The Road to CMMC Level 2: When and How to Prepare for Your Assessment (M03b)
Gearing up for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2, timing is critical. This talk maps out a realistic preparation timeline, especially when industry data shows that even a 50-person company may need 6–12 months of lead time to get ready for a CMMC assessment, and many organizations require up to a year or more depending on their starting cybersecurity posture. Attendees will learn when to kick off their readiness efforts based on their expected contract or assessment dates. The speaker will break down key technical and operational steps for CMMC Level 2 compliance, from scoping your CUI environment and mapping the 110 required security controls, to developing robust SSPs, and the other relevant documentation aligned with the official CMMC Assessment Guide criteria.
The talk will highlight common readiness pitfalls that many contractors encounter. Attendees will learn how to avoid mistakes like underestimating the scope of CUI or scrambling to assemble evidence at the last minute, and why a proactive versus a reactive approach is better. The talk will offer guidance on engaging the right support: how to choose a CMMC advisor with deep domain expertise (ideally with formal assessor credentials and real-world CMMC experience) and will demystify how to select a C3PAO for the official audit, including tips to ensure the C3PAO is right for the OSC. The speaker will explore C3PAO experience and how to manage the engagement process given high assessor demand. By balancing technical insights with business context, this talk equips you to develop an actionable CMMC Level 2 game plan to know when to start, how to prioritize, and whom to involve to prepare for assessment, while being positioned to maintain their DoD contracts and competitive edge.