Now that you have the very basic understanding of what CMMC is (New to CMMC), let us dive into the options you have moving forward.

The section below provides a general framework to help you navigate the path toward CMMC compliance, offering a clear progression from initial understanding to practical implementation.

It highlights the essential steps, considerations, and decision points that organizations within the DIB must address to meet the DoD's cybersecurity expectations. Whether you're just beginning your compliance journey or preparing for a formal assessment, this framework serves as a foundational guide to move forward with confidence and clarity.

The Cyber AB is the official accreditation body of the (CMM) ecosystem and the sole authorized non-governmental partner of the DoD in implementing and overseeing the CMMC conformance regime.

Navigating CMMC

Beginning your CMMC Journey

- You have options -

Determine your CMMC Posture

By Conducting a Gap Analysis for CMMC Level 1 or Level 2 Controls and Subcontrols

Conduct your own Gap Analysis

Use our free tool, CyberGap for CMMC Level 1 or 2

Outsource Gap Analysis

Directly hire a Cyber-AB Certified CCP Consultant

CMMC Compliance Artifacts

SharePoint or OneDrive, Google Drive, Local File Servers, or Excel Spreadsheets

Migrate information you currently keep in any combination of the above to a Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Application.

Armada Cyber Defense has developed a CMMC aligned GRC, CyberComply that also allows for CyberGap Gap Analysis results to be directly uploaded.

CMMC Compliance Artifacts

SharePoint or OneDrive, Google Drive, Local File Servers, or Excel Spreadsheets

Keep your information where it currently resides Relative Difficulty of Different areas compared to a GRC

Remediation

This is a structured process of fixing identified Gaps between your organization's current cybersecurity posture and the specific requirements outlined in the CMMC framework

Conduct your own Remediation

Self-remediation is possible but only if you have the structured resources, adequate staffing, and time to manage the complexity. Otherwise, it becomes risky and may lead to failure at the C3PAO stage.

Outsource Remediation

Directly hire a Cyber-AB Certified CCP Consultant

Mock C3PAO Level 2 Assessment

A mock C3PAO Level 2 assessment is a practice run before the real cybersecurity audit. It helps you find out what’s missing, broken, or not good enough before an official assessor comes in. Think of it like testing your parachute before you jump. If you wait for the real drop to find out something’s wrong, it’s too late. The mock assessment gives you a safe chance to fix mistakes, build confidence, and make sure you’re truly ready to pass your audit for certification.

Directly hire a Cyber-AB Certified CCA Consultant

(Note CCA, not CCP)

Schedule C3PAO L2 Assessment for Certification

Because there are over 70 accredited C3PAOs, each with different specialties, availability, and pricing models, selecting the right one can significantly impact your timeline and cost.

Request Quotes by Providing the following information:

• How many people are in the CMMC scope? (not total employees)

• How many locations will be involved? (offices, sites)

• What kind of data you handle? (specifically CUI)

• What your IT setup looks like? (cloud, on-prem, hybrid)

• Are you ready? (Do you already have your SSP and POA&M?)

• When do you want the assessment?

C3PAO Directory at Cyber-AB

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Estimated Costs and Timeframes

Estimated costs and timeframes for CMMC Level 2 Compliance will vary based on your current cybersecurity posture. It's important to note that the remediation effort is typically shared between the Organization Seeking Certification (OSC) (30%) and either a Cyber-AB Consultant or Your Internal Resources (70%)

Gap Analysis: 20 Hours - Cyber-AB Certified CCP $125 Per Hour - $2,500, or Do In-House with your Internal Resources $ ?

Remediation: 100 Hours - Cyber-AB Certified CCP $150 Per Hour - $15,000, or Do In-House with your Internal Resources $ ?

Mock Assessment - 30 Hours - Cyber-AB Certified CCA $220 Hours $6,600, Not Suggested you perform with your own In-House Resources

C3PAO CMMC Level 2 Audit for Certification - Minimum 3 CCAs - Range from $30,000 to $100,000, averaging roughly $40,000 for the majority of Small Business with One Location, Less than 20 Employees, and Less than 10 CUI Endpoints.

Potential Savings using your In-House Resources $17,500 with Mock Assessment. $24,100 without Mock Assessment (Not Recommended)*

U.S. Businesses by Company Size

U.S. Employees by Company Size

* Please Note: The cost and time estimates provided above are general approximations based on typical engagements. Actual pricing and effort may vary significantly depending on your current cybersecurity posture, documentation maturity, and environment complexity.

• Setup & Architecture 5x (Manual structuring required)

• Gap Analysis 4x (Tools and workflows must be built)

• Evidence Management 4x (No direct mapping to controls)

• Remediation Tracking 3x (Fragmented tools needed)

• Audit Preparation 5x (No standard format for evidence)

• Access Control & CUI 4x (Prone to misconfiguration)

Navigating CMMC

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