Where Is My CUI? How a CUI Discovery Tool Can Simplify Compliance

Locating Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) within your environment is a critical step toward achieving Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance. CUI is sensitive, unclassified information that must be safeguarded from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. Failure to properly identify and secure it can lead to serious risks including data breaches, compliance penalties, and loss of DoD contracts.

Why a CUI Discovery Tool Is Essential

Finding and documenting where CUI lives is vital for several reasons:

Accurate CMMC Assessment Scoping

The scope of your CMMC assessment is defined by where CUI resides and how it flows through your systems. A reliable CUI discovery tool ensures you identify all locations so nothing is overlooked.

Implementing Required Safeguards

Once you’ve located CUI, you can apply the security measures required by the CMMC framework, such as moving sensitive data to secure enclaves.

Proving Compliance During Audits

A CUI discovery tool like Teramis helps you demonstrate to assessors that you can consistently locate, manage, and protect CUI reducing the risk of non-compliance findings.

How to Find CUI in Your Environment

Organizations can use several methods to locate CUI across systems, networks, and processes:

1. Automated CUI Discovery

   Utilizing a purpose-built CUI discovery tool like Teramis enables you to quickly scan file shares, endpoints, cloud storage, and email systems for CUI. Teramis uses advanced keyword, pattern, and metadata analysis to pinpoint sensitive information with high accuracy.

   
   

2. Manual Mapping

   For complex or legacy environments, manually tracing CUI flow and storage locations may still be required. This process includes documenting where CUI is stored, processed, or transmitted.

   
   

3. Cross-Department Collaboration

   Partnering with data owners, subject matter experts, and staff who handle CUI can reveal repositories and processes that automated scans might miss.

Best Practices for CUI Identification

To ensure your CUI discovery process is both comprehensive and ongoing, follow these best practices:

Develop a CUI Identification Plan

Outline your methodology, scope to ensure a consistent approach.

Train and Educate Staff

Help employees understand what qualifies as CUI, why it matters, and how to handle it securely.

Apply Strict Access Controls

Limit CUI access to authorized personnel to reduce the risk of accidental exposure.

Continuously Monitor and Update

As your systems and data change, update your CUI inventory and repeat discovery scans regularly.

By leveraging a purpose-built CUI discovery tool like Teramis, organizations can streamline the process of locating and managing CUI, strengthen their compliance posture, and reduce the risks associated with mishandling sensitive information.