Cuick 10

by Derek White

Government Technology

Season 2

Hardening What Matters: The Role of Configuration Management in CMMC

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, sits down with TJ Hope, Sales Engineer at Senteon, to discuss how configuration management plays a vital role in meeting CMMC requirements. TJ explains how automation, visibility, and environment-specific baselining can transform the way organizations approach hardening—without breaking things or burning out staff. Whether you’re preparing for your first CMMC Level 2 assessment or inheriting someone else’s security posture, this episode delivers a practical look at one of the most challenging aspects of compliance.

Culture, Certification & CMMC Readiness

n this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, sits down with Dy Edington, Director of Information Security at AV, to share lessons from the front lines of achieving CMMC certification. Dy offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to drive a successful compliance program—from cross-functional alignment to hands-on training and executive support. Whether you're early in your journey or already preparing for assessment, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Legal Meets Cyber: CMMC Through a Contracts Lens

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, is joined by Kayli Keough, US Government Contract Compliance Counsel at Collins Aerospace. Kayli shares her unique perspective as a legal and contracts professional navigating the world of cybersecurity compliance. They discuss how legal, contracts, and cyber teams can collaborate more effectively, the growing importance of compliance across global frameworks, and how CMMC is changing the conversation within large government contractors. Whether you're in legal, cyber, or program management—this episode shows why a unified approach to compliance is no longer optional.

Why Every Contractor Needs a Mock Assessment

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, is joined by Eric Levitas, Vice President of Business Development at ControlCase, to unpack why mock assessments are more critical than ever for defense contractors navigating CMMC. Eric explains the most common mistakes he sees contractors make when jumping straight into their C3PAO audit, how to properly prepare your scope and documentation, and what the mock assessment process really looks like from a third-party assessor’s point of view. Tune in for expert guidance on how to get audit-ready — without the panic.

Mapping CMMC to Business Value

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, COO of Cuick Trac, is joined by Matt Hoeper, Director of Commercial/Cybersecurity at Edwards Performance Solutions, to unpack how cybersecurity leaders can better align their CMMC programs with business goals. Matt explains why CMMC should be positioned not just as a regulatory requirement, but as a strategic business investment. From reducing operational risk to building customer trust, this episode provides clear guidance on how to tie technical compliance efforts to business outcomes—especially in conversations with leadership and boards.

Customer Responsibility Matrix in CMMC

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, is joined by Tom Conkle, CEO of Optic Cyber Solutions, to discuss the often-overlooked importance of the Customer Responsibility Matrix (CRM) in CMMC compliance. Tom shares firsthand experience from CMMC readiness engagements where organizations mistakenly assumed their MSPs had implemented necessary controls—only to discover critical gaps. He breaks down how the CRM acts as a communication bridge between managed service providers and OSCs, what should be included in a CRM, and why documenting shared responsibility is now a requirement under the final rule. Tune in to learn how better documentation, communication, and ownership can prevent serious compliance failures.

Balancing Scope, Cost & Risk in CMMC

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, is joined by Prabhat Nigam, Global CTO at Golden Five Consulting, to discuss the critical interplay between scope, cost, and risk in CMMC compliance. Prabhat shares practical lessons on how over-scoping can drive up compliance costs, how to manage subcontractor and MSP risk, and the importance of simplifying your technology footprint within one trusted cloud ecosystem. This conversation is packed with tips for defense contractors trying to stay compliant while minimizing overhead and complexity.

Modernizing Virtual Environments for CMMC Readiness

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, is joined by Justin Hensley, Principal Program Manager at CloudFit Software, to explore how Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is helping defense contractors scale securely. Justin discusses the recent DoD VDI memo and how it has changed the game for flexibility, cloud-first strategies, and scalability in CMMC compliance. He also shares how CloudFit is helping organizations use Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop environments to reduce CAPEX, improve collaboration, and integrate tools like AI and secure messaging. From CAD workloads to real-time collaboration, this episode dives into how SMBs and federal partners can modernize their environments without breaking their workflows.

Starting CMMC the Right Way

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, host Derek White (COO, Cuick Trac) sits down with Mike Bramm, Owner & CTO at BomberJacket Networks, to unpack what it really takes to pass a CMMC assessment—and why most failures start by skipping Phase 1. Mike explains the importance of readiness assessments, how the Lead CCA role helps ensure structure and accountability, and why implementation is often more valuable than just getting assessed. He also shares candid insights on DIB contractors still in denial, and how culture—not tooling—is what determines success.

Trends, Risk & Readiness in CMMC

In this episode of the Cuick 10 Podcast, Derek White, Chief Operating Officer of Cuick Trac, is joined by Michael Greenman, Sr. Product Marketing Manager at Deltek, to unpack the latest industry data and FedRAMP developments shaping the CMMC landscape. They discuss the significance of FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency, cloud security documentation best practices, and the must-ask questions when evaluating cloud service providers. Michael also reveals new statistics from Deltek’s Clarity Report, including how much contractors are spending to prepare for assessments—and how many plan to get certified in 2025.

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