The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 introduces a more structured and risk-based approach to cybersecurity compliance, refining both technical safeguards and oversight mechanisms. Moving away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all checklist, CMMC 2.0 tailors security requirements to the sensitivity of data and the evolving threat landscape. Its three-tiered framework — foundational (level 1), advanced (level 2) and expert (level 3) — establishes a progressive security model, with each level incorporating and expanding upon the controls of the preceding tier. To achieve level 3 compliance, an organization must first satisfy all requirements for levels 1 and 2, creating a comprehensive and layered defense strategy.