The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is an obligatory program developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that its contractors and suppliers meet specific cybersecurity standards, especially when processing, storing, and transmitting sensitive government information like Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
CMMC compliance might be challenging without proper guidance due to the program’s comprehensive nature and wide-ranging practices. This is particularly true for SMBs with limited resources and bandwidth to handle such an all-encompassing program.
This guide will help you overcome these challenges by outlining everything you should know about CMMC. We’ll cover:
- CMMC’s meaning and purpose
- The program’s scope and benefits
- Available certification levels
- Overview of the compliance process
What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification?
CMMC is a cybersecurity program developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure the security of Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
It outlines a standardized set of cybersecurity practices and requirements that help organizations within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB)—and the DoD itself—secure their data and systems against risks like data breaches, internal security threats, and other significant security vulnerabilities.
CMMC 2.0 is the latest and currently applicable version of the program. It introduced several changes to the initial CMMC 1.0, most notably:
- Reduction of certification levels from five to three
- Decreased number of security domains encompassed by the program (with increased rigor and scrutiny of each domain’s objectives and controls)
- Introduction of third-party assessments for specific levels
We’ll focus on CMMC 2.0 throughout this guide to ensure you have the most recent information necessary to ensure compliance.
{{cta_withimage27="/cta-blocks"}} | CMMC compliance checklist
Who needs to comply with the CMMC?
All contractors and subcontractors working with the DoD that collect, process, store, or transmit FCI or CUI must comply with the CMMC. Examples of such organizations include:
- Defense contractors
- IT service providers
- Commercial suppliers of the DoD
- Logistics firms working on DoD contracts
The reach of CMMC extends across the entire defense supply chain, impacting thousands of organizations.
“
CMMC is one of the biggest cybersecurity initiatives in United States history, so it undoubtedly has a profound impact on the future of cybersecurity in the U.S. With CMMC, the bar is being raised to a new standard for contractors within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and it will impact thousands of government contractors and their subcontractors.”
Even though the U.S. DoD introduced the program, it applies to all organizations, regardless of their location—both domestic and foreign contractors are equally responsible for implementation. An organization’s size also doesn’t matter, so CMMC is applicable across the board.
The only organizations exempt from CMMC compliance are providers of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items, as defined in FAR 2.101. This includes construction material, though construction contractors might provide other products that make them subject to CMMC compliance.
CMMC applies both to current and future government contract holders, so it’s best to plan ahead even if you’re not currently working with the DoD. Ensuring full CMMC compliance can be lengthy, so the sooner you start, the better.
Why you need CMMC compliance
CMMC compliance will be mandatory for organizations that want to establish or maintain partnerships with the DoD once the program becomes fully enforceable (more on the implementation timeline later in this guide). This means that getting certified can be a significant revenue driver for businesses aiming to work with the DoD.
If you currently have a contract with the DoD, CMMC non-compliance might have several consequences, most notably:
- Contract termination
- Loss of future business opportunities
- Potential legal consequences in case of severe security breaches
Even if you don’t currently plan to work with the DoD, obtaining a CMMC certificate can still offer valuable benefits, including:
- Alignment with industry-standard frameworks: CMMC incorporates many best practices from established security frameworks like NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172. As a result, compliance with CMMC also means your organization is adhering to these industry-standard security practices and requirements.
- Improved cyber resilience: CMMC encompasses highly effective security practices and requirements, so getting certified helps protect your organizations from both common and more elaborate security threats.
- Increased transparency and trust: Besides the DoD, various potential clients and other stakeholders consider CMMC certification as proof of a strong security posture, which helps build trust with them.
{{cta_withimage22="/cta-blocks"}} | The audit ready checklist
CMMC certification levels
CMMC offers three certification levels outlined in the following table:
The level of certification your organization requires depends on several factors, most notably:
- The type of information processed, stored, and transmitted by the organization (FCI, CUI, or both)
- Contractual obligations
- Your organization’s role in the DoD supply chain
The DoD plans to include the necessary certification level in future contracts and solicitations to clarify contract requirements and help avoid guesswork. If you currently work with the DoD and aren’t certain about the required level, you can contact your DoD contract officer or primary contractor.
