Press Release
ABS Quality Evaluations Designated as a CMMC Certified Third Party Assessor Organization Candidate
Company achieves first milestone as a CMMC Certified Assessor, furthering its commitment to help secure the nation’s DoD supply chain as cybersecurity threats continue to accelerate
(Houston) – ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) today announced that it has been designated by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) as a CMMC Certified Third Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) candidate. The C3PAO candidate classification signifies the completion of the first phase in a process that authorizes ABS QE to evaluate the cybersecurity maturity levels, practices and processes of Defense Industrial Base (DIB) contractors within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain. This includes a base of over 220,000 suppliers that are subject to being assessed beginning in October.
“We are honored to be a part of a highly select group of assessment providers that have achieved the C3PAO candidate designation from the CMMC Accreditation Body,” said Dominic Townsend, President of ABS QE, the Business Assurance and management systems certification subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group). “By attaining this classification, ABS QE will further strengthen its cybersecurity portfolio by assisting to accurately assess the security of the DIB supply chain.”
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) was established in 2020 as a verification process to ensure that DIB contractors implement appropriate cybersecurity practices and processes to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) within their unclassified networks. Under an exclusive contract with the DoD, the CMMC-AB serves as the sole provider of CMMC licensing and certification for C3PAOs, Training Providers, Instructors and Assessors. C3PAOs that are both authorized and accredited will be responsible for conducting the CMMC evaluations of the unclassified networks of DIB contractors and issuing the appropriate CMMC certificates based on the results of the assessments.
“In today’s evolving cybersecurity landscape, our nation’s critical infrastructure and defense supply chain are increasingly becoming targets for adversaries looking to make a significant impact,” said Ryan Moody, President and CEO of ABS Group. “With deep experience in industrial cybersecurity assessment and management, we are uniquely positioned to help the DoD assess the cybersecurity protocols and processes of DIB contractors to further the security of the integral defense supply chain.”
About ABS Quality Evaluations
ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) is a subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (www.abs-group.com). As a world-leading certification body, ABS QE works with companies to improve the performance of their business, systems, people and supply chains through management systems certification, verification, training and assessments, including supply chain and cybersecurity. ABS QE’s global network of auditors plays a crucial role in helping organizations achieve business excellence and obtain the necessary certifications to get products and services to market.
About ABS Group
ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group) and its operating subsidiaries provide risk management solutions and certification services worldwide that help clients address the safety, integrity, quality and environmental efficiency of critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1200 professionals across the globe, serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government, power and energy and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS (www.eagle.org), a leading marine and offshore classification society.