Preparing the Defense Industrial Base for November 2025 and Beyond

The Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is entering full implementation. Beginning November 10, 2025, new DoD solicitations can include mandatory CMMC requirements—making certification readiness a prerequisite to compete for defense work.

For the more than 100,000 organizations that make up the DefenseIndustrial Base (DIB), this milestone represents a pivotal shift from self-assessment to independently validated cybersecurity. It’s not just a compliance exercise; it’s a readiness imperative for national security and contract eligibility.

As a CMMC Level 2 compliant organization, Red River brings firsthand experience and proven frameworks to help contractors achieve, sustain and verify compliance. This viewpoint outlines what contractors must have in place by November 2025, how the phased rollout affects acquisition planning and how Red River helps organizations align cybersecurity maturity with mission goals.