Besides the frameworks CMMC controls are based on, the program also overlaps with other common security standards, such as:
- SOC 2
- NIST 800-53
- ISO 27001
If you’ve already achieved compliance with some of them, you should have a head start with CMMC compliance. Organizations that have implemented some of the NIST frameworks enjoy a particular advantage, thanks to their considerable overlap with the CMMC.
How to achieve CMMC certification
While the specifics of the CMMC certification process largely depend on your organization’s current security posture, the general steps you’ll need to take are:
- Define the certification scope: Identify the parts of your IT infrastructure that are covered by CMMC. This includes assets that process, store, or transmit FCI and/or CUI, as well as government-furnished equipment (GFE) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The specific scope depends on the certification level, and you can consult the DoD’s scoping guides for details.
- Conduct the appropriate assessment: After scoping your IT infrastructure, conduct the assessment type corresponding to your chosen certification level.
- Document and address findings: Regardless of the assessment type, you should collect robust documentation that will serve as evidence of implemented practices. If any gaps are identified, address them promptly to ensure full compliance.
- Submit results to the relevant system:
- Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS): Used for Level 1 and self-assessed Level 2 certifications.
- CMMC Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS): Only accessible by C3PAOs for entering scores from third-party Level 2 assessments. For Level 3, the U.S. government conducts the assessment and enters the results.
- Submit annual affirmations: If you obtain a Level 2 or Level 3 certificate, you must submit annual compliance affirmations to verify continuous adherence to the CMMC requirements.
- Renew the certificate as needed: Depending on your chosen certification level, you’ll need to renew the certificate annually (for Level 1) or triennially (for Levels 2 and 3).
If you’re pursuing Level 3 certification, you must have a Level 2 certificate as a prerequisite and submit annual affirmations for both levels.
If your assessment uncovers gaps but you’ve implemented at least 80 percent of CMMC practices, you can obtain a Conditional Certificate. In this case, you’ll need to submit a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M). Then, you'll have 180 days to address the gaps before receiving your Final Certificate. All gaps must be remediated to receive the final certificate.
{{cta_withimage27="/cta-blocks"}} | CMMC compliance checklist
CMMC implementation timeline
As per the CMMC Final Rule, the DoD decided to implement the program gradually so that organizations can prepare and ensure full compliance without excessive pressure. The program will be released in four phases:
- Phase 1: By mid-2025, the DoD will start including the self-assessment requirements for Level 1 and Level 2 certificates in new solicitations. While you may not need to hold a certificate by then, you’ll have to affirm compliance based on the self-assessment results.
- Phase 2: By mid-2026, contractors will have to obtain formal certifications for specific Level 2 contracts that require third-party assessments.
- Phase 3: By mid-2027, the DoD will begin enforcing Level 3 certification requirements.
- Phase 4: By mid-2028, all CMMC requirements will be fully implemented across all DoD contracts. All solicitations will clearly specify the relevant CMMC requirements contractors must meet if they wish to bid.
While gradual implementation helps organizations implement the necessary practices in a timely manner, you might still encounter notable challenges. Experts agree that it generally takes 6–18 months to prepare for CMMC Level 2 certification, which is the most common, though various obstacles can significantly extend this time frame (e.g., implementing new security practices, aligning with the required cybersecurity standards, and coordinating third-party assessments). Level 1 will likely require less time, given there are only 15 practices to implement, whereas Level 3 may take longer.
CMMC compliance challenges
The main reasons some organizations struggle with CMMC compliance include:
- Limited resources: Your IT infrastructure might lack the hardware or software components necessary to meet all CMMC requirements, which could be costly—especially if your security or compliance budget isn’t particularly high. The certification process might also be resource-intensive in terms of the time and effort you’ll need to spend implementing CMMC practices.
- Low headcount: Small organizations often lack in-house compliance and security expertise, which can affect their certification process. Also, some requirements might call for teams that may be understaffed in your organization (e.g., a dedicated incident response team required to implement the IR.L3-3.6.2E requirement for Level 3 certification).
- Complex requirements: Some CMMC security practices may require complex procedural or technical implementation workflows, which can be challenging without the right guidance and process automation.
Many organizations were caught off guard by the introduction of CMMC—not only in meeting baseline requirements but in adopting a more structured, long-term approach to security. Preparing for evaluations and maintaining compliance can put significant pressure on security teams, especially when processes feel rushed or resources are stretched thin. This can hinder compliance efforts and make it harder to implement necessary security practices effectively.
