The right government contract can transform your business. But if you plan to work with the Department of Defense, you’ll first need to earn CMMC certification. This proves you have the cybersecurity chops necessary to protect the DoD’s most sensitive materials.
To get there, you’ll likely need to work with a C3PAO. This guide introduces that concept and explores how it could fit into your company’s compliance for SaaS strategy.
What Is C3PAO?
C3PAO is an acronym that stands for CMMC Third Party Assessor Organization. It’s a group authorized by the DoD to conduct assessments of companies seeking CMMC certification.
For example, you may want to pursue CMMC certification so your business can earn DoD contracts. A C3PAO assessment would determine whether it’s prepared for certification or needs to make changes first.
You can also get advisory services from a C3PAO before completing a full assessment. This is a smart move if you want to see how far away you are from CMMC certification before pursuing it.
How To Obtain CMMC Certification
Earning certification is a longer process than going through a C3PAO assessment. The timeline can vary based on your organization’s current security framework. But you should expect to go through something like the following steps:
- Choose a target CMMC level: There are three total, with Level 1 being the easiest to get and Level 3 being the most complex. Your CMMC Level determines what kinds of DoD documents you can work with.
- Find and close cybersecurity gaps: Next, complete an internal cybersecurity risk assessment to search for gaps in your preparedness. Close these gaps as much as possible on your own before moving forward.
- Choose a C3PAO assessor: Now you’re ready to go through a formal C3PAO assessment. There are many organizations that offer these, so you may need to do some research to find the best pricing and fit.
- Address any issues discovered: After completing the C3PAO assessment, you may receive a list of issues to fix before proceeding. Complete that process, and you should be ready for CMMC certification.
Note that you typically have 90 days to fix any issues discovered during the C3PAO audit. If you can’t do that, you may have to start the CMMC compliance process over again.
You should also know that timelines vary based on the level of certification you’re pursuing. Level 1 CMMC certification is relatively easy to get after a simple self-assessment. But reaching Level 3 could take as long as several years.
Is CMMC Certification Worth It?
After reviewing the process, many entrepreneurs begin to wonder if CMMC certification is worth pursuing. That’s an open question, as a C3PAO audit alone can cost between $20,000 and $60,000. However, CMMC certification is still generally worth pursuing.
The main reason is that you need this to earn DoD contracts, which can be highly valuable. Earning just one could be enough to offset the full cost of CMMC certification. You may also be able to save money during the certification process by revamping your security now. The fewer items you need to fix, the cheaper the process should be.
How Do I Become CMMC Certified?
You might also be interested in becoming a certified CMMC professional. This essentially means qualifying to assess whether other organizations are CMMC compliant.
To get there, start by completing an application on the Cyber-AB website. Then, you’ll need to complete a training course from an approved provider and pass an exam. There’s also a more advanced exam for professionals seeking Level 3 certification.
You should note that subject matter expertise isn’t enough on its own. You’ll also need a degree in a technical field or at least a few years of relevant work experience. Applicants also have to pass a DoD tier 3 background investigation.
The Bottom Line on C3PAO and CMMC
Getting CMMC certified is an essential step toward earning lucrative DoD contracts. Understanding what C3PAOs are and how they factor into the process should help you take the right steps sooner.
If you’d like some support with your certification journey, consider Trava. We specialize in SaaS compliance and can get your organization ready to take the next step in its growth strategy. So, why wait? Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help.