated decision-making processes. We address regulatory requirements for AI implementations.

Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI Agents create new security risks. The attack vectors include data leakage through prompt injection, oversharing of sensitive information in AI responses, and unauthorized access to organizational data through compromised AI interactions. The Researcher and Analyst agents can inadvertently expose confidential business intelligence if not properly secured. We secure Copilot and identify these vulnerabilities before they become breaches.

The primary data leakage risks include employees accidentally sharing sensitive information in prompts, Copilot responses containing confidential data from connected systems, and unauthorized data access through poorly configured agent permissions. Code Interpreter functions can expose proprietary algorithms, while CUA (Conversational User Authentication) bypasses may grant excessive access. We prevent data loss across all AI interactions.

24/7 network monitoring, automated patch management, backup and disaster recovery, plus security operations center oversight. Cloud infrastructure management and compliance monitoring become critical beyond 50 employees. Managed IT services scale with business growth automatically.

Enable device encryption, use Zero Trust access controls that verify every request, and avoid public Wi-Fi for business activities. Configure remote wipe capabilities and require multi-factor authentication for all business apps. This approach protects company data with granular access controls regardless of location. We believe in working anywhere, without limits.

SASE platforms include comprehensive Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) capabilities that provide visibility, compliance, and threat protection for cloud applications and services. The integrated CASB monitors user activities, enforces data protection policies, and detects anomalous behavior across all sanctioned and shadow IT applications. Modern SASE solutions now incorporate Gen AI engines that enhance threat detection through behavioral analytics, automated policy recommendations, and intelligent response capabilities that adapt to emerging threats in real-time. Our managed IT platform leverages these advanced capabilities to provide military-grade protection for your cloud environment.

SASE dramatically improves network resilience through its distributed cloud architecture that eliminates single points of failure common in traditional hub-and-spoke networks. The platform provides automatic failover capabilities, global load balancing, and multiple connection paths that ensure continuous connectivity even during outages or performance degradation. This resilience extends to security functions, maintaining protection even if individual components experience issues, while providing consistent performance regardless of user location or network conditions. Our Zero Trust implementation leverages SASE's distributed architecture for maximum uptime.

Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) within SASE platforms provides the ultimate protection by executing web content in isolated cloud environments, completely separated from user devices and corporate networks. This approach prevents malware, zero-day exploits, and advanced persistent threats from reaching endpoints by containing all web-based risks in disposable virtual browsers. When blocking threats becomes critical, RBI ensures that even if malicious content is encountered, it cannot impact the user's device or gain access to corporate resources. Our managed IT security services implement RBI as part of a comprehensive security strategy.

SASE transforms Web SaaS and Private Application access by providing direct, secure connectivity without routing traffic through traditional data centers or VPNs. The platform delivers consistent security policies for both sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS applications while providing seamless access to private applications through Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). Users experience improved performance with reduced latency while IT maintains granular control over application access, data sharing, and user activities. Our cloud infrastructure ensures your applications are properly secured within the SASE framework.

SSE (Security Service Edge) represents the security component of SASE that delivers cloud-native security services including Secure Web Gateway, CASB, and Zero Trust Network Access from a unified platform. Unlike traditional security that relies on network perimeters and appliances, SSE provides identity-centric security that follows users and devices anywhere they connect. The architecture eliminates security gaps by applying consistent policies whether users access resources from the office, home, or remote locations. Our Zero Trust architecture implementation leverages SSE capabilities to provide comprehensive protection.

SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a cloud-delivered security and networking architecture that merges SD-WAN with comprehensive security functions like Secure Web Gateway, CASB, and Zero Trust Network Access into a single platform. Unlike traditional approaches that route traffic through data centers, SASE provides direct cloud connectivity with consistent security policies across all users and locations. This modern cloud network architecture eliminates the complexity of managing multiple point solutions while delivering enhanced performance and security. Our cloud infrastructure migration services can help you transition to a SASE-enabled architecture.

SASE platforms provide comprehensive Data Protection through integrated Data Loss Prevention (DLP) that monitors and controls sensitive data across all communication channels and cloud applications. Unlike traditional DLP solutions that require separate deployments, SASE delivers unified data protection policies that follow users regardless of location or device. The platform automatically identifies, classifies, and protects sensitive information like PII, financial data, and intellectual property through real-time scanning and policy enforcement. Our managed IT services ensure your SASE DLP policies are properly configured and continuously monitored.

Unlike standard lift-and-shift approaches that merely relocate problems, our CloudSmart migration transforms your infrastructure during the transition. We use parallel environments with automated synchronization to maintain business operations while migrating, reducing typical downtime from days to minutes. This methodology enables complex legacy system migration to AWS with minimal disruption while simultaneously optimizing for cloud-native performance and cost efficiency.

Our Zero Trust implementation leverages AWS-native security services including VPC Lattice for service-to-service connectivity, AWS Verified Access for identity-centric authentication, AWS Verified Permissions for fine-grained authorization, API Gateway for request verification, Amazon GuardDuty for threat detection, and AWS CloudWatch for anomaly detection. This integrated approach ensures continuous verification across your entire AWS infrastructure while minimizing management overhead.

Our phased implementation starts by protecting your most critical AWS assets first, using automated deployment tools to extend protection incrementally while maintaining business continuity. We begin by implementing identity verification, then add device posture assessment, behavior monitoring, and micro-segmentation progressively. This measured approach allows you to strengthen your AWS security posture without disrupting essential workflows or sacrificing productivity.