These challenges are made worse by a lack of proper planning and resource allocation, as well as manual security and compliance workflows that many organizations still rely on. Such workflows often involve:
- Laborious control testing
- Inefficient evidence collection
- Dispersed documentation systems
You need to understand the full scope of the CMMC compliance effort to avoid these challenges and develop an effective process. With proper planning and resource allocation, you can avoid rushed efforts and better manage your compliance process. A dedicated compliance solution can help you automate processes, reduce manual work, and stay on track with your security practices.
Streamline CMMC certification with Vanta
Vanta is a comprehensive trust management platform that streamlines the CMMC compliance process. It provides resources and prescriptive guidance across controls, policies, and documents, reducing uncertainty as you work towards certification.
The platform offers a robust CMMC product equipped with various helpful features that automate up to 50% of CMMC workflows, most notably:
- Out-of-the-box support for all three certification levels
- Automated evidence collection supported by 375+ integrations
- Automated gap assessments on a real-time dashboard
- Pre-mapped security controls aligned to NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172
- Built-in resources like policy templates
- Centralized tracking and continuous monitoring of CMMC practices
If you’ve already implemented overlapping security frameworks and standards, Vanta can help you avoid duplicative work by automatically mapping them to the relevant CMMC practices. This way, you can free up significant time you’d otherwise spend on unnecessary security reviews and other implementation tasks.
You can also tap into Vanta’s extensive partner network to find reputable C3PAOs necessary for Level 2 (and consequently Level 3) certification. Vanta also partners with various Managed Service Providers (MSPs) that can further streamline the compliance process.
Schedule a custom demo of Vanta’s CMMC product to see its features live and learn how they help you get CMMC compliant.
{{cta_simple33="/cta-blocks"}} | CMMC product page
A note from Vanta: Vanta is not a law firm, and this article does not constitute or contain legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. When determining your obligations and compliance with respect to relevant laws and regulations, you should consult a licensed attorney.
What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)?
Looking to automate up to 50% of the work for CMMC?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is an obligatory program developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that its contractors and suppliers meet specific cybersecurity standards, especially when processing, storing, and transmitting sensitive government information like Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
CMMC compliance might be challenging without proper guidance due to the program’s comprehensive nature and wide-ranging practices. This is particularly true for SMBs with limited resources and bandwidth to handle such an all-encompassing program.
This guide will help you overcome these challenges by outlining everything you should know about CMMC. We’ll cover:
- CMMC’s meaning and purpose
- The program’s scope and benefits
- Available certification levels
- Overview of the compliance process
What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification?
CMMC is a cybersecurity program developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure the security of Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
It outlines a standardized set of cybersecurity practices and requirements that help organizations within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB)—and the DoD itself—secure their data and systems against risks like data breaches, internal security threats, and other significant security vulnerabilities.
CMMC 2.0 is the latest and currently applicable version of the program. It introduced several changes to the initial CMMC 1.0, most notably:
- Reduction of certification levels from five to three
- Decreased number of security domains encompassed by the program (with increased rigor and scrutiny of each domain’s objectives and controls)
- Introduction of third-party assessments for specific levels
We’ll focus on CMMC 2.0 throughout this guide to ensure you have the most recent information necessary to ensure compliance.
{{cta_withimage27="/cta-blocks"}} | CMMC compliance checklist
Who needs to comply with the CMMC?
All contractors and subcontractors working with the DoD that collect, process, store, or transmit FCI or CUI must comply with the CMMC. Examples of such organizations include:
- Defense contractors
- IT service providers
- Commercial suppliers of the DoD
- Logistics firms working on DoD contracts
The reach of CMMC extends across the entire defense supply chain, impacting thousands of organizations.
“
CMMC is one of the biggest cybersecurity initiatives in United States history, so it undoubtedly has a profound impact on the future of cybersecurity in the U.S. With CMMC, the bar is being raised to a new standard for contractors within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and it will impact thousands of government contractors and their subcontractors.”
Even though the U.S. DoD introduced the program, it applies to all organizations, regardless of their location—both domestic and foreign contractors are equally responsible for implementation. An organization’s size also doesn’t matter, so CMMC is applicable across the board.
