CMMC Enclave Strategy: Reducing Compliance Scope for NC Manufacturers

A CMMC enclave strategy isolates Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) into a defined, secured boundary within your IT environment, dramatically reducing the number of systems, users, and controls requiring CMMC compliance. For North Carolina manufacturers, this approach can reduce compliance scope from hundreds of endpoints to as few as 20, cutting implementation costs by 40-70%.

Key takeaway: According to Totem Technologies' enclave analysis, scope reduction means preventing as many assets as possible from handling CUI by controlling where CUI flows and erecting barriers to prevent it from being handled superfluously. A well-designed enclave might secure 20 workstations instead of 200, train 15 people instead of the entire workforce, and dramatically reduce ongoing maintenance costs, making CMMC certification achievable for small and mid-size contractors.

For defense manufacturers across North Carolina's Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, and Research Triangle, the enclave approach transforms CMMC from an overwhelming enterprise-wide overhaul into a manageable, bounded project. Whether your facility in High Point, Greensboro, or Fayetteville handles CUI for a single DoD contract or multiple programs, enclave architecture provides a practical path to certification.

Need a CMMC enclave strategy for your NC facility? Preferred Data Corporation designs and implements cybersecurity architectures for North Carolina defense manufacturers. With 37+ years of expertise and BBB A+ accreditation, we reduce your compliance burden. Call (336) 886-3282 or schedule a consultation.

What Is a CMMC Enclave?

According to the CMMC Assessment Process (CAP), an enclave is "a set of system resources that operate within the same security domain and that share the protection of a single, common, and continuous security perimeter." In practical terms, it is a logically and physically isolated environment where CUI is processed, stored, and transmitted, separate from the rest of your organization's IT systems.

Why Scope Matters for Cost

Every system that touches CUI, or connects to systems that touch CUI, falls within your CMMC assessment scope. This includes workstations, servers, network devices, mobile devices, and cloud services. According to PreVeil's enclave analysis, any interconnected IT components, whether those connections are physical or digital and whether or not they are used to actually handle CUI, are considered in-scope because all connections represent a potential attack vector.

Without an enclave (enterprise approach):

• All 200 workstations in scope
• All network infrastructure in scope
• All 150 employees require training
• All servers must meet 110 controls
• Assessment covers entire IT environment

With an enclave (scoped approach):

• 20 CUI workstations in scope
• Dedicated enclave network in scope
• 15 CUI-handling employees require full training
• Enclave servers meet all 110 controls
• Assessment focused on bounded environment

Enclave vs. Enterprise: Making the Decision

According to Stratus Services' planning guide, a business must decide whether to bring their entire existing IT infrastructure into scope or build a separate, compliant enclave for DoD work. This decision dramatically affects scope, timeline, cost, and long-term maintainability.

Choose Enterprise Approach When:

• CUI flows through most of your business processes
• More than 50% of employees regularly handle CUI
• Your IT environment is already relatively mature and well-controlled
• DoD work represents the majority of your revenue
• You want uniform security across the organization

Choose Enclave Approach When:

• CUI handling is limited to specific roles or departments
• Fewer than 30% of employees need CUI access
• Your general IT environment would require extensive remediation
• DoD work is a subset of your total business
• You need to achieve compliance quickly with limited budget
• You are a manufacturer with clear separation between DoD and commercial work

PDC Insight: Most North Carolina manufacturers in the Piedmont Triad have both DoD and commercial work. The enclave approach allows them to achieve CMMC compliance for defense contracts without overhauling IT systems that adequately serve their commercial operations.

Enclave Architecture Patterns

Pattern 1: Dedicated Physical Network

A physically separated network segment with its own switches, firewall, and servers, connected to the main network only through carefully controlled and monitored access points.

Architecture components:

• Dedicated firewall separating enclave from corporate network
• Separate switches and cabling for CUI workstations
• Dedicated servers for CUI processing and storage
• Encrypted connections for any necessary data exchange
• Physical access controls (badge readers, cameras) for enclave areas
• Separate internet connection or carefully controlled shared access

Best for: Manufacturers in High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem with dedicated areas for DoD work and the physical space to accommodate separate infrastructure.

Cost range: $50,000-$150,000 for infrastructure plus ongoing maintenance

Trade-offs:

• Strongest isolation and clearest assessment boundary
• Highest upfront cost
• Requires physical space for separate equipment
• May require employees to move between workstations for CUI vs. commercial work

Pattern 2: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

According to Exostar's enclave guide, VDI solutions provide a safe, remote desktop environment where CUI is processed and stored. Users access the VDI from their endpoint devices, but all data remains in the controlled virtual environment.

