CMMC Assessment Checklist
See where you are on your compliance journey with this assessment checklist for CMMC.
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Navigating CMMC: What Does My Organization Need to Know?
What is a C3PAO in the CMMC Process?
A CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) is a company authorized to conduct official Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) assessments. In other words, they’re the only ones who can validate your compliance and issue certification. While C3PAOs cannot assist through consultation or remediation, they can help you navigate the compliance process, which can be tricky to understand at times.Why Does Choosing a C3PAO Matter?
Not every C3PAO CMMC experience is the same. Since your certification impacts your ability to win and keep defense contracts, the C3PAO you work with will directly impact your ability to win and maintain Department of Defense contracts.Here’s what to look for:
- Experience – The C3PAO should understand your industrial sector, the CMMC requirements, and the assessment process in general.
- Transparency – Achieving CMMC certification is a challenge, so surprises are never welcome. Your organization should not find itself paying unexpected expenses or an expansion of scope that has not been discussed. Additionally, if it is clear you are not going to pass your final assessment, a good C3PAO should tell you to stop and work on some gaps before continuing on to the final assessment.
- Expertise – You should seek a C3PAO who has documented expertise in the Aerospace and Defense sectors, in certification processes, and in understanding the 110 controls of NIST SP 800-171r2.
How to Prepare Before Your C3PAO CMMC Assessment
Preparation is key. A C3PAO cannot help you fill gaps in your compliance once the process has started. They can only verify you are in compliance. Before scheduling your assessment, make sure you’ve:- Completed a gap analysis against the required CMMC level (1, 2, or 3).
- Documented policies and procedures that align with NIST 800-171 and other applicable controls.
- Run internal checks or assessments to confirm readiness.