We implement AWS Zero Trust through a layered approach that combines network segmentation, identity-based access controls, and continuous monitoring. Our methodology leverages Amazon VPC configurations for micro-segmentation, implements AWS IAM with least privilege principles, deploys AWS Verified Access for identity-centric controls, and utilizes AWS Security Hub and GuardDuty for continuous monitoring and threat detection. This comprehensive approach reduces your attack surface by 90% while maintaining operational efficiency.

Zero Trust Architecture is a security model that eliminates implicit trust based on network location, requiring verification for every access request regardless of source. In AWS environments, this means implementing continuous authentication and authorization across EC2 instances, S3 buckets, and VPC configurations. Our approach integrates native AWS security services like VPC Lattice, Verified Access, and IAM with identity verification controls to ensure only authorized users and systems can access your cloud resources.

Our parallel environment approach creates a synchronized copy of your production environment in AWS while your existing systems continue to run. We use automated data synchronization to maintain consistency, allowing for real-time testing before cutover. This significantly reduces risk and limits downtime to minutes instead of hours or days, enabling businesses to migrate even mission-critical applications with minimal operational impact.

Our migration methodology includes right-sizing Amazon EC2 instances, implementing intelligent S3 storage tiering, designing VPC architecture for future growth, configuring multi-region deployments when needed, and embedding security controls during migration rather than after. We focus on creating an AWS-optimized architecture that leverages cloud-native capabilities from day one, ensuring you gain all the benefits of AWS's hyper-scale environment immediately.

We confidently migrate legacy systems that others consider "unmovable" through our CloudSmart methodology. We employ advanced containerization techniques to migrate applications without requiring rewrites, database synchronization to ensure zero data loss, and infrastructure optimization to reduce costs. Our parallel environment approach allows us to test thoroughly before cutover, ensuring your legacy applications not only work in AWS but perform better than they did on-premises.

As AI-powered attacks evolve, you need to ensure your cybersecurity vendors are prepared.

Ask them:

1. Are you using distributed AI or still relying on a single large model?
2. How do you detect attacks across multiple communication channels?
3. Do you analyze code execution when web pages load in browsers?
4. Can you detect unusual message frequency patterns like subscription bombing?
5. How do you handle encrypted cloud app abuse through services like DocuSign?

Our Zero Trust Architecture, with AI threat detection, protects even the most complex environments against emerging AI-powered threats.

With a 245% surge in LinkedIn-based attacks, organizations need dedicated protection strategies. Start by creating clear policies for external communication, implement security awareness training focusing on social media threats, deploy solutions that can monitor message patterns across platforms, and implement browser-level protection that analyzes code execution when pages load. Teams implementing our managed security infrastructure have reported significantly improved detection rates for LinkedIn-based attacks through our multi-channel threat monitoring capabilities.

AI-generated voice technology has reached concerning levels of realism. Modern voice synthesis can create natural-sounding speech that mimics human conversation patterns, complete with natural pauses, filler words, and authentic intonation. These voices are increasingly capable of deceiving people on phone calls, particularly in high-pressure scenarios when combined with other social engineering tactics. Our clients implementing military-grade security services have found that cross-channel behavior analysis significantly improves their ability to identify these sophisticated voice-based social engineering attempts.

Traditional security tools focus on specific channels rather than analyzing the complete attack chain across multiple platforms. When attackers start with email but shift to Teams, SMS, or phone calls, your siloed security solutions miss the complete picture. Additionally, most tools don't analyze code execution when web pages load, leaving your browser—essentially an operating system—vulnerable to sophisticated JavaScript attacks. Organizations deploying The ONE Platform have consistently reported improved detection rates for these multi-channel attacks, as it provides integrated protection that follows attackers across their entire kill chain.

Attackers have developed sophisticated techniques to evade standard email security, including shifting between communication channels (email to SMS to phone), hiding malicious content in legitimate cloud apps like DocuSign, using multiple redirectors to shake off security tools, implementing "Am I Human" verification pages that block security scanners, and embedding text inside images to bypass text analysis. Our clients have found that implementing Zero Trust Architecture principles significantly improves their ability to detect these cross-channel attacks by verifying every access request regardless of which communication platform it originates from.

Black Basta has developed a sophisticated attack method using AI to sign victims up for hundreds of legitimate newsletter subscriptions, overwhelming their inbox for 30-90 minutes. This creates confusion and frustration, after which attackers contact targets through Teams messages or spoofed phone calls, impersonating IT support and offering to "fix" the email problem. Once victims download the supposed fix, their systems become compromised with ransomware. Organizations that trust us as their MSSP benefit from advanced frequency pattern analysis that detects and blocks these psychological smokescreens before they can establish a foothold in your environment.

Unlike large language models that require massive infrastructure, attackers are shifting to Small Learning Models (SLMs) that can run on a single gaming PC. This means they don't need data centers—they can operate completely anonymously using just a computer with a high-end graphics card like an NVIDIA 4080. These specialized AI models can be trained for specific attack tasks, chain together for complex operations, and operate with minimal footprint. Many of our clients have found that The ONE Platform's distributed AI detection capabilities provide the visibility they need across their entire messaging landscape to identify these emerging threats.

Modern attackers have expanded beyond traditional email phishing to exploit messaging platforms like Teams, Slack, and SMS. Military-grade security assessment includes evaluation of behavioral AI attacks that analyze communication patterns to craft convincing messages across multiple channels. Sophisticated social engineering scenarios where attackers use LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and other platforms to establish trust before exploiting access undergo thorough testing. Protect your entire communication landscape with a comprehensive assessment approach.