The only organizations exempt from CMMC compliance are providers of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items, as defined in FAR 2.101. This includes construction material, though construction contractors might provide other products that make them subject to CMMC compliance.
CMMC applies both to current and future government contract holders, so it’s best to plan ahead even if you’re not currently working with the DoD. Ensuring full CMMC compliance can be lengthy, so the sooner you start, the better.
Why you need CMMC compliance
CMMC compliance will be mandatory for organizations that want to establish or maintain partnerships with the DoD once the program becomes fully enforceable (more on the implementation timeline later in this guide). This means that getting certified can be a significant revenue driver for businesses aiming to work with the DoD.
If you currently have a contract with the DoD, CMMC non-compliance might have several consequences, most notably:
- Contract termination
- Loss of future business opportunities
- Potential legal consequences in case of severe security breaches
Even if you don’t currently plan to work with the DoD, obtaining a CMMC certificate can still offer valuable benefits, including:
- Alignment with industry-standard frameworks: CMMC incorporates many best practices from established security frameworks like NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172. As a result, compliance with CMMC also means your organization is adhering to these industry-standard security practices and requirements.
- Improved cyber resilience: CMMC encompasses highly effective security practices and requirements, so getting certified helps protect your organizations from both common and more elaborate security threats.
- Increased transparency and trust: Besides the DoD, various potential clients and other stakeholders consider CMMC certification as proof of a strong security posture, which helps build trust with them.
{{cta_withimage22="/cta-blocks"}} | The audit ready checklist
CMMC certification levels
CMMC offers three certification levels outlined in the following table:
The level of certification your organization requires depends on several factors, most notably:
- The type of information processed, stored, and transmitted by the organization (FCI, CUI, or both)
- Contractual obligations
- Your organization’s role in the DoD supply chain
The DoD plans to include the necessary certification level in future contracts and solicitations to clarify contract requirements and help avoid guesswork. If you currently work with the DoD and aren’t certain about the required level, you can contact your DoD contract officer or primary contractor.
Besides the frameworks CMMC controls are based on, the program also overlaps with other common security standards, such as:
- SOC 2
- NIST 800-53
- ISO 27001
If you’ve already achieved compliance with some of them, you should have a head start with CMMC compliance. Organizations that have implemented some of the NIST frameworks enjoy a particular advantage, thanks to their considerable overlap with the CMMC.
How to achieve CMMC certification
While the specifics of the CMMC certification process largely depend on your organization’s current security posture, the general steps you’ll need to take are:
- Define the certification scope: Identify the parts of your IT infrastructure that are covered by CMMC. This includes assets that process, store, or transmit FCI and/or CUI, as well as government-furnished equipment (GFE) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The specific scope depends on the certification level, and you can consult the DoD’s scoping guides for details.
- Conduct the appropriate assessment: After scoping your IT infrastructure, conduct the assessment type corresponding to your chosen certification level.
- Document and address findings: Regardless of the assessment type, you should collect robust documentation that will serve as evidence of implemented practices. If any gaps are identified, address them promptly to ensure full compliance.
- Submit results to the relevant system:
- Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS): Used for Level 1 and self-assessed Level 2 certifications.
- CMMC Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS): Only accessible by C3PAOs for entering scores from third-party Level 2 assessments. For Level 3, the U.S. government conducts the assessment and enters the results.
- Submit annual affirmations: If you obtain a Level 2 or Level 3 certificate, you must submit annual compliance affirmations to verify continuous adherence to the CMMC requirements.
- Renew the certificate as needed: Depending on your chosen certification level, you’ll need to renew the certificate annually (for Level 1) or triennially (for Levels 2 and 3).
If you’re pursuing Level 3 certification, you must have a Level 2 certificate as a prerequisite and submit annual affirmations for both levels.
If your assessment uncovers gaps but you’ve implemented at least 80 percent of CMMC practices, you can obtain a Conditional Certificate. In this case, you’ll need to submit a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M). Then, you'll have 180 days to address the gaps before receiving your Final Certificate. All gaps must be remediated to receive the final certificate.
