The CMMC Assessment Guide: How to Achieve Compliance and Win DoD Contracts

For companies in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) isn't just another compliance framework, it's the price of admission. If you handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), achieving CMMC Level 2 is the line between winning DoD contracts and being locked out of the market entirely.

This guide is your operator's manual. At Workstreet, we’ve helped a number of defense contractors achieve CMMC certification. In this guide, we’ll cut through the complexity to provide a clear, actionable playbook for navigating the CMMC Assessment Process (CAP).

CMMC Is Your Foot in the Door

Achieving CMMC certification is the cost of entry for accessing the multi-billion dollar Department of Defense (DoD) market. It’s the signal that tells prime contractors and government agencies that you are a secure, trustworthy partner.

So what exactly is CMMC?

CMMC compliance is the DoD’s verification mechanism to ensure that the vast network of contractors in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) can adequately protect sensitive government information on their networks. This information falls into two main categories Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Without the appropriate CMMC level, organizations are unable to bid for or handle DoD contracts that involve FCI or CUI.

The CMMC 2.0 Levels

Your target contract dictates your required CMMC level. While there are three levels in the CMMC program, for most companies targeting the DoD, Level 2 target.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• CMMC Level 1: Foundational (17 Practices). This level is for companies that only handle FCI. It requires an annual self-assessment where you attest to implementing 17 basic cybersecurity practices. It’s the absolute table stakes for getting into the federal ecosystem.
• CMMC Level 2: Advanced (110 Practices). The primary focus of Level 2 is companies handling CUI. For Level 2, organizations must achieve a Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score of 88 points based on the 110 security controls are aligned with NIST SP 800-171. Generally, CMMC Level 2 compliance requires a third-party assessment conducted by a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) to prove you handle sensitive data correctly.
• CMMC Level 3: Expert (110+ Practices). This level is for companies handling the most sensitive CUI related to our nation's highest-priority programs. Its requirements are based on a subset of NIST SP 800-172. The assessment process for Level 3 must be conducted by government officials.

Most contractors in the DIB will need to work towards CMMC Level 2 certification, so that’s what we’ll focus on in this guide. If you’re working towards Level 1, you can check out our CMMC Level 1 guide here.

CMMC Level 2 Security Domains

Achieving CMMC Level 2 isn't about checking boxes, it's about demonstrating process maturity across several critical security domains. To achieve CMMC Level 2 compliance, you need to implement all 110 security controls from NIST SP 800-171 which are spread across 14 domains.

The 14 domains are:

1. Access Control

2. Audit and Accountability

3. Awareness and Training

4. Configuration Management

5. Identification and Authentication

6. Incident Response

7. Maintenance

8. Media Protection

9. Personnel Security.

10. Physical Protection

11. Risk Assessment

12. Security Assessment

13. System and Communications Protection

14. System and Information Integrity

Your CMMC Level 2 Assessment Guide

Here’s the 8-step battle plan to get you ready for your CMMC assessment:

1. Take Inventory and Categorize Information

You can't protect what you don't know you have. The first step is a thorough data discovery process to identify and document where all CUI lives in your systems (your servers, applications, cloud services, and employee laptops). This defines your "assessment boundary." The goal of CMMC scoping is to make this boundary as small and defensible as possible.

2. Conduct a Gap Analysis

A CMMC gap assessment is a deep dive into where your security program stands today compared to the 110 controls of NIST 800-171 that are needed for CMMC Level 2. It’s an opportunity to identify your strengths and weaknesses and what gaps you need to fill before you’re ready for an audit.

3. Implement Required Security Controls

Based on your gap analysis, you'll need to remediate any issues that were found. For every gap, create a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) that details the steps, resources, and timeline for remediation.

4. Develop Policies and Procedures

CMMC requires you to document your security posture. You need clear, comprehensive policies for everything from access control to incident response. These policies are the foundation of your System Security Plan (SSP), the core document that explains how you meet each CMMC requirement.

5. Train Your Team

A security awareness program is a non-negotiable part of CMMC. This includes training on identifying phishing attempts, handling CUI properly, and understanding their responsibilities in protecting sensitive information. Your team members may be interviewed during your CMMC assessment so it’s essential that they’re all up to speed on your security posture.

6. Conduct Internal Audits and Monitoring

Achieving CMMC is essential for all DoD contractors, so while you’re preparing for the audit make sure to implement a process of continuous monitoring and conduct regular internal audits to assess your own controls.

If you don’t want to go it alone, you can work with a CMMC Registered Provider Organization (RPO). RPOs are accredited by the CMMC-AB (Cyber-AB) to offer consulting services and pre-assessment guidance to DoD contractors to help them achieve CMMC compliance.

7. Engage with a C3PAO Early

C3PAOs (Certified Third-Party Assessor Organizations) are the accredited organizations authorized by the Cyber AB to conduct your CMMC assessment. Now that the 48 CFR Final Rule has been published and the CMMC deadline is in sight, they’re getting incredibly busy as every DoD contractor works towards accreditation. So it’s important to engage a C3PAO early so you’re not left waiting to secure an assessment spot.

8. Continuously Update and Improve

CMMC is not a one-and-done thing. The security landscape and cyber threats are continuously evolving and your security program must evolve with it. Build a culture of continuous improvement to ensure your business stays CMMC compliant for the long term.

Don’t Just Pass the Audit, Turn Compliance into an Advantage

Your CMMC certification isn’t just a plaque on the wall, it gives you access to work on valuable DoD contracts. But in order to maximize compliance ROI, you need to let it be known that your business is CMMC certified.

After your successful audit, feature your CMMC certification prominently on your website, in your sales decks, and in all your marketing materials. Write a press release and a blog post announcing it.

You should also train your sales and account management team to speak confidently about your security program. CMMC certification should be used to build trust and accelerate the procurement process but it’s most effective when your team can speak confidently about it and what it means for your business.

CMMC also opens the door to working as a subcontractor for DoD work from Prime contractors, who are constantly looking for secure and reliable partners  to join their ecosystem. Your certification makes their job easier. It de-risks the partnership from their perspective. Proactively reach out to the business development and supply chain managers at prime contractors and let them know you are CMMC certified and ready to support their mission.

You Don’t Have to Tackle CMMC Alone

When the CMMC deadline was announced, most DoD contractors were filled with a sense of dread. It's time and the clock is ticking. Missing out on certification could cost some businesses the vast majority of their revenue, so there’s no room for error.

This is where partners like Workstreet can help. Workstreet is the only AI-powered RPO, we provide a complete, defense-grade security program that gets you audit-ready faster and with significantly less internal strain.

Want to see how we can help your organization successfully navigate CMMC? Book a call with one of our expert team here.

CMMC Level 2 Assessment FAQs

Can I perform a self-assessment for CMMC Level 2?

It depends. The vast majority of businesses that need CMMC Level 2 will have to go through a third-party assessment with a C3PAO. However, for some contracts involving information deemed less critical, companies may be allowed to perform an annual self-assessment.

What is the difference between a C3PAO and an RPO?

A Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) is authorized by the Cyber AB to provide CMMC consulting and preparation services. An RPO can help you get ready for your audit. A CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) is authorized to conduct the actual CMMC assessment and issue the certification. An organization cannot be your RPO and your C3PAO for the same assessment to avoid conflicts of interest.

What happens if I have gaps in my POA&M during the assessment?

The DoD allows for a limited number of lower-risk security requirements to be on a POA&M at the time of the assessment, provided you have a credible plan and timeline (typically 180 days) to resolve them. However, some of the most critical controls cannot be on a POA&M. Your goal should be to close as many gaps as possible before the assessment begins.