Preparing for a security assessment is straightforward and minimally disruptive to your operations. The process begins with a kickoff meeting to understand your environment, followed by a security questionnaire to gather information about your current architecture. Active adversary testing and architectural analysis follows, requiring minimal involvement from your team. Unlike traditional penetration testing that may demand extensive preparation, military-grade security assessment is designed to work with your existing environment and identify real-world risks without requiring significant resource commitment from your team. Start your low-impact assessment process today.

Comprehensive security assessment report delivers complete findings with actionable intelligence. Each report includes an executive summary with risk ratings, detailed vulnerability descriptions, exploitation proof, business impact analysis, and specific remediation steps prioritized by actual risk to your organization—all verified to eliminate false positives. While traditional penetration testing might provide a checklist of vulnerabilities, security assessment delivers a complete roadmap for strengthening your security posture aligned with your business objectives. Obtain your actionable security roadmap through a military-grade assessment.

Most compliance frameworks and security best practices recommend conducting security assessments at least annually and after significant infrastructure changes, application updates, or security policy modifications. However, organizations handling sensitive data or facing heightened threats should consider more frequent assessments. Military-grade security assessment provides a thorough baseline evaluation, which can be followed by more targeted assessments focused on specific areas as your security program matures. Develop your assessment schedule based on your specific risk profile.

Yes, military-grade security assessment methodology extends fully to cloud environments, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Evaluation covers cloud-specific security concerns including identity and access management, network security controls, data protection configurations, and misconfigurations that create attack vectors. Unlike traditional penetration testing that might miss cloud architecture vulnerabilities, comprehensive security assessment analyzes both the cloud provider's shared responsibility model and your specific implementation to identify security gaps across your entire cloud footprint. Secure your cloud environment with a specialized assessment.

Military-grade security assessment satisfies compliance requirements that typically mandate penetration testing while delivering significantly more value. For frameworks like PCI DSS (Requirement 11.3), HIPAA Security Rule, SOC 2 (Common Criteria 4.1), and CMMC 2.0 (Level 2), assessment not only fulfills the technical testing requirements but also provides the architectural evaluation and remediation guidance needed to maintain continuous compliance. This approach ensures you don't just check compliance boxes but actually implement sustainable security practices that protect sensitive data. Achieve meaningful compliance through comprehensive security assessment.

Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to identify known security weaknesses but provides no verification or context. Penetration testing actively exploits vulnerabilities but typically focuses on a narrow scope and rarely provides actionable remediation guidance. Military-grade security assessment combines multiple approaches: reverse-engineering real-world attacks in your environment, analyzing your security architecture, and delivering prioritized, actionable intelligence with specific remediation steps—creating a complete security evaluation that addresses both technical vulnerabilities and strategic security gaps. Elevate beyond basic testing with a comprehensive assessment approach.

Traditional penetration testing only identifies exploitable vulnerabilities without considering your overall security architecture. Military-grade security architecture assessment evaluates your entire defensive strategy, including Zero Trust implementation, defense-in-depth layers, and security tool effectiveness. Analysis extends to whether your architecture allows threats to bypass security controls even when individual components function properly - similar to identifying whether you have a well-built car (architecture) versus just evaluating the quality of individual components like tires (vulnerabilities). Strengthen your defensive architecture with a comprehensive assessment.

A security assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that combines active adversary testing, architecture review, and actionable intelligence to provide a complete picture of your security posture. Unlike traditional penetration testing that simply identifies vulnerabilities without context, security assessment examines both attack vectors and defensive architecture to provide a holistic view of your risk. Reverse-engineered real-world attacks in your environment alongside analysis of your entire security stack delivers prioritized recommendations that go beyond a simple vulnerability checklist. Transform your security posture with an assessment that delivers actual business value.

Comprehensive security assessment includes active adversary testing, architecture review, and actionable intelligence. This includes external and internal network evaluation, web and mobile application testing, cloud infrastructure analysis (AWS, Azure, GCP), wireless network testing, Zero Trust architecture assessment, and social engineering simulations. Unlike traditional penetration tests that only identify vulnerabilities, assessment delivers a complete security picture with remediation priorities aligned to specific business risks. Request your comprehensive security assessment today.

Unlike conventional providers that rely primarily on basic vulnerability scanning or limited penetration testing, military-grade security assessment combines elite human expertise with advanced automation to evaluate your entire security posture. Both architecture and active threats undergo thorough examination, delivering comprehensive findings significantly faster than industry standard, verifying every vulnerability to eliminate false positives, and providing specific remediation guidance prioritized by business risk. As Tampa's #1 ranked MSSP, the same protection trusted by defense contractors extends to businesses of all sizes. Experience the decisive advantage of a comprehensive security assessment.

Military-grade security assessment methodology specifically identifies the sophisticated tactics used by Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Both security architecture analysis and simulation of multi-stage attack patterns these threat actors use, including establishing covert command channels, lateral movement techniques, and data exfiltration methods, create a complete defense strategy. By evaluating both defensive architecture and exposure to active threats, defenses that disrupt APT campaigns activate before objectives are achieved. This dual-perspective approach provides protection that traditional penetration testing alone simply cannot deliver. Secure against sophisticated APT campaigns with a comprehensive security assessment.