{{cta_withimage27="/cta-blocks"}} | CMMC compliance checklist
CMMC implementation timeline
As per the CMMC Final Rule, the DoD decided to implement the program gradually so that organizations can prepare and ensure full compliance without excessive pressure. The program will be released in four phases:
- Phase 1: By mid-2025, the DoD will start including the self-assessment requirements for Level 1 and Level 2 certificates in new solicitations. While you may not need to hold a certificate by then, you’ll have to affirm compliance based on the self-assessment results.
- Phase 2: By mid-2026, contractors will have to obtain formal certifications for specific Level 2 contracts that require third-party assessments.
- Phase 3: By mid-2027, the DoD will begin enforcing Level 3 certification requirements.
- Phase 4: By mid-2028, all CMMC requirements will be fully implemented across all DoD contracts. All solicitations will clearly specify the relevant CMMC requirements contractors must meet if they wish to bid.
While gradual implementation helps organizations implement the necessary practices in a timely manner, you might still encounter notable challenges. Experts agree that it generally takes 6–18 months to prepare for CMMC Level 2 certification, which is the most common, though various obstacles can significantly extend this time frame (e.g., implementing new security practices, aligning with the required cybersecurity standards, and coordinating third-party assessments). Level 1 will likely require less time, given there are only 15 practices to implement, whereas Level 3 may take longer.
CMMC compliance challenges
The main reasons some organizations struggle with CMMC compliance include:
- Limited resources: Your IT infrastructure might lack the hardware or software components necessary to meet all CMMC requirements, which could be costly—especially if your security or compliance budget isn’t particularly high. The certification process might also be resource-intensive in terms of the time and effort you’ll need to spend implementing CMMC practices.
- Low headcount: Small organizations often lack in-house compliance and security expertise, which can affect their certification process. Also, some requirements might call for teams that may be understaffed in your organization (e.g., a dedicated incident response team required to implement the IR.L3-3.6.2E requirement for Level 3 certification).
- Complex requirements: Some CMMC security practices may require complex procedural or technical implementation workflows, which can be challenging without the right guidance and process automation.
Many organizations were caught off guard by the introduction of CMMC—not only in meeting baseline requirements but in adopting a more structured, long-term approach to security. Preparing for evaluations and maintaining compliance can put significant pressure on security teams, especially when processes feel rushed or resources are stretched thin. This can hinder compliance efforts and make it harder to implement necessary security practices effectively.
These challenges are made worse by a lack of proper planning and resource allocation, as well as manual security and compliance workflows that many organizations still rely on. Such workflows often involve:
- Laborious control testing
- Inefficient evidence collection
- Dispersed documentation systems
You need to understand the full scope of the CMMC compliance effort to avoid these challenges and develop an effective process. With proper planning and resource allocation, you can avoid rushed efforts and better manage your compliance process. A dedicated compliance solution can help you automate processes, reduce manual work, and stay on track with your security practices.
Streamline CMMC certification with Vanta
Vanta is a comprehensive trust management platform that streamlines the CMMC compliance process. It provides resources and prescriptive guidance across controls, policies, and documents, reducing uncertainty as you work towards certification.
The platform offers a robust CMMC product equipped with various helpful features that automate up to 50% of CMMC workflows, most notably:
- Out-of-the-box support for all three certification levels
- Automated evidence collection supported by 375+ integrations
- Automated gap assessments on a real-time dashboard
- Pre-mapped security controls aligned to NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172
- Built-in resources like policy templates
- Centralized tracking and continuous monitoring of CMMC practices
If you’ve already implemented overlapping security frameworks and standards, Vanta can help you avoid duplicative work by automatically mapping them to the relevant CMMC practices. This way, you can free up significant time you’d otherwise spend on unnecessary security reviews and other implementation tasks.
You can also tap into Vanta’s extensive partner network to find reputable C3PAOs necessary for Level 2 (and consequently Level 3) certification. Vanta also partners with various Managed Service Providers (MSPs) that can further streamline the compliance process.
Schedule a custom demo of Vanta’s CMMC product to see its features live and learn how they help you get CMMC compliant.
{{cta_simple33="/cta-blocks"}} | CMMC product page
A note from Vanta: Vanta is not a law firm, and this article does not constitute or contain legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. When determining your obligations and compliance with respect to relevant laws and regulations, you should consult a licensed attorney.
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