Example, read only. A sample company whose own team runs its CMMC program here, reviewed by a credentialed officer and kept current.
SI.L1-3.14.2 · FAR 52.204-21 (b)(1)(xiii) · NIST SP 800-171 3.14.2
Malicious Code Protection
Provide protection from malicious code at appropriate locations within organizational information systems
Reviewed by a credentialed officer on June 12, 2026. The officer advises and never signs; this corroborates your own self assessment and certifies nothing. The finding, and the affirmation, stay yours.
Who is accountable for this safeguard
They get the reminder when this evidence goes stale. Carries into next year's cycle.
What it means
Run antivirus / anti-malware on your computers and email server.
Why it matters
Defender is built into Windows and is sufficient for L1 if it's actually on. macOS has XProtect. The question primes ask: show me it's running on every covered device.
The proof on file
- defender-endpoint-health-report.pdfUploaded, checked by Charlie · June 10, 2026Sufficient
Every uploaded file is checked by Charlie the moment it arrives, so a gap is caught on the spot, not at the assessment. Pulls from Microsoft 365 and references to the Policy Center and registers come straight from where they live, so they skip that check.
The narrative on file
Microsoft Defender Antivirus runs on every managed workstation with real time protection on and enforced by Intune policy. The endpoint protection report on file shows all covered devices reporting healthy.
You answer in plain English. Charlie drafts the narrative for your System Security Plan, and you confirm it.
What makes it pass
- Every device in scope appears in the antivirus inventory or dashboard
- Real-time protection is visible as ON for each
- Email-protection setting is captured (Defender / Workspace Safe Browsing / equivalent)
- Signed inventory if using the manual path
Assessment objectives, NIST SP 800-171A
The team at Cedar Ridge Machine Works, LLC confirmed this safeguard MET. The evidence above is a living document: refresh rosters, devices, and accounts whenever the business changes and the safeguard stays current. The single signature happens in Attest & file, once all 17 are met.
Next safeguard →Need the exact clicks?Microsoft 365 / Defender, step by step
- 1Go to security.microsoft.com → Assets → Devices
- 2Screenshot the inventory showing antivirus status per device
- 3For a representative device, screenshot Windows Security → Virus & threat protection showing it is active
Capture: Device-inventory screenshot plus per-device protection status.
This is one of 17
Answer in plain English, file the proof, confirm it MET.
The team at Cedar Ridge Machine Works, LLC walked all 17 the same way. The platform explains each one in plain English and tells you what proof to grab or pulls it from Microsoft 365, Charlie drafts the paperwork with you, a credentialed officer reviews it, and your team confirms each one MET. The self assessment stays your act. Start free for 30 days, no credit card, or book a free advisory call if you would rather talk it through first.