A CMMC Registered Provider Organization (RPO) is a company authorized by the CMMC Accreditation Body to provide consulting services for organizations seeking CMMC certification. Yes, Ridge IT is a certified RPO, which means we're authorized to help defense contractors navigate the complexities of CMMC compliance. Unlike typical consultants, our military-grade CMMC methodology delivers both compliance and security through continuous monitoring rather than point-in-time assessments. Ready to start your certification journey? Our RPO services include gap analysis, remediation planning, and implementation support with our 15-minute response guarantee.

Unlike conventional providers that rely primarily on automated tools, our military-grade methodology combines elite human expertise with advanced automation. We deliver findings in just 5 days (vs. industry standard 2-3 weeks), verify every vulnerability to eliminate false positives, and provide specific remediation guidance prioritized by business risk. As Tampa's #1 ranked MSSP, we bring the same protection trusted by defense contractors to businesses of all sizes. Experience the difference with our military-grade penetration testing services.

Our military-grade penetration testing methodology is specifically designed to identify the sophisticated tactics used by Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). We simulate the multi-stage attack patterns these threat actors use, including establishing covert command channels, lateral movement techniques, and data exfiltration methods. By identifying these complex attack chains, we help you implement defenses that disrupt APT campaigns before they can achieve their objectives. Schedule a comprehensive APT simulation to test your defenses against these sophisticated threats.

We provide comprehensive penetration testing services including external network testing (identifying vulnerabilities visible from outside your network), internal network assessments (simulating insider threats), web application testing (finding flaws in custom applications), mobile application testing, cloud infrastructure testing (AWS, Azure, GCP), wireless network testing, and social engineering assessments to evaluate human vulnerabilities in your security posture.

Modern attackers have expanded beyond traditional email phishing to exploit messaging platforms like Teams, Slack, and SMS. Our penetration testing includes assessment of behavioral AI attacks that analyze communication patterns to craft convincing messages across multiple channels. We simulate sophisticated social engineering scenarios where attackers use LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and other platforms to establish trust before exploiting access. Protect your entire communication landscape with our comprehensive testing approach.

Tune in for our webinar on the subject, The Blind Spots: Cybersecurity Beyond Email to uncover the shifting attack pattern and prevention measures.

Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to identify known security weaknesses but cannot verify if they're actually exploitable in your environment. Penetration testing goes far beyond scanning by actively exploiting vulnerabilities to demonstrate their real impact, establishing attack chains, and identifying business risks that automated tools miss—especially critical for Tampa businesses facing increasingly sophisticated attacks. Get comprehensive penetration testing that goes beyond basic vulnerability scanning.

Our comprehensive penetration tests deliver complete findings in just 5 days, significantly faster than the industry standard of 2-3 weeks. Each report includes an executive summary with risk ratings, detailed vulnerability descriptions, exploitation proof, business impact analysis, and specific remediation steps prioritized by actual risk to your organization—all verified to eliminate false positives. Schedule your penetration test to experience our rapid, comprehensive approach.

Military-grade penetration testing employs advanced methodologies developed for defense contractors. While standard testing often relies solely on automated tools, our military-grade approach combines elite human expertise with sophisticated automation to uncover complex vulnerabilities that typical security assessments miss, especially in web applications, cloud environments, and network infrastructure.

Penetration testing (also called "pen testing") is a controlled cybersecurity exercise where ethical hackers simulate real-world attacks to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in your systems before malicious actors can. It's critical for businesses because it reveals actual security gaps that automated scanning alone might miss, helping prevent data breaches that cost Tampa businesses an average of $5,000 per hour in downtime. Explore our military-grade penetration testing approach to see how we can protect your business from emerging threats.

Supply chain attacks through non-email messaging channels are particularly dangerous as they leverage trusted vendor relationships. Protection requires:

• Verification processes for any sensitive requests through alternative channels
• Clear communication protocols for vendors using non-email channels
• Limited sharing of sensitive information through messaging platforms
• Vendor security assessments that include communication policies
• Monitoring of all third-party interactions

Our cybersecurity experts can help implement comprehensive vendor communication security policies and technical controls.

Traditional security awareness training focuses heavily on email threats, creating dangerous blind spots. Modern training must evolve to include:

• Platform-specific phishing scenarios (LinkedIn, Teams, Slack, WhatsApp)
• Recognition of cross-channel attack patterns
• Authentication and verification procedures for all communication methods
• Personal device security for BYOD environments
• Social media privacy and security best practices
• Recognition of deepfake and AI-generated content
• Response procedures for suspected messaging-based attacks

Our comprehensive training programs address the full spectrum of modern communication threats beyond traditional email security.

While sophisticated attacks are becoming harder to detect, key warning signs of non-email phishing attempts include:

• Unexpected message requests through platforms like LinkedIn, Teams, or SMS
• Urgent requests that require immediate action
• Messages containing unexpected attachments or links
• Slight variations in usernames or account details
• Requests for sensitive information or authentication credentials
• Communication that creates a sense of opportunity or fear
• Messages that bypass normal business processes

Our platform's behavioral detection capabilities can identify these suspicious patterns even in sophisticated attacks.

Zero Trust architecture is essential for securing the modern communication landscape. The core principle of "never trust, always verify" must extend beyond network access to include all communication channels:

• Each message must be verified regardless of source
• Authentication should be continuous, not just at login
• Context of communication should be evaluated
• Permissions should be limited to minimum required access
• Assume compromise is possible at any point

Deepfakes and AI-generated content have created entirely new attack vectors that bypass traditional security. In 2024, we've seen:

• Voice deepfakes used for vishing (voice phishing) attacks
• AI-generated video messages appearing to come from executives
• Hyper-realistic text conversations that mimic writing styles and knowledge of internal affairs
• Manipulated documents that appear legitimate but contain malicious content

These sophisticated attacks are particularly effective as they exploit trusted relationships and appear legitimate to both humans and many security tools. Our managed cybersecurity team can implement advanced AI detection capabilities to identify these manipulated communications.

