Digital Beachhead Earns Global 100 2026 Award

Digital Beachhead wins Global 100 2026 honor and urges defense contractors to continue cybersecurity compliance during the CMMC pause.

United States, October 23, 2026 -- Digital Beachhead, a cybersecurity consulting firm serving organizations within the Defense Industrial Base, has been named the Global 100 2026 winner of the "Most Client-Focused Cybersecurity and Risk Management Consultancy" for North America. The recognition adds to a growing list of honors for the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, which also reminds defense contractors that compliance obligations remain in full effect despite a pause in formal certification activity under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.

A Series of Industry Recognitions

The Global 100 2026 award is the latest in a sequence of honors received by Digital Beachhead. In 2025, M&A Today Magazine named the firm its Most Trusted Cybersecurity Consulting Firm. In 2024, Digital Beachhead was selected as a Comcast RISE recipient, a program that supports small businesses owned by entrepreneurs from historically underserved communities. In 2023, Wealth and Finance International recognized the company as the Most Client-Focused Cyber Security and Risk Management Consultancy in North America.

Together, these recognitions reflect a consistent emphasis on client relationships and measurable outcomes. The firm positions its services around partnership rather than transactional engagement, a distinction that has resonated with judges and clients across multiple award cycles.

"Compliance is mandatory, not a suggestion," said Dr. Michael Crandall, co-founder and chief executive officer of Digital Beachhead. "These awards reflect the trust our clients place in us, and that trust is built on helping them meet real obligations rather than simply offering advice. We join your team to help your organization grow."

Understanding the CMMC Pause

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, commonly abbreviated as CMMC, is a framework established by the United States Department of Defense to verify that contractors protect sensitive information. The program is being implemented in phases. Phase two of this rollout has been paused, creating uncertainty for many organizations within the Defense Industrial Base, often referred to as the DIB, which includes the companies and suppliers that support Department of Defense missions.

A pause in the third party certification phase, however, does not eliminate the underlying security requirements. Contractors remain obligated to implement the controls described in National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171. This document, frequently cited as NIST SP 800-171, defines the security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in systems operated by nonfederal organizations. Those requirements continue to apply regardless of when formal certification assessments resume.

Digital Beachhead emphasizes that organizations should view the pause as additional preparation time rather than a reason to stop work. Delaying implementation can leave a company unprepared when assessments resume and can leave sensitive defense information exposed in the interim.

Why a Pause Is Not a Pass

Some contractors may interpret the suspension of phase two as a reason to postpone their cybersecurity efforts. Digital Beachhead cautions against this interpretation. The contractual flow-down requirements found in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, known as DFARS, obligate many contractors to maintain NIST SP 800-171 controls today. A pause in certification does not amend those contract clauses, and it does not remove the risk of a data breach.

Organizations that continue their compliance work during the pause position themselves to complete certification efficiently once the program resumes. They also reduce their exposure to cyber threats that do not wait for regulatory timelines. The guidance from Digital Beachhead is straightforward: keep implementing controls, keep documenting progress, and keep improving the overall security posture.

For contractors seeking to understand where they stand, the firm offers assessments that measure current implementation against the NIST SP 800-171 requirements. These assessments help organizations identify gaps, prioritize remediation, and build a defensible record of their efforts.

Authorized Assessment Credentials

Digital Beachhead is a formally authorized Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Third-Party Assessment Organization, a designation often shortened to C3PAO. This authorization permits the firm to support Defense Industrial Base organizations as they prepare for and pursue certification. The credential reflects a level of vetting and capability that distinguishes authorized organizations within the CMMC ecosystem.

This standing allows the firm to guide clients through the certification process with direct familiarity of assessment expectations. For organizations that must eventually demonstrate compliance to the Department of Defense, working with an authorized assessment organization provides clarity on what evaluators will look for.

A Team Built on Experience and Credentials

Digital Beachhead attributes its client-focused reputation to the experience of its leadership and staff. The firm notes that its co-founder and chief executive officer helped develop how the Department of Defense secures its most critical networks over a twenty-one year military career. That background informs the firm's approach to risk management and its understanding of the standards contractors must meet.

The professional team holds numerous cybersecurity certifications spanning a wide range of technologies. Certifying bodies represented on the team include ISC2, CompTIA, EC-Council, and the National Security Agency. This breadth allows the firm to address diverse technical environments and to support organizations with varying levels of internal cybersecurity maturity.

Beyond certification support, Digital Beachhead offers fractional or virtual Chief Information Security Officer services, often described as vCISO support. This model gives small and mid-size organizations access to senior security leadership without the cost of a full-time executive hire. The firm aligns its work with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, a widely adopted structure for identifying, protecting against, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber threats.

Services for Small and Mid-Size Organizations

The firm provides a range of services designed for small to mid-size organizations. These include continuous system monitoring, user awareness training, and protections for browsers, email, and cloud environments. Digital Beachhead also offers small business protection priced at under one dollar per endpoint per day, along with dark web monitoring, penetration testing, and vulnerability testing.

In addition to CMMC and NIST work, the firm supports compliance across multiple frameworks, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, the Federal Information Security Management Act, known as FISMA, and DFARS. This flexibility allows the firm to serve clients across sectors while maintaining its primary focus on defense contractors.

As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Digital Beachhead emphasizes affordability and accessibility. The firm positions itself as a trusted advisor that helps clients navigate a complex cybersecurity landscape without the overhead that often accompanies larger consultancies. More information is available on the company website, and the firm maintains a presence on LinkedIn where it shares updates and guidance. You can email directly to [email protected].

Organizations with questions about the CMMC pause, NIST SP 800-171 implementation, or any aspect of their cybersecurity posture are encouraged to reach out. Digital Beachhead states that it is available to help contractors continue their compliance progress during this period of regulatory uncertainty.

About Digital Beachhead

Digital Beachhead is a cybersecurity consulting firm and a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that provides cyber risk management services through fractional and virtual Chief Information Security Officer support. The firm is an authorized CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization supporting Defense Industrial Base organizations working for the Department of Defense. Its services include vCISO support, compliance assessments, system monitoring, user awareness training, penetration and vulnerability testing, and dark web monitoring, all delivered through a client-focused, risk-management approach.

Contact Info:
Name: Michael Crandall
Email: Send Email
Organization: Digital Beachhead
Website: https://digitalbeachhead.com

Release ID: 89207047

If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release that require attention or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we kindly request that you notify us without delay at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or guide you through the removal process. Ensuring accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.