How do I enable macros in a CMMC level-2 setting

To enable macros in a document while adhering to CMMC level-2 settings, you can follow these steps:

1. Check Policy Settings: Ensure that your organization’s policy allows macros to run. If macros are blocked by policy, you may need to consult your IT department to adjust the settings.
2. Unblock the File: If the document has been downloaded from the internet, it may have a Mark of the Web. To unblock it:
   • Right-click on the file and select Properties.
   • In the General tab, look for an Unblock checkbox. If it exists, check it and click OK.
3. Open the Document: Open the document in Excel. If macros are still disabled, you may see a SECURITY RISK banner. Unfortunately, in this case, the option to Enable content may not be available due to the CMMC settings.
4. Trusted Locations: If you frequently use macros from specific locations, consider designating those locations as Trusted sites. This can often be done through your organization's IT policies.
5. Consult IT Support: If you are unable to enable macros due to restrictions, reach out to your IT support team for assistance. They can provide guidance specific to your organization's compliance with CMMC requirements.

Following these steps should help you enable macros while remaining compliant with CMMC level-2 settings.

Hi @Cheyenne Rolon,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

According to your concern, your company systems are configured under CMMC, and Office is currently blocking macros from external/untrusted sources by design. There are two scenarios in this situation:

(*) Scenario 1: If you see an error message in your file

If you see a red SECURITY RISK error message or a yellow bar with "Enable Content" option, you can unblock the macro using this guidance:

1- Unblock security box

• Open File Explorer, navigate to your Excel file that you need to enable macros 
• Right click on it and choose Properties 
• In General tab, check the Unblock box for the Security option. 

• If the Unblock options is not available, you can try moving the file to your local folder (C:/ or desktop) and try the Unblock Security box again.

2- Add the file location as a trusted location  

• Open Excel and go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings
• Select Trusted Locations in the left bane > Add new location > Browse and navigate to the folder where you keep the files need to enable macro 

• Press OK to close all the dialog boxes then try opening your macro-enabled excel file again 

3- Enable macros in Excel

• Open the Excel file that needs macro enabling.
• If you see a yellow warning bar at the top with the message "SECURITY WARNING: Macros have been disabled", click Enable Content to enable macro for the file 

You can also adjust the trust center settings for macros by 

• Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings 
• Click Macro Settings and choose between "Disable VBA macros with notification" (which will show a yellow warning bar as I mentioned above) and "Enable VBA macros" (only if you're sure the file is safe) 
• Then click OK to save the settings

For better visualization about this guideline, you can watch this video Unblock macros downloaded from the internet | Excel Off The Grid | Microsoft macro security changes… 

(Note: We're providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft and we can't make any representations regarding quality, safety or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above link)

(*) Scenario 2: If there is no option to enable or settings are greyed out

If this is the case, your device is policy-managed, and you cannot override the policy locally. The only and most effective step is contacting your organization administrator to help you enable the use of macro-enabled Excel file.

Please note that forum moderators do not have access to user account settings and cannot assist with logging in, resetting passwords, or changing access rights. While we do not have access to internal systems or administrative tools required to resolve account-specific or backend-related issues but we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.   

For reference: Macros from the internet are blocked by default in Office - Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn.

I hope this helps you move forward smoothly. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.  

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Looking forward to your response.

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