That distinction is important because the current pause affects the certification process, not the importance of the cybersecurity practices organizations have been working to build. Rather than asking whether to delay those initiatives altogether, leaders should consider whether those investments improve visibility, strengthen governance, automate manual processes, or reduce organizational risk. Every investment made to strengthen governance, improve documentation, mature cybersecurity practices and reinforce operational discipline continues to position contractors for long-term success. Those capabilities reduce organizational risk, strengthen customer confidence and prepare organizations for whatever form the next phase of CMMC ultimately takes. Complying with the DFAR clause for handling CUI remains a requirement many contractors are obligated to follow with or without CMMC.