New report delivers an actionable roadmap for defense contractors navigating cost constraints, software visibility, and AI-driven threats
SAN FRANCISCO — Secureframe, the leading compliance and security automation platform, today released its 2026 State of Federal Cybersecurity Report. Compiled from live polling data of more than 850 defense contractors, subcontractors, C3PAOs, and federal suppliers at the 2026 Secureframe National Cybersecurity Summit, the report provides a practical blueprint for organizations navigating the shift from static regulatory compliance to continuous operational resilience.
As CMMC and FedRAMP requirements flow down the supply chain, thousands of organizations are managing this compliance journey simultaneously. The data shows that while the Defense Industrial Base’s commitment to security is at an all-time high, many contractors face structural friction, while the rapid rise of AI-driven adversarial tactics demands a more collective approach to monitoring and defense.
Key Findings
- Software supply chain visibility lags. 27% of defense organizations experienced a supply chain compromise in the past year, and only 13% generate a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), a critical tool for rapidly isolating exposure when new vulnerabilities emerge.
- Threat intelligence sharing is underutilized. 60% consume standard government feeds, yet only 29% participate in industry-specific threat-sharing groups, leaving many without real-time awareness of active adversary tactics.
- Data scoping remains a foundational gap. 22% of organizations are actively defining where Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) lives within their networks, a baseline that experts identify as the single most critical step to keeping security programs simple and cost-effective.
- Cost and assessment inconsistency create friction. 51% cite high CMMC assessment readiness costs as a top burden, with most Level 2 organizations estimating $50K–$150K to prepare. Compounding the challenge: 50% of practitioners note inconsistencies in how assessors interpret requirements, and 44% struggle to anticipate what evidence C3PAOs will request.
- AI-driven threats are imminent, confidence is low. 85% of practitioners anticipate AI-powered attacks will affect them within two years. Only 28% feel fully confident in their ability to detect nation-state level threats today.
“The adversary doesn’t care about your headcount, they care about which path to CUI is the easiest. Today, that path runs to the supplier with the part-time MSP, because that CUI is the same, but the defense isn’t,” said Rob Joyce, Former Director of NSA Cybersecurity and Former White House Cybersecurity Coordinator.
Recommendations
The report concludes that the most resilient organizations treat compliance as a continuous operational habit, not a periodic project. Key recommendations include:
- Reduce scope aggressively by isolating CUI in secure, government-compliant cloud environments. (Microsoft 365 GCC High is currently used by 50% of the DIB.)
- Engage assessors early through proactive C3PAO readiness reviews to align on expectations well before a formal certification window.
- Operationalize documentation by treating evidence collection as an ongoing business process rather than a pre-audit scramble.
- Tap into free government threat intelligence resources. The NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center offers threat intelligence sharing, protective DNS, and attack surface scanning at no cost to organizations with a DoD contract. CISA also provides cyber hygiene services to private-sector critical infrastructure organizations, not just federal agencies.
“Compliance is the floor, not the goal. CMMC is just the bare minimum, we did it to get people to start thinking about cybersecurity, to grow, and to continue to work on it,” said Stacy Bostjanick, Former Director of CMMC Policy, Department of Defense.
Read the full report here.
About Secureframe
Secureframe is the leading security and privacy compliance automation platform, helping organizations achieve and maintain continuous compliance with standards like CMMC, FedRAMP 20x, SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and more. Thousands of fast-growing startups and global enterprises trust Secureframe to simplify compliance, reduce risk, and build trust with customers and partners. Backed by top-tier investors including Kleiner Perkins, Gradient Ventures, and Base10 Partners, Secureframe is redefining what’s possible in security and compliance.