Defending against cross-channel attacks requires a multi-layered approach beyond traditional email security:

1. Unified security platform spanning all communication channels
2. Behavioral analytics to detect unusual communication patterns
3. Zero trust architecture that verifies every access request
4. Multi-factor authentication across all platforms and devices
5. Security awareness training specific to modern communication channels
6. Device-level protection that works regardless of communication method
7. Continuous monitoring of all communication channels

Attackers are increasingly targeting collaboration platforms due to their high trust environment and limited security controls. Common tactics include:

• Account takeovers through credential theft
• Malicious file sharing appearing to come from trusted colleagues
• Impersonation of executives requesting urgent actions
• Embedded links to credential harvesting sites
• Third-party app integrations with excessive permissions

These attacks are particularly effective as users implicitly trust content shared in these environments. Our managed security specialists can implement advanced protection for your collaboration platforms.

SMS and messaging app phishing, or "smishing," is particularly dangerous for several reasons:

• Limited security controls compared to email
• High trust factor (messages typically come from known contacts)
• Urgency in responses (90% of text messages are read within 3 minutes)
• Simplified messages that hide suspicious elements
• Difficult to verify sender authenticity
• Lack of corporate visibility into personal devices

In 2024, smishing attacks increased by 312%, with targeted messages often impersonating executives or IT support. Our platform's advanced threat detection identifies and blocks suspicious messages across all channels.

LinkedIn has become a prime target for sophisticated social engineering attacks with a 245% surge in 2024. Attackers create convincing professional profiles, build relationships over time, and exploit professional trust. Common tactics include sending malicious files through LinkedIn messaging, creating fake job opportunities, and impersonating trusted colleagues to request sensitive information. These attacks bypass traditional email security entirely. Our Managed IT team can help identify and block these sophisticated social platform threats.

Today's threat landscape extends far beyond traditional email phishing. Attackers are increasingly targeting messaging apps (Slack, Teams, WhatsApp), social media platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook), SMS/text messaging, collaboration tools, and even calendar invites. These channels often lack the robust security controls found in email systems, creating dangerous blind spots. Our military-grade security platform delivers comprehensive protection across all communication channels, not just email.

Implementing everything at once overwhelms users and IT resources. Our strategic implementation roadmap follows our proven four-phase framework: foundation (core email, document storage, identity), collaboration (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive), automation (Power Platform, workflow optimization), and advanced security (Defender suite, compliance tools). This phased approach typically spans 6-12 months based on organization size and complexity, with each phase building on previous success. Our methodology includes user adoption metrics, security validation, and ROI analysis at each phase to ensure measurable business outcomes. This structured approach has successfully guided over 700 organizations through Microsoft 365 transformations with a 96% satisfaction rate.

While most providers blame Microsoft's cloud for performance problems, our diagnostic data shows that 82% of Microsoft 365 performance issues stem from local configuration or network problems. Our performance optimization service uses our comprehensive assessment framework to identify the real culprits, from suboptimal DNS configurations and proxy interference to network congestion and client-side resource limitations. We then implement our military-grade optimization protocol that includes targeted network configuration changes, TCP optimization, and our proprietary caching framework – delivering consistent performance improvements of 30-50% for applications like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive. This systematic approach has resolved performance issues for organizations ranging from 20 to 5,000 users.

The sticker price is just the beginning. Business Premium ($22/user/month) appears cheaper than E3 ($36/user/month) or E5 ($57/user/month), but the security limitations can cost you more long-term. Most Tampa businesses we audit are either overpaying for Enterprise licenses they don't fully utilize or facing security gaps with Business plans that lack critical protections. Our Microsoft 365 license optimization identifies the perfect mix for your specific needs, sometimes implementing hybrid licensing models that deliver Enterprise-grade security without the enterprise price tag.

Most organizations waste 15-30% of their Microsoft budget on unused licenses, redundant services, or over-licensed users. Our license optimization process first identifies these waste areas through our comprehensive audit, then implements our proven three-tier optimization framework: user-role alignment (matching license types to actual usage patterns), security-feature isolation (moving advanced security to where it's needed most), and automated license management (preventing license sprawl). This approach typically saves our clients $120-$300 per user annually while actually strengthening their security posture.

Microsoft's compliance tools are powerful but often misconfigured. For CMMC Level 2, our Microsoft compliance implementation leverages Purview Information Protection for CUI management, Defender for Endpoint for threat detection, and Intune for device compliance – all critical components for meeting NIST 800-171 requirements. However, out-of-box configurations won't satisfy auditors. Our military-grade implementation includes custom compliance policies, automated documentation workflows, and specialized CUI handling procedures that provide the evidence package needed for successful certification. This approach has helped defense contractors reduce compliance preparation time by up to 40%.

Most organizations use less than 30% of Intune's security capabilities, missing critical protections. Our zero-trust Intune implementation activates these overlooked features, including application-level conditional access policies, custom compliance scripts, and automated remediation actions. We configure security baselines aligned with frameworks like CMMC and NIST, then implement our proprietary compliance verification system to provide continuous documentation. Most importantly, we integrate Intune with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to enable automatic isolation of compromised devices – a critical capability that 78% of organizations miss in their configuration.

