When navigating the complex landscape of CMMC compliance, small and medium-sized government contractors often hear the same recommendation from large consulting firms: “You need Microsoft GCC High.”
While well-intentioned, this advice often leads businesses down an unnecessarily expensive path that complicates rather than simplifies compliance. We’re here today to do the latter.
What Is GCC High? (and Why It’s Being Pushed)
Microsoft 365 GCC High is a specialized version of Microsoft 365 designed to meet the strict compliance and security requirements of U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as contractors who handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or are subject to DFARS, ITAR, or FedRAMP High regulations.
But here’s what many CMMC consultants won’t tell you: going with GCC High can limit your solution design options to meet additional CMMC controls and potentially increase the costs associated with the related tools involved.
It All Comes Down to Cost
The cost difference between GCC High and other solutions like small office enclaving can be substantial. Most enclaving solutions offered by CSPs include a more complete solution than GCC High does out of the box. For the average small business with a handful of employees handling CUI, GCC High and the additional tools involved can be overkill. It all comes down to cost.
Alternative Compliance Strategies for Government Contractors
Rather than rushing to implement GCC High, we recommend a more measured approach focused on scoping and real-world needs. Here’s what we’ve found works better for our clients:
- Understand your actual CUI footprint: Many contractors overestimate how many systems actually need to handle CUI. Through proper scoping, we often reduce the compliance boundary considerably, dramatically lowering costs.
- Consider alternative cloud-based solutions: For most of you, standard Microsoft 365 with appropriate security configurations can work suitably when paired with a CSP enclave designed to your needs.
- Leverage defense-in-depth approaches: A layered approach to security (which we discussed in this video) that features properly configured firewalls, endpoint protection, end user training, and access controls can provide a foundation to leverage most CMMC compliant cloud services.
Working with Experienced CMMC Consultants Is Crucial
When your compliance partner understands the unique needs of smaller contractors, they’ll help you identify the most cost-effective path to compliance based on your specific situation, rather than focusing on GCC High as the only solution.
Why GCC High with Microsoft’s Security Tools Is Primarily for Large Contractors
As one of our cyber security experts put it, moving to GCC High-centric solution makes total sense – for large contractors. But, for the majority of businesses working with the DoD, the cost per user per month is insanely high (especially compared to what we come in and deliver with our own stack).
A GCC High-based solution makes sense as part of an enterprise-wide compliance strategy for large government contractors with:
- Hundreds of users handling CUI regularly
- Large IT teams dedicated to compliance
- A heavy investment in Microsoft Azure and related security tools already
For a typical small government contractor, these conditions rarely apply, making GCC High an unnecessarily expensive solution.
How to Find the Right-Sized Solution for Your Business
The most effective compliance strategies for government contractors don’t focus on implementing the priciest solutions. They focus on implementing the right ones.
A properly scoped and tailored approach like the ones we provide our clients typically includes:
- Surgical scoping: Identifying exactly where CUI lives in your environment and building compliance boundaries only around those systems
- Best-fit technology: Selecting tools that address your specific compliance needs without unnecessary features or costs
- Efficient implementation: Partnering with experts who understand how to minimize disruption while maximizing security
- Continuous improvement: Building processes that evolve with changing requirements without requiring massive reinvestment
The part that really makes the difference? Choosing CMMC consultants in central Virginia who understand both compliance requirements for government contractors and the realities of running a small business. It’s why at Infinity Technologies, we’re ideally positioned to help you navigate these waters.
Infinity Technologies: The Smart Choice for Your CMMC Journey
As you evaluate your CMMC compliance needs, remember that bigger isn’t always better. Instead of rushing to implement GCC High because larger companies are doing it, we’ll take the time to understand your specific requirements and explore alternative technologies that might serve your needs just as effectively at a fraction of the cost.
For most small and medium government contractors, a tailored solution using our specialized stack provides the perfect balance of compliance, security, and cost-effectiveness. We help you reduce scope, implement targeted controls, and achieve compliance without breaking the bank.
Ready to secure your data without draining your budget? Book your 1:1 meeting with our CMMC experts today for a personalized consultation.