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CMMC 2.0 Compliance Requirements

Last updated November 4, 2025

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SaaS compliance is crucial — especially when dealing with government contracts and sensitive data. A key framework in this area is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). You’ll need it to win valuable contracts from vendors like the Department of Defense (DoD).

The CMMC is a cybersecurity framework that sets standards every DoD contractor must maintain, and there are three levels with increasing requirements. This guide covers everything you need to know about CMMC 2.0 requirements, who they apply to, and how to reach certification at a reasonable price.

What Is CMMC Compliance? (CMMC for Dummies)

CMMC, in a nutshell, is a cybersecurity framework from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). It’s how they verify that companies in the defense industry have strong cybersecurity credentials. It’s like a set of best practices and security controls that companies have to meet to protect sensitive government information.

The CMMC certification process involves a comprehensive assessment of a company’s cybersecurity practices and policies. It’s not a one-time event, but an ongoing commitment to maintaining robust cybersecurity measures. 

This means you’ll need the ability to maintain CMMC standards long-term. You can do that internally with the right staff, but outsourcing is often more cost-effective for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

What Does the CMMC Do?

The CMMC program makes sure that vendors partnering with the DoD process sensitive information safely. This makes it possible for the Department to work with private businesses without risking security in the process.

CMMC compliance for small businesses can be very valuable. Those that achieve it can bid on lucrative government contracts. These can be worth millions of dollars—especially once you progress past CMMC Level 1.

If you’re considering CMMC compliance, it’ll cost money to meet the government’s strict standards. But you may be able to bill the DoD for some of the costs once you earn your first contract.

Becoming CMMC compliant can also help you stand out in the private sector. It shows potential clients that you’ve made serious internal cybersecurity investments, which gives them confidence that you’ll be able to protect their sensitive information.

Importance of CMMC for National Security

CMMC is important because it helps the United States tap into private sector talent and resources. It’s a way for government agencies to get the support they need without increasing risk. This is becoming more important as the nation faces more advanced cyber threats.

Requiring CMMC certification ensures that all contractors and subcontractors maintain strong cybersecurity practices—protecting both sensitive government information and national security.

CMMC 2.0 Levels and Compliance Requirements

The CMMC framework features a three-level system. Level one requires the least amount of investment, and level three requires the most. As you earn higher tiers of CMMC compliance, you can qualify for more types of DoD contracts.

Contact Trava if you’re wondering what level your business may need. We can provide more personalized guidance around timelines, costs, and ongoing support needs. For now, here’s what to excerpt from each stage.

Level 1 (Foundational)

  • Implement 17 practices from FAR 52.204-21
  • Annual self-assessment
  • Senior company official affirmation

Level 2 (Advanced)

  • Implement 110 practices aligned with NIST SP 800-171
  • Annual self-assessment for non-critical CUI
  • Triennial third-party assessment for critical CUI
  • Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) allowed for certain practices

Level 3 (Expert)

  • Implement NIST SP 800-171 practices plus a subset of NIST SP 800-172 requirements
  • Government-led assessments
  • No POA&M allowed; all practices must be fully implemented

Most organizations end up pursuing level 2 CMMC compliance certification. This opens up access to significantly more DoD opportunities than what’s available at Level 1. It’s also not as expensive as Level 3, so you get good value for the investment.

CMMC Overview: Compliance Checklist for 2025

If you’re preparing for your first audit, getting familiar with CMMC compliance requirements is critical. Following a CMMC compliance checklist can help you stay organized. Here’s a simplified version to get started:

  1. Identify your data environment: Map where Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) live across your systems.
  2. Perform a gap analysis: Compare your current cybersecurity posture against NIST SP 800-171 requirements.
  3. Develop a remediation plan: Use a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) to track each update you need.
  4. Document your controls: Prepare clear evidence of your policies and implementation steps.
  5. Schedule your assessment: Connect with a certified C3PAO or complete a self-assessment if you’re pursuing Level 1.
  6. Maintain continuous monitoring: Keep your compliance current through ongoing reviews and policy refreshes.

Following this checklist will help you simplify the CMMC compliance audit process and reduce surprises during evaluation.

CMMC Guidelines: Compliance Domains

As you think more about CMMC, you’ll also learn about compliance domains. There are 14 domains in total, with each targeting a specific part of cybersecurity.

  1. Access Control (AC)
  2. Asset Management (AM)
  3. Audit and Accountability (AU)
  4. Awareness and Training (AT)
  5. Configuration Management (CM)
  6. Identification and Authentication (IA)
  7. Incident Response (IR)
  8. Maintenance (MA)
  9. Media Protection (MP)
  10. Personnel Security (PS)
  11. Physical Protection (PE)
  12. Recovery (RE)
  13. Risk Management (RM)
  14. Security Assessment (CA)

Domain-Specific Practices

You’ll often hear CMMC requirements discussed in terms of domains. This just means the rule or standard being discussed applies to one of the domains listed above.

For example, the access control (AC) domain includes practices like multi-factor authentication. The incident response (IR) domain focuses more on creating and testing readiness plans for cybersecurity incidents.

