Mapped to NIST 800-171 Requirement: 3.11.3
CMMC Assessment Objective: RA.L2-3.11.3[a]
What This Control Means
This control goes beyond individual risk entries—it ensures you have a repeatable, structured process for identifying, evaluating, and tracking risks, especially those related to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of CUI.
Your process must include:
• What triggers a risk assessment
• Who is responsible for conducting it
• How risks are scored and prioritized
• How frequently the process is carried out
Why It Matters
A risk program without a defined process is:
• Inconsistent
• Unscalable
• Vulnerable to oversight
• Unacceptable in a compliance audit
This control ensures your risk assessments aren’t one-off efforts—they’re built into your security culture.
How to Implement It
1. Choose a Risk Assessment Framework
• NIST SP 800-30 is a commonly used model
• You can also use ISO 31000, FAIR, or a custom approach—just be consistent
2. Define the Process in Policy Your documentation should include:
• Scope (e.g., only systems handling CUI)
• Method (qualitative, quantitative, hybrid)
• Likelihood and impact scoring model
• Review triggers (e.g., new systems, security incidents, annual cycle)
3. Assign Roles and Responsibilities
• Identify who:
◦ Conducts the assessment
◦ Approves risk responses
◦ Maintains the risk register
4. Create Supporting Templates
• Use standard forms for risk identification, scoring, and response
• Ensure traceability from risk assessment to POA&M actions
5. Integrate With Broader Governance
• Link your process to change management, incident response, and compliance tracking
Evidence the Assessor Will Look For
• A documented risk assessment policy or procedure
• Defined roles for risk management personnel
• A standard scoring methodology and frequency of assessment
• Templates or workflows used to perform and document assessments
• Alignment with risk decisions made in your SSP or POA&M
Common Gaps
• Risk register exists, but no formal process to maintain or update it
• Risk assessments are reactive or one-time-only
• No defined roles, frequency, or scoring methods
• Risk decisions made inconsistently or without traceable criteria
How Cuick Trac Helps
Cuick Trac supports this requirement by:
• Providing a structured, repeatable risk assessment workflow
• Aligning risk evaluations with NIST 800-30 and CMMC best practices
• Defining roles and permissions for risk managers, reviewers, and approvers
• Automating reminders and version control for scheduled risk reviews
• Integrating risk findings with mitigation plans and your POA&M
With Cuick Trac, your risk process is proactive, consistent, and audit-ready.
Final CTA
A strong risk program starts with a strong process.
Schedule a Cuick Trac demo to build and document a risk assessment process that protects your CUI and passes any audit.