Azure Virtual Desktop implementations often fail due to poor architecture decisions that lead to performance issues or excessive costs. Our military-grade AVD implementation starts with our workload assessment framework to determine the optimal configuration for your specific applications. We then implement our three-tier architecture with dedicated management, user session, and application host pools to optimize both performance and cost. Our auto-scaling framework automatically adjusts resources based on actual usage patterns, typically reducing Azure compute costs by 30-40% compared to static deployments while maintaining enterprise-grade performance and security.

Most IT providers make licensing unnecessarily complex, leading to overspending on unused features or risking compliance issues. Our military-grade managed IT approach starts with a comprehensive license audit to identify waste, then implements our proven license optimization framework. By right-sizing your subscriptions and consolidating duplicate licenses, we typically reduce Microsoft 365 costs by 20-30% while enhancing security. Our Microsoft licensing specialists continually monitor usage patterns to ensure you're only paying for what you need.

Unlike basic Microsoft 365 setups that leave security gaps, our military-grade implementation of Microsoft Defender provides unified protection across endpoints, email, identity, and cloud apps. We configure Defender using our zero-trust architecture framework, activating often-missed features like attack surface reduction rules, tamper protection, and network protection. Most importantly, our 24/7 security operations center monitors your Defender alerts with 15-minute response times – turning Microsoft's tools from passive alerting into active protection. This comprehensive approach has helped our clients achieve a 98.7% threat prevention rate.

Traditional migrations that take weeks or cause downtime are outdated. Our accelerated migration methodology leverages military-grade project management and our proprietary hybrid Exchange approach to complete migrations with zero downtime, typically 40-60% faster than standard methods. Our process begins with our comprehensive pre-migration assessment that identifies potential issues before they cause delays, then implements parallel synchronization with our specialized cutover framework. This methodology has successfully migrated over 500,000 mailboxes with an average client satisfaction score of 97%.

Simply turning on Teams leads to chaotic deployments, redundant team creation, and security gaps. Our strategic Teams deployment begins with our governance framework that establishes clear naming conventions, retention policies, and security parameters before deployment. We then implement our phased adoption strategy with department champions, targeted training modules, and usage analytics to drive proper adoption. This structured approach prevents the "Teams sprawl" that plagues most organizations while ensuring proper security configurations for external sharing, guest access, and data protection – critical areas where default settings create significant security risks.

Most businesses use less than 40% of the Microsoft 365 capabilities they're already paying for. Our feature optimization process identifies these missed opportunities through our comprehensive workplace analytics assessment. Common overlooked features include Power Automate for workflow automation (saving an average of 5-7 hours per employee monthly), SharePoint document workflows with automated approval routing, and Microsoft Planner for cross-team project management. Our Microsoft specialists configure these tools based on your specific business processes, then provide targeted training through our microlearning platform to ensure successful adoption and measurable productivity gains.

Most integration attempts create fragmented experiences that frustrate users and create security gaps. Our strategic integration approach begins with our comprehensive systems assessment to map data flows and user journeys across platforms. We then implement our three-phase integration methodology: authentication unification through our advanced identity federation framework, data synchronization using our customized API integration approach, and workflow orchestration through our proprietary process automation framework. This structured approach creates seamless user experiences while maintaining security boundaries and compliance requirements – eliminating the common pitfall of creating new security vulnerabilities during integration.

While most providers treat Microsoft security tools as standalone products, our military-grade security operations framework integrates Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and Purview into a comprehensive security ecosystem. We implement our three-tier security architecture with automated threat intelligence sharing, cross-platform correlation, and our proprietary incident response automation. This approach transforms disparate Microsoft security tools into a unified security operations platform that delivers 24/7 protection with 15-minute response times. Most importantly, our implementation includes our specialized alert tuning methodology that reduces false positives by 85% compared to standard deployments – ensuring your team focuses on real threats rather than alert fatigue.

While in-house IT staff provides familiarity with your business, our IT services Tampa deliver enterprise-level expertise and round-the-clock coverage that would require a team of 8-10 specialists to match internally. Our military-grade security operations center, advanced threat intelligence, and specialized compliance expertise provide capabilities that most Tampa businesses simply cannot afford to build in-house. This comprehensive approach typically delivers 40-60% cost savings while providing superior protection and responsiveness.

Our Tampa IT Services team specializes in secure, phased cloud migrations that minimize disruption while maximizing security and performance. We've helped hundreds of Tampa businesses transform their infrastructure with our cloud-smart approach, which right-sizes cloud resources to your specific needs. This prevents the common pitfalls of cloud waste and security gaps that plague DIY migrations, while our continuous optimization ensures your cloud costs remain predictable.

Our IT services in Tampa lead with compliance by automating documentation, monitoring, and controls validation for frameworks including CMMC, HIPAA, PCI, and SOC 2. Unlike traditional IT providers that treat compliance as annual projects, our continuous compliance approach ensures you remain audit-ready year-round. This automated documentation has reduced preparation time by 80% for small, enterprise and government interfacing businesses facing regulatory requirements.

Our IT services Tampa businesses can access typically save 40-60% compared to maintaining in-house IT teams, while delivering superior protection and response times. Rather than the industry's common per-device pricing model, our intelligent architecture focuses advanced security only where it's needed, reducing per-user costs by $20 - $60 on average. We offer flexible service tiers based on your specific needs, with transparent pricing that eliminates surprise charges for "extra" services.

