CMMC Compliance Services

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 is the Department of Defense’s updated framework to ensure defense contractors and subcontractors have the required safeguards in place to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI).

Contractors can achieve CMMC certification through a self-assessment, Certified Third-party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) assessment, or Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) evaluation based on their CMMC level.

Level 1: Level 1 certification is focused on protecting FCI and applicable to contractors that do not handle critical national security information. It requires meeting 15 basic security practices from FAR 52.204-21, such as access controls, malware protection, regular system scans, and audit logs.

Level 2: Level 2 applies to companies handling CUI. It requires 110 security controls from NIST SP 800-171 R2, covering areas like access control, incident response, and configuration management.

Level 3: Level 3 certification is intended for contractors associated with critical, high-priority defense programs. It builds on Level 2 and requires 110 controls from NIST SP 800-171 R2 plus 24 advanced controls from NIST SP 800-172. 

If you’re looking for a deeper dive into the CMMC levels and requirements, check out our blog post: Understanding CMMC 2.0: Levels, Requirements, and Next Steps

CMMC 2.0 certification became a DoD contractual requirement on November 10, 2025. Organizations looking to secure DoD business should already be preparing for, or actively pursuing, CMMC 2.0 certification to remain compliant and competitive.

The time required to become CMMC certified depends on your current security posture, environment complexity, and scope.

Organizations starting from scratch often require 6–12 months to fully prepare for CMMC Level 2, including remediation and evidence collection. Companies with mature security programs may move faster, but timelines should always account for C3PAO assessor availability and remediation cycles.

Failure to comply with CMMC requirements can result in:

• Ineligibility for new DoD contracts
• Loss of existing contracts or contract renewals
• Removal from defense supply chains
• Increased audit and regulatory risk

CMMC compliance is now a contractual requirement for organizations handling CUI.

No. CMMC does not replace NIST SP 800‑171; it builds on the framework and enforces it.

CMMC Level 2 is based directly on the 110 controls in NIST SP 800‑171 and adds formal assessment and certification requirements to ensure those controls are implemented and operating effectively.

CMMC is being implemented through a phased rollout.

• November 10, 2025 – Phase 1 begins:
  CMMC requirements start appearing in new DoD contracts. Level 1 and Level 2 self‑assessments are required for applicable contracts.
• November 10, 2026 – Phase 2 begins:
  CMMC Level 2 third‑party certification by a C3PAO becomes mandatory for many contracts involving CUI. 
• 2027–2028 – Full implementation:
  Additional phases introduce Level 3 requirements, with CMMC fully integrated into applicable DoD contracts by 2028.

Because CMMC certification is required at the time of contract award, organizations must be compliant before bidding. Waiting until a solicitation is released is often too late.

The most effective way to prepare for CMMC Level 2 is by following a structured readiness roadmap that addresses scoping, control implementation, evidence development, and remediation before C3PAO assessment.

Our CMMC Level 2 Readiness Roadmap provides a clear, step‑by‑step view of what organizations should complete prior to certification.