If you’re just starting the CMMC process, feel free to ignore these for now. A company like Trava can walk you through your CMMC certification timeline and offer tailored suggestions based on your organizational needs.

Main Cybersecurity Practices in CMMC Compliance

Now that you have an overview of the CMMC framework, let’s explore the details. Regardless of your level, CMMC compliance typically means working on cybersecurity infrastructure in these core areas:

  • System hardening
  • Incident response
  • Documentation and tracking
  • Personnel security
  • Network monitoring
  • Patch management

Each of these functions contributes to a layered defense strategy. It’s designed to minimize risk and improve visibility across your whole organization.

Another factor to consider is that improving your cybersecurity could help you win more private business. Once you pass CMMC, it could become a unique value proposition that separates you from some competitors. Data security is becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence proliferates.

What Companies Need CMMC Compliance?

There are a variety of businesses that may choose to pursue CMMC compliance. It really depends on your goals. If you’d like to work with the DoD and gain a private-market selling point in the process, certification can make sense, regardless of your business size.

That being said, CMMC cybersecurity rules affect many organizations in the defense industrial base, including:

  • Prime contractors directly working with the DoD
  • Subcontractors supporting prime contractors on DoD projects
  • Companies handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI)
  • Organizations in the defense supply chain, even indirectly

As part of this process, you’ll typically work with a C3PAO. These are CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organizations, authorized to complete assessments of companies seeking CMMC certification. The key thing to note at this level is just that they’re involved.

Impact on Small Businesses

Small businesses also sometimes pursue CMMC compliance. The challenging aspect is that CMMC security controls are complex and often costly to implement. That’s why self-assessments are available for companies seeking Level 1 CMMC certification.

For example, a small IT contractor can focus on Level 1 compliance first, then grow their cybersecurity maturity over time. These self-assessments reduce burdens while ensuring that companies maintain minimum standards.

What Is NIST CMMC Compliance?

NIST is an acronym that stands for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s the organization that created the cybersecurity framework that CMMC is based on. That’s why the terms NIST CMMC and just regular CMMC 2 compliance are often used interchangeably.

If you’re curious, the CMMC is based on the NIST standards NIST SP 800-171 and SP 800-172. Once you’ve achieved compliance with these, you’ll be very close to ready for CMMC certification.

If you’re not ready to push for CMMC level 2 yet, reviewing these NIST standards is a good place to start your journey. They can show you what you’ll need to prepare for, and you may be able to begin checking off some of the boxes internally.

Difference Between NIST and CMMC

If you’re only concerned about the private sector, you could aim for NIST compliance instead of CMMC. For example, instead of going through the C3PAO process, you could complete a self-assessment and showcase your cybersecurity readiness at a reduced cost.

Although CMMC and NIST are closely aligned, there are a few noteworthy differences:

  • Certification: CMMC requires third-party certification, while NIST SP 800-171 allows self-assessment.
  • Maturity levels: CMMC includes multiple levels, while NIST has a single standard.
  • Scope: CMMC targets the defense industrial base specifically.
  • Implementation: CMMC follows a phased rollout.
  • Requirements: Level 3 CMMC adds controls from NIST SP 800-172.

Some companies already follow NIST frameworks when they decide to pursue CMMC certification. If that’s you, your timeline should be reduced. You may even save some money on the assessment, implementation, and testing phases.

You’ll also have fewer disruptions if your cybersecurity level is already high. The testing and assessment process can lead to downtime for various teams. But you can mitigate some of that with the right plan.

DoD Guidelines for Cybersecurity

The DoD’s guidelines for cybersecurity are most clearly stated in CMMC 2.0. They focus on the core principles of:

  • Access Control
  • Identification and Authentication
  • Audit and Accountability
  • Configuration Management
  • Incident Response
  • Risk Assessment
  • Security Assessment
  • Awareness and Training

These guidelines were created to provide layered protection for sensitive information. Following them shows the Department that your company can be trusted with the data they share with you as part of your contract.

That being said, there are many sub-components to each core principle. For example, you may need to add several cybersecurity tools to your arsenal to meet incident response requirements.

Zero Trust Architecture and Continuous Monitoring

One of the key principles favored by the DoD is Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). This means the system won’t trust any user’s device automatically—even if they have a long track record of safe activity.

Another key element is continuous monitoring. This means completing regular risk assessments, ongoing vulnerability scans, and incident response rehearsals. The key takeaway is that maintaining CMMC compliance will be an ongoing job. But the extra expenses could turn into profits after you get your first contract.

Challenges in CMMC Implementation

CMMC is often a job worth taking on, but it’s not without challenges. Some of the main ones to look out for include:

  • Cost and Resource Constraints: The expenses of pursuing CMMC compliance don’t come all at once. You may need to add them to your budget as a monthly line item. This means a new drain on cash flow, which could present challenges down the line.
  • Complexity of Requirements: There are also many CMMC requirements to work through. Each of these is its own job, especially if you’re starting from closer to zero. That’s one reason why many companies partner with Trava.
  • Timeline Pressures: You may also face unexpected delays that could interfere with other business operations.

To overcome these, organizations should start early and leverage automation tools. You may also want to look for CMMC compliance consulting to simplify the entire process.

