CMMC Compliance - Cybersecurity Compliance Guide

Key Takeaways

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance is a must for Defense Industrial Base (DIB) contractors, making it a business-critical initiative.
Certification to CMMC is not a one-time event. In between the every-three-year assessments, CMMC assumes that organizations are continually compliant with the active implementation of monitoring, documentation, and maintenance of required security controls.
Huntress Sensitive Data Mode protects Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) from access by the Huntress Security Operations Center (SOC), letting partners and customers continue using Huntress to satisfy multiple CMMC controls while limiting their Level 2 assessment scope. Because Huntress owns the entire tech stack, this capability can be applied across all products, which is something third-party MDRs can’t replicate.
Huntress provides security solutions that map to approximately 37 CMMC controls in one platform. This helps service providers and defense contractors meet requirements across multiple security domains without managing disparate tools and vendors.

CMMC is changing the way defense contractors handle data security. It’s an effort to make sure organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) meet the Department of Defense’s (DoD) cybersecurity maturity expectations

CMMC Level 2 is estimated to impact 80,000 organizations in the DIB, though this number is believed to be significantly underestimated. For defense contractors and those supporting them, here’s the deal: Knowing and understanding CMMC is table stakes for keeping the DoD contracts that keep the doors open.

Learn more: Navigating CMMC Compliance: How Huntress Helps

What is CMMC?

CMMC is a standardized framework for implementing cybersecurity across the defense industrial base. The DoD created the CMMC in response to the shortcomings of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the increasingly sophisticated and pervasive supply chain attacks.

CMMC applies (but at varying levels) to all DoD contractors and subcontractors, regardless of size or contract value, that manage Federal Contract Information (FCI) or CUI. This includes prime contractors that work directly with the DoD, subcontractors that partner with primes, or any organization that is a part of the DoD supply chain. The CMMC framework’s broad reach makes sure that every level of the supply chain demonstrates the appropriate level of cybersecurity hygiene to protect sensitive national security information.

Watch this video for a quick overview of why CMMC carries such strong enforcement power across industries.

The framework organizes security practices into progressive maturity levels—Level 1 is the protection of FCI with 15 basic cyber hygiene practices/controls, while Level 2 covers the protection of CUI with 110 controls based on NIST SP 800-171. This requires more complex implementations like advanced threat detection, incident response capabilities, and continuous monitoring. Level 3 is the top tier for contractors handling the most sensitive CUI and includes all 110 controls from Level 2 plus an additional 24 from NIST SP 800-172. The government conducts these assessments.

Why CMMC matters for service providers

Achieving CMMC certification is a key milestone on the path to full DoD compliance, making sure that contractors can securely handle controlled information while meeting the DoD’s evolving expectations for cybersecurity posture. It requires that organizations provide documented, auditable proof that an organization meets a specific set of controls aligned to NIST SP 800-171 and other federal security frameworks. Non-compliance isn’t just a paperwork problem. It can mean lost contracts, debarment from the DIB, and even potential legal or financial exposure under the federal acquisition regulations.

Yet despite the high stakes, most contractors are still far from meeting these standards. A 2024 study by CyberSheath and Merrill Research found that only 4% of defense contractors are CMMC compliant and ready for the certification process. Let that sink in—96% are not ready. Key challenges include limited IT staffing, insufficient familiarity with NIST SP 800-171, poor executive buy-in, and slow progress in implementing cybersecurity controls.

Understanding CMMC requirements

CMMC requirements cover 14 domains, including access control, incident response, risk management, system and communications protection, and configuration management. The challenge for service providers is translating these domains into actionable technical implementations for clients at different levels of IT maturity.

Technical safeguards such as authentication, encryption, and monitoring must meet CMMC-specific implementation and evidence requirements. All DoD subcontractors need documented policies, system security plans, training programs, and incident response procedures. For some subcontractors, this is a cultural shift that requires coaching on developing and maintaining these artifacts.

Common implementation challenges include limited internal IT resources, incomplete or outdated documentation, trouble scoping which systems and data fall under CMMC requirements, and uncertainty around which controls service providers can transfer versus what clients must implement directly.

The good news is that by working with experienced CMMC consultants or tech stack vendors who have already done the work, IT teams can better navigate these complexities, align technical controls to framework requirements, and close documentation gaps before the formal assessment.

Planning your CMMC journey: Cost and timeline expectations

Understanding the true cost of CMMC compliance

Understanding the cost of compliance allows you to set more accurate client expectations upfront. The first year implementation costs are significantly higher. Plan on the cost of the actual assessment, as well as planning and implementation, technology costs/licenses, monitoring, and documentation costs. Remember that compliance costs protect contract revenue worth many times the investment.

Timeline: What’s realistic?

Understanding the amount of time necessary to prepare for a certification attempt is crucial for all organizations. Planning and implementation before the certification typically takes 6–12 months for organizations already aligned with NIST 800-171, and 12–18 months for those starting from scratch. This includes time for the gap assessment, remediation, policy development, training, and pre-assessment validation. The actual CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organizations (C3PAO) certification assessment itself typically takes one to three weeks once an organization is ready.

With the 80,000 organizations that need Level 2 certification and only 82-83 certified C3PAOs, there is limited ability to onboard new candidates promptly. Translation: If an organization waits to start the process, it can take months just to schedule the assessment itself.

