CMMC Done Faster & Done Right

CMMC Compliance

Integrating Agency with Vanta or Drata gets your CMMC assessment readiness done 30%+ faster, with stronger controls, at a lower total cost.

Agency is the only company that is a top-tier partner at both Vanta and Drata, the two leading GRC platforms that support CMMC compliance.

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Leverage AI to Improve Standards and Speed
Understand CMMC Level 1, 2, and 3 requirements
Get a complete NIST 800-171 control checklist
Learn exactly what assessment costs and takes

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What Is CMMC Compliance?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a Department of Defense (DoD) framework designed to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). CMMC 2.0 establishes three maturity levels, each requiring progressively more rigorous cybersecurity controls aligned with NIST standards.

CMMC compliance is becoming a contractual requirement for all DoD contractors and subcontractors. Without certification at the appropriate level, organizations will be ineligible to bid on or perform DoD contracts that involve CUI. The phased rollout means the time to prepare is now.

Agency helps defense contractors achieve CMMC readiness faster than traditional consultancies. Because we are fully agnostic to both GRC platform and auditor, we help organizations build a security program that satisfies CMMC requirements while also supporting other frameworks like NIST 800-171, ISO 27001, and DFARS.

CMMC Level 1 vs Level 2 vs Level 3

CMMC 2.0 defines three maturity levels. The level you need depends on the type of information you handle and your contract requirements.

Aspect	Level 1 (Foundational)	Level 2 (Advanced)	Level 3 (Expert)
Information protected	Federal Contract Information (FCI)	Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)	CUI for critical programs
Number of controls	17 practices	110 NIST SP 800-171 controls	110+ (adds NIST SP 800-172)
Assessment type	Annual self-assessment	Third-party (C3PAO) assessment	Government-led assessment
Assessment frequency	Annual	Triennial	Triennial
Who performs it	Organization self-assesses	Authorized C3PAO	DIBCAC (Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center)
Key deliverable	Self-assessment report in SPRS	CMMC certificate	CMMC certificate

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Key CMMC Concepts

CMMC compliance involves understanding several interconnected concepts. Mastering these fundamentals is essential to planning your assessment and achieving certification.

CUI & FCI

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is government-created or -owned information that requires safeguarding. Federal Contract Information (FCI) is information provided by or generated for the government under contract. The type of information you handle determines your required CMMC level.

NIST SP 800-171

The National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 defines 110 security requirements for protecting CUI in nonfederal systems. CMMC Level 2 directly incorporates all 110 requirements, making NIST 800-171 compliance a prerequisite for Level 2 certification.

C3PAO Assessment

CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) are authorized by the Cyber AB to conduct Level 2 assessments. C3PAOs employ certified assessors who verify control implementation through evidence review, interviews, and testing.

System Security Plan (SSP)

A required document that describes how your organization implements each NIST 800-171 security requirement within the CUI environment. The SSP details system boundaries, interconnections, and the specific controls protecting CUI.

Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M)

A document that identifies security weaknesses, the resources needed to address them, milestones for completion, and scheduled completion dates. Under CMMC 2.0, limited POA&Ms are allowed for Level 2 with specific conditions and timelines.

SPRS Score

The Supplier Performance Risk System score (range: -203 to 110) reflects your self-assessed implementation of NIST 800-171 controls. Contractors must submit their SPRS score to the DoD. A score of 110 indicates full implementation.

CMMC Level 2 Requirements Checklist

Access Control (AC)

Limit system access to authorized users
Limit system access to authorized transaction types
Control CUI flow in accordance with approved policies
Separate duties of individuals to reduce risk
Employ least privilege principles

Awareness & Training (AT)

Ensure managers and users are aware of security risks
Ensure personnel are trained to carry out assigned security responsibilities
Provide security awareness training on recognizing social engineering

Audit & Accountability (AU)

Create and retain system audit logs
Ensure individual accountability through unique user identification
Review and analyze audit logs for anomalies
Protect audit information and tools from unauthorized access

Configuration Management (CM)