Our Tampa IT Services businesses trust go beyond basic antivirus with military-grade zero trust architecture that validates every access request, reducing your attack surface by 90%. Unlike traditional IT providers, we integrate advanced threat detection, 24/7 monitoring, and automated incident response through our ONE Platform. This comprehensive approach results in 98.7% threat prevention rates, protecting Tampa businesses from the ransomware and phishing attacks that bypass conventional security.

Unlike traditional Tampa IT services that focus on fixing problems after they occur, Ridge IT's military-grade managed IT prevents issues before they impact your business. Our ONE Platform integrates IT services Tampa businesses need - from zero trust security to 24/7 monitoring with 15-minute response times. As Tampa's #1 ranked MSSP on the Inc 5000, we protect over 500,000 users with battle-tested cybersecurity operations.

MSP stands for Managed Service Provider - companies that handle your IT infrastructure, networks, and technical support. MSSP stands for Managed Security Service Provider - specialists focused on cybersecurity, threat detection, and incident response.

Our managed IT combines both functions - delivering infrastructure management with proactive security through the ONE Platform. This integration prevents the security gaps and finger-pointing that occur when separate providers handle your technology and security needs. You get enterprise-class infrastructure with advanced threat detection, 15-minute response times, and complete compliance coverage - all through a single provider with clear accountability for both reliability and security.

Microsoft Intune is available standalone ($8/user/month) or included in Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Business Premium, and Enterprise Mobility + Security subscriptions. Most organizations with existing Microsoft 365 business or enterprise plans already have Intune licenses. Our licensing optimization services help you maximize existing investments without unnecessary costs.

Microsoft Intune Licensing Options

Compare pricing and features to find the right fit for your organization

License Type

Price

Key Features

Best For

Considerations

Intune Standalone

$8

per user
per month

• Basic device management
• App deployment
• Compliance policies
• Remote wipe
• Conditional access

Organizations without Microsoft 365

No conditional access, limited integration

Intune Standalone II

$12

per user
per month

• Everything in Plan 1
• Advanced endpoint analytics
• Privileged access management
• Remote help

Enhanced device insights

Standalone pricing vs bundles

Intune Suite

$10

per user
per month
(add-on)

• Advanced endpoint analytics
• Microsoft Tunnel for MAM
• Endpoint Privilege Managemen
• Cloud PKI

Premium endpoint security

Requires base Intune license

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

$22

per user
per month

• Intune included
• Office apps
• Email
• Teams
• Basic security

Small to medium businesses

Limited advanced security features

Microsoft 365 E3

$36

per user
per month

• Full Intune
• Advanced compliance
• Conditional access
• Information protection

Enterprise organizations

No advanced threat protection

Microsoft 365 E5

$57

per user
per month

• Everything in E3
• Advanced threat protection
• Cloud App Security
• Advanced analytics

High-security requirements

Premium pricing

EMS E3

$12

per user
per month

• Intune
• Azure AD Premium P1
• Azure Information Protection
• Cloud App Security

Security-focused deployments

No Office apps included

EMS E5

$16

per user
per month

• Everything in EMS E3
• Azure AD Premium P2
• Advanced threat protection

Maximum security features

Requires separate Office licensing

Confused about licensing options? Don't pay for chaos.

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that goes beyond traditional MDM by integrating device management, application control, and security policies in a single platform. Unlike legacy solutions, Intune manages Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices without on-premises infrastructure. Our managed IT services leverage Intune's advanced capabilities for comprehensive endpoint security.

Unlike traditional antivirus that waits for known threats, CrowdStrike prevents breaches before they happen. Our military-grade security platform combines AI-powered prevention with 24/7 human expertise. The platform delivers next-generation antivirus through Falcon Prevent, advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities, automated threat hunting, and integrated threat intelligence - all with guaranteed 15-minute response times.

Our managed IT supports all major providers including AWS and Azure. We help you choose the right platform through comprehensive assessment of your needs, then manage everything through a single interface.

Yes, our managed IT specializes in moving complex legacy systems to the cloud. We use advanced containerization to migrate applications without rewriting them, while reducing infrastructure costs to improve performance.

Picus continuously validates your security effectiveness by simulating real-world threats. Our ONE Platform leverages Picus to test defenses against 24,000+ attack scenarios, while our security operations team fixes vulnerabilities within minutes of detection.

Picus helps validate CMMC controls through continuous monitoring and threat detection. Our CMMC compliance experts ensure findings translate into audit-ready documentation.

Zero Trust is the foundation of CMMC 2.0 requirements. Our military-grade implementation automatically satisfies key CMMC controls around access management and continuous monitoring. Using our ONE Platform, you get both robust security and documented compliance.

Traditional VPNs give vendors too much network access. Our granular access controls tackles third-party risk by restricting vendors to only the specific resources they need. Combined with continuous monitoring, this prevents vendor credentials from becoming a security liability.

Most tools only check access once. Our military-grade platform verifies every action in real-time. We integrate identity, device, and behavior monitoring to stop threats other tools miss. Plus, you get 15-minute response times from the team that built your security.

Our Zero Trust architecture is cloud-native by design. We use automated cloud security controls to protect resources whether they're on-premises or in the cloud. This lets you migrate safely to hybrid environments while maintaining consistent security.

After December 16, 2024, CMMC compliance becomes mandatory for DoD contractors. See critical timeline mistakes contractors make during implementation.

No. The Final Rule is published and deadlines are set for 2025.

