At a high level, an enclave is a secured, self-contained part of your IT environment that includes only the systems and users that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It operates within a single, protected security boundary. By limiting CMMC compliance to just this portion of the environment, organizations can avoid upgrading their entire infrastructure—making the process more efficient and cost-effective, especially for small to midsize businesses.

Should You Use an Enclave?

While enclaves offer a promising and cost effective route to CMMC compliance, they aren’t appropriate for every organization. Here are a few key factors to consider

Clear understanding of CUI is essential: An enclave strategy only works if the organization has full visibility into where CUI is stored, processed, and transmitted. Without that, it’s not possible to define or isolate the enclave properly.

User access impacts effectiveness: If a large portion of your workforce (e.g., more than 15%) needs regular access to CUI, containing the enclave becomes more challenging. Increased access points raise the likelihood of non-compliant workarounds and unintentional data spillage.

Dataflow must support separation: Enclaves rely on well-defined and enforceable data boundaries. If CUI regularly moves between teams, tools, or physical locations, maintaining separation without broader infrastructure changes can be nearly impossible.

Preparing for an Enclave