Architecture components:

• VDI platform (Citrix, VMware Horizon, or Azure Virtual Desktop)
• Hosted in compliant data center or GCC High cloud
• Thin client or restricted endpoints for CUI access
• MFA required for all VDI sessions
• Session recording and monitoring
• No local data storage on access devices

Best for: NC manufacturers with remote workers or multiple facilities needing CUI access from various locations, including Charlotte satellite offices or Raleigh engineering teams.

Cost range: $30,000-$100,000 for setup plus $50-$150/user/month ongoing

Trade-offs:

• Employees can access CUI from any location securely
• Lower physical infrastructure requirements
• Requires reliable network connectivity for acceptable performance
• Latency-sensitive applications may perform poorly
• Ongoing per-user costs can exceed dedicated hardware over time

Pattern 3: Cloud-Based Enclave (GCC High)

Deploy the CUI environment entirely within Microsoft 365 GCC High or other FedRAMP High-authorized cloud solutions, leveraging the cloud provider's compliance controls.

Architecture components:

• Microsoft 365 GCC High tenant for email, file storage, and collaboration
• Azure Government for any custom applications
• Intune for device management and compliance policies
• Conditional Access policies enforcing CUI device requirements
• Azure Information Protection for data classification and labeling
• Cloud-only identity with dedicated Azure AD tenant

Best for: Smaller NC defense contractors (10-50 employees) where most CUI handling involves documents, email, and collaboration rather than custom manufacturing applications.

Cost range: $20,000-$75,000 for migration plus GCC High licensing ($35-$60/user/month, approximately 50-100% premium over commercial)

Trade-offs:

• Leverages Microsoft's FedRAMP High authorization for many controls
• Lower infrastructure management burden
• GCC High licensing costs significantly more than commercial
• Feature availability lags commercial Microsoft 365
• Not all manufacturing applications support GCC High
• Minimum license requirements may apply (historically 500 seats, now flexible)

Pattern 4: Hybrid Approach

Combine elements of physical, virtual, and cloud architectures based on specific CUI workflow requirements.

Example hybrid for NC manufacturer:

• GCC High for CUI email and document collaboration
• Dedicated physical workstations for CUI-related CAD/CAM work
• VDI for remote engineering access to CUI designs
• Shared corporate network with strict segmentation controls
• Unified identity management across enclave components

Best for: Manufacturers with complex CUI workflows spanning office collaboration, engineering design, and shop-floor operations across facilities in the Piedmont Triad or greater North Carolina region.

Cost range: $75,000-$250,000 depending on complexity

Implementing an Enclave: Step-by-Step

Step 1: CUI Scope Assessment (Weeks 1-3)

Before designing an enclave, you must understand exactly where CUI lives and flows in your organization.

• Identify all contracts requiring CUI handling
• Map CUI data flows from receipt through processing to delivery
• Identify all personnel who handle CUI in any form
• Document all systems that process, store, or transmit CUI
• Determine minimum viable scope for CUI operations

Step 2: Architecture Design (Weeks 4-6)

Based on the scope assessment, select and design the appropriate enclave pattern.

• Choose primary architecture pattern (or hybrid)
• Define enclave boundary and access points
• Design network segmentation and monitoring
• Plan identity and access management
• Document the System Security Plan (SSP) boundary

Step 3: Infrastructure Deployment (Weeks 7-14)

Build the enclave environment with all required security controls.

• Deploy network segmentation (network infrastructure)
• Configure firewalls and access control lists
• Set up CUI workstations and servers
• Implement encryption for data at rest and in transit
• Deploy monitoring and logging infrastructure
• Configure backup and recovery for enclave systems

Step 4: Policy and Procedure Development (Weeks 8-12)

Document how personnel interact with the enclave environment.

• CUI handling procedures for enclave users
• Access request and approval processes
• Incident response procedures specific to CUI
• Training requirements and schedules
• Visitor and maintenance access procedures

Step 5: Training and Transition (Weeks 13-16)

Prepare personnel for the new enclave workflow.

• Train all CUI-handling staff on enclave procedures
• Conduct tabletop exercises for incident scenarios
• Migrate existing CUI to enclave environment
• Verify all CUI has been removed from non-enclave systems
• Test all workflows for functionality and compliance

Step 6: Assessment Preparation (Weeks 17-20)

Prepare evidence and documentation for C3PAO assessment.