Most organizations need 12-18 months to achieve full certification. The process includes 3-6 months implementing military-grade security controls through our proven implementation framework. Then, as outlined in our maturity requirements guide, you must demonstrate these practices are embedded in your culture - typically requiring 3-6 months of documented operational evidence. Only then can you begin the formal assessment process.

While CMMC 2.0 reduces levels from five to three, it demands more sophisticated controls than ISO 27001 or HIPAA. See the complete version comparison and learn how our military-grade implementation addresses these elevated requirements.

Our managed IT integrates security from day one. While traditional MSPs focus on uptime and helpdesk tickets, we prevent breaches by building security into every service. When you split MSP and MSSP providers, you risk security gaps and finger-pointing during incidents. Our integrated approach delivers compliance with 15-minute response times - all through a single provider.

We transform compliance from annual firefighting into continuous validation. Our managed IT automatically maps your controls to frameworks like CMMC, NIST, and HIPAA. Instead of scrambling before audits, our continuous monitoring and remediation maintains audit-ready documentation, with monthly reports showing your exact compliance status across every framework. Managed services, done right.

The ONE Platform eliminates the complexity of juggling multiple providers and tools. Our managed IT integrates security, compliance and infrastructure management into a single pane of glass. With automated security validation and 15-minute response times, we deliver military-grade protection without enterprise complexity or cost.

Most providers let technical debt accumulate as you grow. Our managed IT starts with architecture that scales from 50 to 1000+ users without rework. We design and implement solutions that grow with you, preventing the costly rebuilds and security gaps that come from outgrowing your infrastructure.

Instead of endless security tools, our managed IT starts by making your business harder to target. We use advanced scanning and remediation to eliminate exposed services, while hiding critical assets behind multiple security layers. By "going dark" to attackers while maintaining business operations, we reduce your risk of becoming a target.

Our managed IT implements military-grade security from day one. Through Zero Trust architecture, we protect cloud workloads with continuous monitoring, encryption, and automated threat response - maintaining compliance while enabling scalability.

After hundreds of defense contractors achieve certification, we've seen how costly DIY CMMC compliance mistakes can be. The DoD found only 10-15% of self-assessed companies actually met requirements. Learn which mistakes fail certification and how to prevent them.

The most critical errors include:

• Trusting DIY assessments when CMMC deadline 2025 requires expert guidance
• Missing CUI boundary documentation that auditors require for CMMC compliance contractors
• Treating compliance like an annual event instead of continuous monitoring, which the December 16 Final Rule demands

Most internal IT teams lack the specialized expertise for CMMC security controls. Our managed IT brings proven security control frameworks that map directly to certification requirements. While basic security tools focus on alerts, we prevent breaches through automated remediation and continuous compliance validation.

Our managed IT ensures smooth transition through phased migration. We use hybrid architectures to maintain critical systems during migration, then help you optimize or decommission legacy infrastructure based on your business needs.

Our managed IT uses parallel environments and automated testing to prevent disruption. Through intelligent synchronization, we maintain business operations during migration, typically limiting downtime to minutes rather than hours.

Most organizations complete simple migration in 4-6 weeks. Our managed IT accelerates this through automated discovery tools and proven migration frameworks that eliminate manual processes while maintaining business operations. 

Our managed IT adapts to your company. We can integrate existing tools into our security architecture while adjusting our pricing to accommodate current contracts. This lets you transition to better security without paying twice or disrupting operations.

Unlike providers that just alert you to problems, our managed IT includes complete incident response. Our rapid response team isolates threats, prevents spread, and restores operations - all while maintaining detailed documentation for compliance and insurance requirements.

Rather than managing multiple security tools independently, our managed IT creates a unified security fabric. We integrate identity management with network and endpoint security, so one tool's detection triggers automated responses across your entire security stack. This integration provides Fortune 500 protection without Fortune 500 complexity.

Our managed IT leverages CrowdStrike's 99.9% breach prevention rate and user-friendly incident response interface. During an attack, you get clear visibility of affected systems and one-click isolation of compromised devices. Unlike competitors, CrowdStrike's advanced AI detection spots threats other tools miss, making it ideal for businesses without large security teams.

Traditional security assumes everything inside your network is safe - that's why 94% of breaches start with compromised credentials. Our managed IT implements Zero Trust to verify every access request, reducing your attack surface by 90%. By preventing lateral movement through segmentation and continuous monitoring, we stop basic breaches from escalating into six-figure disasters.

Third-party CMMC assessments are now mandatory because self-certification proved unreliable - DoD audits found only 10-15% compliance. Review our assessment requirements guide and learn how our C3PAO certification process ensures compliance.

After the Final Rule takes effect December 16, 2024, non-certified contractors lose DoD contracts immediately. Our military-grade compliance solutions ensure you maintain contract eligibility.

CMMC enforces NIST SP 800-171 and 800-172 requirements through verification. Review our NIST compliance guide and see how our Zero Trust architecture streamlines both frameworks.

Yes, but our unique approach can help. While flow-down typically requires matching certification levels, our subcontractor compliance guide explains how our Zero Trust architecture can eliminate this requirement.

Self-certification is only available for CMMC Level 1 and requires annual renewal with a senior official affirmation. Our certification requirements guide explains why Level 2 requires third-party assessment from an authorized C3PAO assessor, while Level 3 mandates direct government evaluation. The DoD implemented these stricter requirements after finding only 10-15% of self-assessed companies actually met compliance standards.