Cybersecurity & CMMC Compliance in Kearny Mesa
CMMC-ready cybersecurity for San Diego's largest concentration of defense contractors and aerospace companies.
Kearny Mesa at a Glance
Key Industries
Kearny Mesa is San Diego's largest commercial business district and the epicenter of the region's defense contracting community. Hundreds of small and mid-sized defense contractors operate here, many holding Department of Defense contracts that require handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). With CMMC 2.0 enforcement now underway, these companies must demonstrate compliance with NIST SP 800-171 security controls or risk losing their contracts. InventiveHQ provides CMMC compliance consulting and cybersecurity services built specifically for the defense industrial base—helping Kearny Mesa contractors protect CUI and pass CMMC assessments.
Cyber Threats Targeting Kearny Mesa Defense Contractors
Defense contractors in Kearny Mesa are high-value targets for nation-state cyber actors. Chinese APT groups, Russian military intelligence, and Iranian threat actors actively target the defense industrial base to steal weapons system designs, military technology specifications, and classified program details. San Diego—the largest military hub on the West Coast—is a primary focus area for these operations.
Small and mid-sized defense contractors are especially vulnerable. Many lack dedicated security staff and rely on IT generalists to protect systems handling CUI. Threat actors know this and deliberately target smaller subcontractors as entry points into larger prime contractor supply chains. A breach at a 20-person Kearny Mesa shop can compromise programs at General Atomics, BAE Systems, or Northrop Grumman.
Beyond nation-state threats, Kearny Mesa defense companies face ransomware groups that specifically target government contractors, knowing they'll pay quickly to restore operations and avoid contract penalties. The average cost to recover from a ransomware attack in the defense sector exceeds $4.7 million, and the reputational damage can permanently disqualify a company from future contracts.
CMMC & Defense Compliance for Kearny Mesa Contractors
CMMC 2.0 is now a contractual requirement for defense contractors handling CUI. If you're a Kearny Mesa company with DoD contracts, you need to demonstrate compliance with 110 NIST SP 800-171 security controls—and starting in 2026, you'll need a third-party assessment from a certified C3PAO. We help contractors prepare for these assessments with gap analyses, remediation planning, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
Many Kearny Mesa companies also handle ITAR-controlled technical data, which adds export control requirements on top of CMMC. We help companies implement security architectures that satisfy both CMMC and ITAR simultaneously, preventing the common mistake of building separate compliance silos that increase cost and complexity.
CMMC 2.0 Level 2
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requiring implementation of all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls and third-party assessment for contractors handling CUI.
NIST SP 800-171
The 110 security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in nonfederal systems—the foundation of CMMC Level 2 compliance.
ITAR
International Traffic in Arms Regulations controlling the export of defense articles and technical data. Requires specific access controls and data handling procedures.
DFARS 252.204-7012
The DFARS clause requiring adequate security for covered defense information and mandatory 72-hour incident reporting to the DoD.
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program for cloud service providers serving government agencies—relevant for contractors using cloud infrastructure.
Why Kearny Mesa Defense Contractors Choose Us
Defense Compliance Is Our Core Business
We work with dozens of defense contractors across San Diego. We know exactly what C3PAOs look for in CMMC assessments and how to get you there efficiently.
We Know the Kearny Mesa Ecosystem
Many of our clients are in the same supply chains. We understand how CUI flows between primes and subcontractors in this district and how to secure those connections.
10 Minutes from Your Office
Our Point Loma headquarters is a short drive from Kearny Mesa. We provide on-site assessments, hands-on remediation support, and rapid incident response.
Areas Served from Kearny Mesa
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Kearny Mesa Cybersecurity
CMMC 2.0 (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is a DoD requirement for contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information. If your Kearny Mesa company has DoD contracts involving CUI, you will need CMMC Level 2 certification, which requires implementing all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls and passing a third-party assessment.
Ready to Protect Your Kearny Mesa Business?
Get a free security assessment from San Diego's local cybersecurity experts. We're headquartered in Point Loma, just minutes from Kearny Mesa.