How To Get a CMMC Certificate

The process for earning a CMMC certification can vary based on several factors. Here’s a six-step process you can follow to find the right path for your organization:

  1. Determine your required CMMC level: This depends on the kinds of DoD contracts you’re targeting, your current cybersecurity readiness level, and the amount you’re willing to spend.
  2. Conduct a gap analysis: Once you know your level, you’ll complete a gap analysis to see how close you already are to hitting all of the requirements.
  3. Implement required controls: Your gap analysis results will show you which new controls you need to implement to reach CMMC certification. Begin working through your list.
  4. Document your cybersecurity policies: You’ll also need to create documentation for the new controls you’re implementing. You can do that while working through your list.
  5. Undergo the appropriate assessment: At this point, you’re ready to complete your CMMC assessment. If it’s a level 1 assessment, you can do it internally. If it’s a higher level than that, you’ll need to connect with a C3PAO.
  6. Maintain ongoing compliance and reassess every three years: You’ll have to maintain your CMMC compliance internally and complete a reassessment every few years.

The entire process can take as little as several months to as long as several years. It’ll depend on the CMMC level you choose and how you decide to pursue it.

Need help achieving compliance fast?

Explore Trava Security’s CMMC Compliance Services. Trava is a trusted partner for streamlined assessments, gap analysis, and certification support.

Working With a CMMC Compliance Consultant

Given the amount of work involved in CMMC compliance for DoD contractors, many companies opt to work with a consultant. They can guide you through the full process from start to finish, so you move closer to certification without adding a major new responsibility to your plate.

Teaming up with CMMC certification services can simplify your process considerably. They can help you map controls, prepare assessments, and implement the technology you’ll need to stay compliant over time. This doesn’t just save you time, it also potentially saves you money. 

A consultant can analyze your current cybersecurity level and help you find the most efficient pathway to reaching your CMMC goals. That can potentially save you thousands in wasted labor hours and unnecessary tools.

Choosing the Right CMMC Compliance Consultant

Finding the right CMMC compliance consultant may be one of the most important decisions you make during this process. Consultants can offer their expertise, help with audit preparation, and provide ongoing post-assessment support. You want one that can do all three. A skilled CMMC compliance contractor will:

  • Conduct a pre-assessment that identifies vulnerabilities before the official review.
  • Help interpret NIST and DoD guidance so your internal teams stay focused.
  • Provide templates and playbooks that accelerate documentation and reporting.
  • Offer CMMC compliance support after certification to keep you audit-ready.

When evaluating partners, look for firms with CMMC-AB accreditation and experience in your industry—especially if you’re in SaaS or defense contracting. Firms like Trava specialize in helping organizations reach compliance quickly and cost-effectively, so you’re prepared to meet C3PAO requirements sooner.

Future of CMMC 2.0: What to Expect Next

CMMC 2.0 is still evolving, so staying informed is critical. The DoD will continue to refine its guidance over time—especially around issues like assessment frequency and automated monitoring tools. That means keeping up with the latest CMMC news is important.

Some key trends to watch in 2025 and beyond include:

  • Integration with AI-driven cybersecurity tools: Machine learning will help automate compliance verification and detect anomalies faster.
  • Greater enforcement for subcontractors: Expect expanded responsibility for ensuring that vendors within your supply chain meet minimum standards.
  • Emphasis on Zero Trust: The DoD’s continued investment in Zero Trust Architecture will trickle down into contractor expectations.

If you’d rather spend your time on other tasks, partnering with a consultant may be your best move. They can keep you apprised of new updates to CMMC requirements over time, so you don’t have to track them yourself.

How Much Does CMMC Certification Cost?

The key factors in determining your CMMC certifications cost are the level you choose to pursue and your current cybersecurity readiness. The more advanced your readiness, the lower your costs will typically be.

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Level 1: Minimal (self-assessment)
  • Level 2: $37K–$49K (third-party or self)
  • Level 3: Variable, often into six figures (government-led)

CMMC level 2 certification costs may be the most relevant to your goals. They allow vendors to qualify for a larger number of DoD contracts at a significantly lower price point than level 3. That being said, most organizations can complete the CMMC certification process within 6-12 months. You may just need professional guidance to do it.

Strengthen Your Cybersecurity and Win DoD Contracts

Positioning your company to win contracts in the defense sector can be a highly effective strategy for achieving your growth goals. To get there, you’ll first need to complete CMMC 2.0 certification. It shows the DoD that you meet all of its requirements for sharing sensitive data.

By proactively engaging with CMMC-AB accredited assessors and staying aligned with NIST standards, organizations can protect sensitive data, reduce risk, and qualify for new DoD opportunities.

Get Help With CMMC Compliance From Trava

CMMC compliance may be valuable, but it’s not always easy to achieve. Trava can help you do it with personalized guidance, ongoing support, and access to our pre-existing playbooks. We’ll help you get through each step faster and find the optimal route to your goals. Ready to take the next step? Visit Trava’s CMMC Compliance Services to start your journey today.

Questions?

We can help! Talk to the Trava Team and see how we can assist you with your cybersecurity needs.

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