TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Chung Shan Institute for Science and Technology announced on Tuesday that it earned Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2 certification after undergoing two years of stringent review.

The institute said that the US Department of Defense developed CMMC Level 2 to ensure defense contractors can effectively protect Controlled Unclassified Information. The certification evaluates over 110 criteria, including incident response, access control, risk management, and cybersecurity awareness training, according to CNA.

Since 2023, units, including NCSIST’s Military-Civil Integration Center, have conducted internal audits, enhanced staff training, and conducted multiple rounds of simulated assessments. After undergoing a final audit by a CMMC Third Party Assessment Organization this year, the institute passed the certification, becoming the first institution in Taiwan to do so.

The achievement marks a major milestone in aligning NCSIST operations with international defense standards and demonstrates its capability to undertake high-level US defense projects, per CNA. The institute said it plans to leverage this experience to promote additional certifications for other key research programs and help domestic partners improve their cybersecurity maturity.

The institute has signed a contract with US defense company Anduril to develop low-cost loitering munitions designed for mass production. Anduril assessed that Taiwan could establish a supply chain in 18 months.