The CMMC assessment process: What to expect

Familiarizing yourself with the assessment process helps you prepare effectively. Level 1 is a self-attestation at the organizational level annually. Level 2 requires a third-party assessment from a C3PAO every three years, with annual self-assessments in between.

Depending on your preparation level, the assessment process can be rigorous. Assessors look for evidence of both technical implementation and organizational processes to validate compliance. They'll interview staff, review documentation, verify system configurations, and test controls, as discussed in this webinar.

Performing a CMMC gap assessment is essential for comparing your current security practices against your target requirements, and can quickly highlight which controls are missing and produce a remediation roadmap, prioritized by risk. Gap assessments can be uncomfortable, but it’s far better to uncover weaknesses before the official assessment than during it.

Steps to achieve CMMC compliance

Planning your CMMC journey starts with understanding the costs and time commitments, then mapping the steps to certification.

Start by comparing your current security practices against all required CMMC controls for your target level. Record your results and address gaps systematically. When handling CUI files, certain security capabilities are needed to maintain compliance. Huntress Sensitive Data Mode protects CUI from SOC access during investigations, letting you maintain continuous threat protection while staying within compliance boundaries. This is a key capability for meeting CMMC requirements without expanding your assessment scope.

An independent CMMC consultant can give you an objective perspective and make sure of comprehensive coverage. Remember, a passing CMCC Level 2 assessment requires a score of 110 out of 110. Every control matters, and missing even one can result in conditional certification or requiring remediation before you can proceed.

Create or update system security plans, security policies, incident response procedures, and training records for assessments. Templates can help make sure you have the right documentation in place. Even better, look for security vendors like Huntress who can help you save time by providing you with detailed documentation on how our products map to CMMC controls.

Implement endpoint protection, detection, monitoring, network segmentation, access controls, and encryption across your environment. Huntress provides comprehensive coverage with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) monitoring, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and Security Awareness Training (SAT)—all in one platform. This consolidation is managed by a 24/7 SOC with Sensitive Data Mode to prove the SOC is out of the CUI pipeline, reducing vendor and integration complexity while helping you meet multiple CMMC requirements.

Ongoing security awareness training helps make sure employees understand their role in protecting sensitive data and can recognize common threats. CMMC assessors may interview staff to confirm you trained them properly, so it’s important to have consistent, documented programs.

CMMC is an ongoing, continuous compliance model, not a point-in-time certification. Set it and forget it won’t work here. Automated tools monitor for configuration drift, log security events, and alert on anomalous activity. Huntress offers this continuous visibility to help you demonstrate compliance year-round, in between triennial assessments.

How Huntress supports your CMMC journey

Huntress has partnered with DEFCERT—a team of specialists who have architected, planned, and executed DFARS and CMMC compliance transformation projects for over 150 manufacturers across the defense industrial base—to develop our Shared Responsibility Matrix and create assessment readiness materials for our customers. This gives you clear Huntress-to-CMMC mapping materials, showing exactly where Huntress meets requirements and where you must address compliance directly.

Sensitive Data Mode restricts CUI access during SOC investigations while maintaining threat detection accuracy, allowing granular control per client without compromising compliance.

The Huntress Managed Security Platform provides comprehensive coverage across four critical security capabilities:

Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) protects devices and detects threats at the endpoint level.
Managed Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) monitors for compromised credentials, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access attempts.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) centralizes log collection and security event monitoring.
Security Awareness Training (SAT) trains users to recognize and avoid common threats.

Together, these integrated solutions address approximately 37 CMMC-mapped controls across multiple security domains, including Access Control (AC.2.007 least privilege), Audit and Accountability (AU.2.041 audit records), Identification and Authentication (IA.2.081 MFA enforcement), and Incident Response (IR.2.092 incident handling). This unified platform allows for an easier compliance path while providing the highest standards of security, all managed by a 24/7 SOC with Sensitive Data Mode.

Benefits beyond contract eligibility

In 2024, there were 412 total reported defense and government ransomware attacks worldwide. Layered defenses make it more difficult for threat actors to move laterally in your environment and execute ransomware, phishing, and supply chain attacks.

While maintaining DoD contract eligibility remains a key driver, the real story lies in the security benefits that endure long after the certification itself. CMMC compliance serves as a trust signal beyond the defense sector, offering tangible proof of your security maturity and differentiating your services in a competitive market.

Standardizing security policies across departments and locations can simplify onboarding, auditing, and scaling. Compliance strengthens your cyber insurance position, as insurers increasingly require evidence of specific CMMC-aligned controls to underwrite or discount premiums.

Closing Security Gaps on Your Path to CMMC Compliance

Achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance doesn't have to be a solo journey. The Huntress Managed Security Platform includes capabilities that support CMMC alignment and compliance requirements, from managed endpoint detection and response to identity threat detection and response. Additionally, Huntress Sensitive Data Mode allows you to maintain visibility and proactive security operations without crossing compliance boundaries.

Whether you’re onboarding your first CMMC client or scaling your compliance practice, Huntress helps you protect data and strengthen client trust. We built the Huntress platform to support service providers like you, who need to protect their clients’ data and environments without sacrificing compliance requirements. With the right technology partner and a thoughtful plan, you can turn your CMMC compliance from an obligation into a true competitive advantage and opportunity to strengthen customer relationships and increase revenue.

If you’re ready to simplify CMMC compliance and protect your clients’ data, get a Huntress demo today and see how our platform can make continuous compliance and security effortless.