Since November 2022—when ChatGPT launched—phishing has transformed from a labor-intensive attack vector into an industrialized threat operating at unprecedented scale. The statistics are staggering: researchers report a 1,265% to 4,151% increase in phishing emails since ChatGPT’s release, with AI-generated campaigns achieving a 54% click-through rate compared to just 12% for traditional attacks. What once took a skilled attacker 16 hours to craft now takes an AI system five minutes. The phishing landscape hasn’t merely evolved; it has been fundamentally restructured by artificial intelligence.

A practical guide to understanding CMMC compliance and building a System Security Plan with limited IT staff and budget. Why CMMC Matters for Small Business What is CMMC? Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the Department of Defense’s way of verifying that contractors protecting sensitive defense information have their security house in order. It’s not optional if you work with the DoD—it’s a requirement. If your small business: Sells to the Department of Defense Works as a subcontractor on DoD projects Handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Competes for federal contracts over $150,000 …you need CMMC compliance.