When compliance requirements start showing up in contracts, whether it’s CMMC, NIST 800-171, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, it’s common for leadership to turn to the internal IT team and ask:
“Can you handle this?”
Sometimes the answer is yes. But more often, it’s yes… sort of. Followed by months of confusion, false starts, and missed requirements.
In this article, we’ll break down what most internal IT teams get right, what they often overlook, and how to decide whether your team has what it takes to manage compliance independently, or if outside support could save time, cost, and risk.
What Internal IT Teams Do Well
First, let’s acknowledge what your IT team brings to the table:
That makes them a strong foundation for supporting cybersecurity and compliance however, compliance demands more than just technology.
What Most IT Teams Miss
Here are the most common gaps we see when internal IT teams try to tackle compliance alone:
1. Documentation and Policy Development
Compliance frameworks like NIST 800-171 and CMMC don’t just care about whether a control is in place. They want to see how it’s implemented, documented, maintained, and enforced.
Most IT professionals are not trained in creating:
- System Security Plans (SSP)
- Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M)
- Role-based access policies
- Configuration management standards
- Audit logs and data retention policies
Without formal, written documentation, even well-secured systems can fail an audit.
2. Regulatory Interpretation and Scope
Compliance frameworks are full of vague language. Terms like “adequate security,” “reasonable monitoring,” and “acceptable risk.” IT teams may secure systems well, but still misinterpret what’s required.
For example:
- Do you know which controls apply to subcontractors?
- Can you define how your cloud provider handles CUI under FedRAMP?
- Are you using the correct impact level for your system categorization?
Misunderstanding the scope is one of the top reasons companies fail audits, even with good IT.
3. Compliance Project Management
Meeting compliance goals means managing dozens of tasks across departments: IT, HR, legal, finance, and operations.
Most IT professionals aren’t trained project managers. They may struggle to:
- Track milestones and deliverables
- Keep leadership informed
- Manage dependencies with outside vendors.
- Prioritize security work alongside day-to-day responsibilities
Compliance work often stalls out without a clear project structure or gets pushed to the back burner.
4. Audit Readiness and Reporting
Even if everything is in place, many internal teams are caught off guard when it’s time to prove it.
Common missteps include:
- Incomplete or outdated documentation
- Missing evidence of training or access reviews
- No record of control testing or monitoring
- Lack of preparation for interviews or walkthroughs
An audit isn’t just about being secure. It’s about demonstrating that you are, with evidence and clarity.
5. Security Strategy and Risk Management
Most IT teams are tactical, not strategic. They fix problems, roll out tools, and support users. However, compliance requires a risk-based, forward-looking approach that includes:
- Formal risk assessments
- Incident response planning
- Security governance and leadership alignment
- Ongoing monitoring and improvement cycles
These areas are often outside the scope of internal IT roles, and that’s okay. But it means help is needed.
So… Can Your IT Team Handle Compliance Alone?
Maybe, but here’s a better question: Should your IT team handle compliance alone?
If your team is already stretched thin, lacks experience with documentation, or hasn’t managed a formal compliance initiative before, asking them to “just figure it out” can lead to:
- Wasted time and rework
- Delays in contract awards or renewals
- Failed audits or disqualified bids
- Burnout and turnover
The Hybrid Approach That Works
Many successful organizations use a hybrid model.
This keeps costs down, leverages your team’s knowledge, and fills the gaps that often derail compliance efforts.
Final Thought
Your IT team is a vital asset, but compliance requires more than technical know-how. It demands project management, policy development, documentation, risk strategy, and regulatory interpretation.
This keeps costs down, leverages your team’s knowledge, and fills the gaps that often derail compliance efforts.