Establish and maintain baseline configurations
Employ principle of least functionality
Control and monitor user-installed software
Establish and enforce security configuration settings

Identification & Authentication (IA)

Identify and authenticate system users and processes
Enforce minimum password complexity and change requirements
Employ multi-factor authentication for network access
Use replay-resistant authentication mechanisms

Incident Response (IR)

Establish operational incident handling procedures
Track and document security incidents
Test incident response capabilities
Implement incident response plans

System & Communications Protection (SC)

Monitor and control communications at external boundaries
Employ architectural designs and techniques for defense-in-depth
Implement cryptographic mechanisms for CUI in transit
Terminate network connections after defined periods

600+

Companies trust Agency for compliance

3–6 mo

Average time to CMMC Level 2 readiness

80%

Reduction in compliance team workload

The CMMC Assessment Process

CUI Scoping & Environment DefinitionWeek 1–3

Identify all systems that process, store, or transmit CUI. Define the assessment boundary, map data flows, and establish the scope for NIST 800-171 control implementation.
Gap Assessment & SPRS ScoringWeek 2–5

Assess current implementation of all 110 NIST 800-171 controls. Calculate initial SPRS score, identify gaps, and build a prioritized remediation roadmap.
SSP DevelopmentWeek 4–8

Document the System Security Plan describing your CUI environment, system boundaries, interconnections, and specific control implementations. The SSP is a primary artifact for C3PAO assessment.
Control Implementation & RemediationWeek 6–16

Implement technical and administrative controls to close identified gaps. Deploy access controls, encryption, monitoring, and configuration management across the CUI environment.
POA&M ResolutionWeek 12–20

Address remaining Plan of Action and Milestones items within allowed timeframes. Document remediation evidence and verify effectiveness of corrective actions.
C3PAO AssessmentWeek 20–24

The authorized C3PAO conducts the formal CMMC Level 2 assessment. Assessors review documentation, interview personnel, and test controls. With Agency, you participate in the interviews—we handle all evidence preparation.

What Does CMMC Compliance Cost?

CMMC compliance cost depends on several factors unique to your organization. Rather than publishing one-size-fits-all pricing, Agency scopes every engagement individually so you pay only for what you need.

Factors that determine cost:

CMMC level & CUI scope: Level 1 self-assessment is significantly less effort than Level 2 C3PAO assessment. The volume and distribution of CUI across your systems determines the assessment boundary.

Current security posture: Organizations already implementing NIST 800-171 require less remediation than those starting from scratch.

GRC platform: Platforms like Vanta and Drata automate evidence collection and control monitoring. Agency integrates natively with both.

CUI environment remediation: Network segmentation, encryption, endpoint security, and infrastructure changes to isolate and protect the CUI boundary.

Ongoing maintenance: Triennial reassessment, continuous monitoring, annual affirmation, and control maintenance to keep the CMMC certificate current.

Agency replaces the internal time cost entirely. Our forward-deployed AI agents and engineers operate your compliance program so your team never context-switches into compliance work. Talk to our team for a custom quote based on your specific scope and requirements.

CMMC for Your Company Stage

Whether you're a small subcontractor pursuing Level 1 or a prime contractor managing Level 2 across divisions, Agency meets you where you are.

Startups

A small defense subcontractor pursuing your first CMMC certification. You need expertise and speed without building a dedicated compliance team.

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Mid-Market

Scaling from Level 1 to Level 2, or managing CUI across multiple contracts. You need operational efficiency and integrated compliance operations.

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Enterprise

A prime contractor managing CMMC compliance across business units and subcontractors. You need unified governance and continuous assessment readiness.

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How Agency Delivers CMMC Compliance

Agency operates your entire CMMC program end-to-end—from CUI scoping through C3PAO assessment and continuous maintenance—without adding headcount. We integrate natively with leading GRC platforms like Vanta and Drata to maximize your existing compliance infrastructure.

Continuous Control Validation

Verse C2 orchestrates real-time validation across your GRC platform, cloud infrastructure, identity providers, and endpoint security. Drift is detected and remediated automatically.

