CMMC Compliance: A Contractor's Shield Against the Rising Cyber Threats in 2026

As we enter 2026, the cybersecurity landscape for defense contractors has fundamentally shifted. The November 10, 2025 CMMC compliance deadline has passed, and what many hoped would be a manageable transition has become a market-defining crisis that’s reshaping the entire defense industrial base while simultaneously fortifying it against unprecedented cyber threats.

With the U.S. defense budget nearing $1 trillion and only expected to grow in 2026, defense contractors are facing both a multitude of expansion opportunities and increased risks of data breaches. CMMC helps protect contractors against both. Here’s what we see ahead with CMMC compliance in the coming year.