• Complete internal assessment against all 110 controls
• Gather evidence artifacts for each control
• Address any gaps identified in internal review
• Schedule C3PAO assessment
• Conduct mock assessment with internal team or consultant

Ready to design your CMMC enclave? Preferred Data Corporation helps North Carolina defense manufacturers implement enclave architectures that reduce scope and cost. Call (336) 886-3282 or start your enclave planning.

Common Enclave Trade-Offs and Mitigations

Operational Friction

Challenge: Employees switching between CUI and commercial environments creates workflow disruption.

Mitigation: Design the transition to be as seamless as possible. Dual-monitor setups with one screen for enclave VDI and one for corporate work. Single sign-on where security allows. Physical proximity of CUI workstations to regular work areas.

Scalability Limitations

Challenge: As DoD work grows, the enclave may become a bottleneck.

Mitigation: Design the enclave with 30-50% capacity headroom. Plan expansion triggers (when utilization exceeds 70%, begin expansion planning). Consider hybrid approaches that can scale specific components independently.

System Duplication

Challenge: Enclaves often require duplicate systems (email, file storage, collaboration tools) for the CUI environment.

Mitigation: According to EnComputers' analysis, while system duplication introduces operational friction, the cost savings from reduced scope typically far outweigh the duplication costs. Budget for the duplication and include it in contract pricing.

Long-Term Maintenance

Challenge: Maintaining two environments (enclave and corporate) requires ongoing resources.

Mitigation: Partner with a managed IT provider who handles both environments under a single agreement. Automate patching, monitoring, and compliance reporting across both environments.

Cost Savings Analysis: Enclave vs. Enterprise

For a typical 100-person North Carolina manufacturer with 20 employees handling CUI:

Total estimated savings for NC mid-size manufacturer: $150,000-$350,000 in first-year costs by choosing enclave over enterprise approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a CMMC enclave mean my corporate network does not need any security?

No. Your corporate network still needs appropriate security for your business, but it does not need to meet all 110 NIST 800-171 controls. The enclave boundary separates what requires CMMC-level security from what needs standard business security. Your corporate environment should still follow cybersecurity best practices and may need to meet other requirements (PCI DSS, state privacy laws, etc.).

Can employees access both the enclave and corporate environment from the same device?

This depends on your enclave architecture. VDI-based enclaves allow access from corporate devices through the virtual desktop, keeping CUI isolated in the virtual environment. Physical enclaves typically require dedicated hardware. Cloud-based enclaves may use managed devices with conditional access policies. Each approach has different implications for assessment scope.

How do I handle CUI that arrives via email from a prime contractor?

Email containing CUI must flow into your enclave environment. Options include a dedicated CUI email address within GCC High, automated email routing rules that detect and redirect CUI-marked messages, or manual procedures where recipients transfer CUI emails to the enclave system. The key is ensuring CUI never resides in your commercial email environment.

Will a C3PAO assess only my enclave or my entire network?

The C3PAO assesses your defined CMMC boundary, which includes the enclave plus any systems that provide security services to the enclave (DNS, SIEM, etc.). Systems completely outside the boundary are not assessed. However, the assessor will verify that your boundary is properly defined and that CUI truly does not flow outside it. Incomplete scope documentation is a common assessment failure point.

Can I expand my enclave later as DoD work grows?

Yes, and you should plan for expansion from the beginning. According to CISO Inc.'s enclave guide, design your enclave with growth capacity and clear expansion procedures. When DoD work grows beyond enclave capacity, you can expand the enclave incrementally or, if growth is substantial enough, transition to an enterprise-wide approach.

Build Your CMMC Enclave with PDC

Preferred Data Corporation has served North Carolina businesses for over 37 years from our High Point headquarters. Our BBB A+ rated team designs and implements CMMC enclave architectures for Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, and Fayetteville defense manufacturers.

Our CMMC enclave services include:

• CUI scope assessment and data flow mapping
• Enclave architecture design (physical, VDI, cloud, or hybrid)
• Network infrastructure segmentation and deployment
• Cloud solutions migration to GCC High
• Cybersecurity control implementation and monitoring
• Assessment preparation and evidence gathering
• Ongoing managed IT for enclave maintenance

Reduce your CMMC scope and cost today. Call Preferred Data Corporation at (336) 886-3282 or request an enclave strategy consultation. We will show you how an enclave approach can make CMMC achievable for your North Carolina manufacturing operation.