Automated Evidence Collection

Umberto eliminates the manual screenshot-and-spreadsheet evidence cycle. Evidence is collected, organized, and maintained automatically—always current, always audit-grade.

AI-Powered Remediation

Rumi AI writes infrastructure-as-code fixes for cloud misconfigurations. Storm Shadow validates every evidence artifact before auditor submission.

Cross-Framework Mapping

Armada PSCO maps CMMC controls to NIST 800-171, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and other frameworks automatically. Work done for CMMC carries forward to every additional certification.

GRC Platform Integration

Agency connects directly to your existing Vanta or Drata instance. We automate evidence collection, sync control status, and keep your GRC dashboard current—so your platform investment delivers maximum value with zero manual upkeep.

Automated Documentation

M79 generates system descriptions and management assertions. Caruso maintains network diagrams. Every artifact is documented and traceable.

Managed Detection & Response

Agency MDR covers all endpoints with compliance-grade incident documentation, investigation, and response—satisfying CMMC incident response requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CMMC?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a Department of Defense (DoD) framework that requires defense contractors to implement cybersecurity controls to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI). CMMC 2.0 has three levels aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-172 requirements.

What are the three CMMC levels?

CMMC Level 1 (Foundational) requires 17 basic cyber hygiene practices for FCI protection with annual self-assessment. Level 2 (Advanced) requires all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls for CUI protection with third-party assessment by a C3PAO. Level 3 (Expert) adds controls from NIST SP 800-172 for the most sensitive programs with government-led assessments.

Who needs CMMC certification?

Any organization in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that processes, stores, or transmits FCI or CUI needs CMMC certification. This includes prime contractors, subcontractors at all tiers, and any company that handles DoD contract information. CMMC requirements will be included in DoD contracts as part of the phased rollout.

How long does CMMC compliance take?

CMMC Level 1 self-assessment can be completed in 1 to 3 months. Level 2 preparation typically takes 6 to 18 months depending on current security posture and CUI scope. With Agency, Level 2 readiness can be achieved in as little as 3 to 6 months because our forward-deployed AI agents handle control implementation, SSP development, and evidence collection.

How much does CMMC compliance cost?

CMMC compliance cost depends on your required level, CUI scope, current security posture, and organization size. Key cost factors include C3PAO assessment fees, GRC platform licensing, internal implementation time, CUI environment remediation, and ongoing monitoring. Agency replaces the internal time cost entirely by operating your compliance program for you.

What is the relationship between CMMC and NIST 800-171?

CMMC Level 2 directly incorporates all 110 security requirements from NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2. Organizations that have already implemented NIST 800-171 are well-positioned for CMMC Level 2. The key difference is that CMMC requires third-party verification, while NIST 800-171 previously allowed self-attestation.

What is a C3PAO?

A CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) is an organization authorized by the CMMC Accreditation Body (the Cyber AB) to conduct CMMC Level 2 assessments. C3PAOs employ certified assessors who evaluate whether a contractor has properly implemented all required security controls.

What is an SPRS score?

The Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score is a self-assessed score ranging from -203 to 110 that reflects an organization's implementation of NIST SP 800-171 controls. DoD contractors are required to submit their SPRS score to the DoD. A score of 110 indicates full implementation of all controls.

Related Frameworks

SOC 2 ISO 27001 HIPAA FedRAMP GDPR

Related Challenges

Audited Compliance Cross-Framework Complexity Fragmented Governance Policy & Access Trust & Transparency Questionnaire Fatigue

Platform Products

Verse C2

Command-and-control AI automation platform

Umberto

AI compliance evidence engine

Armada PSCO

Unified control ontology and mapping

Looking for expert Managed and Advisory Services? Head over to Agency Comply →

Get CMMC Compliant With Agency

From CUI scoping to assessment-ready in months. Agency's forward-deployed AI agents operate your entire CMMC compliance program so your team stays focused on mission-critical work.

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