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The Department of War recently announced a pause in the implementation of CMMC Phase 2 certification audits, creating questions and uncertainty across the Defense Industrial Base. While the third-party certification process is being delayed, one thing remains clear: the underlying cybersecurity and compliance requirements have not changed.

For defense contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this announcement should not be interpreted as a reduction in compliance obligations. Requirements including DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP 800-171, SPRS score reporting, annual affirmations, and cyber incident reporting remain fully in effect.

Your IT Team + LaScala’s MDR = Unbeatable Cyber Defense

In today’s threat-heavy digital landscape, businesses face a constant barrage of cyber risks—from ransomware and phishing to insider threats and cloud vulnerabilities. For organizations seeking robust protection without the burden of building a full-scale internal security team, Managed Detection & Response (MDR) from LaScala offers a powerful solution.

As a leading MSSP (Managed Security Services Provider), LaScala delivers co-managed security that blends your internal IT expertise with our advanced threat intelligence, 24/7 monitoring, and rapid incident response capabilities. Whether you're searching for a “cybersecurity company near me” or evaluating the best managed security service provider, LaScala’s MDR service stands out for its flexibility, transparency, and effectiveness.

Big changes are coming to the defense contracting world.

Starting November 10, 2025, the Department of Defense (DoD) will officially begin including CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) requirements in contracts, RFPs, and RFIs through the DFARS 7021 clause. This marks a major shift in how cybersecurity compliance is enforced across the defense industrial base.

Here’s what you need to know:

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, it’s not a matter of if but when a vulnerability will be exploited. While your co-managed security model provides a powerful layer of defense, even the best partnership can leave dangerous gaps without a robust vulnerability management strategy.

So, are you confident your team can keep up?

If a third-party vendor fails to meet compliance standards, your organization bears the liability—and the fallout can be catastrophic. LaScala empowers organizations to build robust TPRM programs that seamlessly align with regulations like SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and DORA.

When your data is breeched – that’s a huge problem. When that data includes your clients and associates and their legal and financial data, you need the problem solved immediately.

A regional law firm was hacked and had its email compromised and taken over by cybercriminals. The hackers sent out numerous emails to the firm’s clients, associates, and members of the judicial system requesting financial and fiduciary rights regarding settlements, judgements, and plea agreements.

LaScala was contacted to remediate the situation and to recover all operational control of the email system and to put safeguards in place to prevent the bad actors from continued access.

Our engineers uncovered outdated applications within the law firm’s infrastructure that have been linked to security breaches, providing a “back door” for the bad guys..

If your company works with the Department of Defense (DoD), handles CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information), or has a requirement for developing an IT-based quality system, you can receive assistance with the cybersecurity compliance process from LaScala’s Managed CMMC Compliance service. A failed CMMC Assessment could potentially lead to lost contracts and loss of revenue.

LaScala utilizes the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (CMMC) as a cybersecurity compliance standard using the NIST-800-171 revision 2 framework. CMMC compliance is a mandatory directive for all companies doing business with the DoD and its prime contractors..

As the cyber threat landscape grows more complex, businesses are under increasing pressure to maintain robust cybersecurity measures. Many companies rely on their internal IT teams to handle security; however, with threats evolving rapidly, even the most talented in-house teams can find it challenging to keep up. This is where co-managed security services (CMSS) come into play, acting as an essential extension of a company’s internal security team.

Here are seven ways that co-managed security services are crucial for enhancing an organization’s cybersecurity posture, alleviating workload, and fostering a culture of resilience.

As we move into 2025, the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve with new threats and challenges for businesses of all sizes. From the increased sophistication of cybercriminals to the proliferation of new technologies, organizations face an array of cybersecurity issues that demand proactive strategies. Here’s a look at some of the most critical cybersecurity challenges businesses must prepare for with Co-Managed Security Services in 2025.

In 2024, cybercriminals crafted some highly inventive and unusual phishing attacks, using advanced technologies and social engineering methods that targeted individuals and organizations. This significant rise in attacks produced an average cost of a data breach for businesses at $2.98 million for companies under 500 employees according to the U.S. Small Business Association. Be aware of these examples and the benefits of co-managed security services: