The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification or CMMC was developed by the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to provide a standardized set of practices for any businesses working with the DIB or Department of War. For many contractors, the controls required by CMMC are not new. In fact, these controls have been required since 2017 and are founded on the NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 that defense contractors have been required to adhere to for several years. CMMC will act as the mechanism in which the DoW validates that contractors are following regulatory requirements and protecting CUI.
What is CUI?
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is information that the U.S. government creates or possesses that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls according to laws, regulations, and government-wide policies but is not classified. While unclassified, lost or stolen CUI could negatively impact the nation's security posture and must be secured. Examples of CUI may include:
With CMMC being required for certain organizations working with the federal government many people may ask the question: Who needs it?
The short answer to this question is any organization that is receives, stores, creates, or transmits controlled unclassified information (CUI) must comply with level 2 of CMMC. Organizations that handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) must comply with level 1 of CMMC. The cooperation between the private sector and the federal government has created a need for a standardized set of controls to ensure the security of sensitive information and the CMMC model ensures that contractors are implementing these controls correctly. These standards are especially useful for manufacturers who supply much of the nation's necessary products.
CMMC is also applicable to all critical infrastructure sectors that store, process, or transmit CUI. Because the chemical, environmental, manufacturing and many more sectors work with the DIB or DOJ it is more than likely that your organization will have to comply with CMMC regulations.
Each level builds upon the previous one, adding additional controls and requiring greater external validation. The first level, Foundational, applies to any organization that handles Federal Contract Information (FCI). The controls included in this level mostly refer to basic cyber hygiene practices including complex password policies, MFA, etc. At this stage, some contractors will be able to self-attest to their compliance on a yearly basis.
CMMC Level 2 is what most contractors will have to comply with when bidding on or receiving contracts. Any organization that handles CUI will have to be compliant to at least level 2. The requirements include all 110 controls outlined by NIST 800-171 alongside a third-party audit conducted by a certified third-party authorization organization (C3PAO) every three years. The third and final level requires organizations to implement all of the previous controls with additional controls based on NIST 800-172. These organizations will be audited by the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC).
If you believe that your organization will be required to comply with CMMC regulations, then your next question is probably . . .
CMMC compliance can be complex, and it most certainly is expensive. Your organization can make achieving and maintaining compliance much simpler by beginning from a solid foundation. Start by examining your contracts to determine whether or not you handle CUI/FCI. Next, begin to scope out your compliance boundary. This involves determining what assets (applications, hardware, employees, etc.) will have access to CUI and which ones can be sectioned off into a non-CUI portion of your business.
Many contractors will seek out the help of an MSP (known as ESP under CMMC) to help them achieve CMMC compliance. While many MSPs may claim to be self-assessed, they will still be in scope of your third-party audit. This means that any shortcoming on their end will reflect poorly on your organization and may lead to a failure.
CorpInfoTech has passed our CMMC Level 2 assessment - through this certification, your organization will inherit 200+ of the 320 objectives required by CMMC. CorpInfoTech is able to provide a faster, less expensive, and flexible solution to your CMMC compliance problems!
CMMC is a requirement for any organization that is contracted by the federal government to store, process, or transmit CUI/FCI. For organizations that handle FCI, CMMC level 1 is required. For organizations that handle CUI, CMMC level 2 is required in addition to passing a third-party audit. CorpInfoTech, a CMMC L2 certified MSP, helps contractors achieve and maintain CMMC compliance through pre-certified controls and processes.
What is the difference between CMMC Level 1 and Level 2?
CMMC Level 1 applies to organizations that only handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) and requires basic safeguarding practices. CMMC Level 2 applies to organizations that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and requires full compliance with the 110 security requirements outlined in NIST SP 800-171, validated through a third-party assessment.
How long does it take to achieve CMMC Level 2 compliance?
For most small to mid-sized defense contractors, achieving CMMC Level 2 compliance can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months. The timeline depends on your current security posture, the scope of your CUI environment, and whether you already meet portions of NIST 800-171.
What happens if we fail a CMMC Level 2 assessment?
If gaps are identified during the assessment, your organization may be required to remediate deficiencies and update your Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM). Certain high-risk controls must be fully implemented before certification can be granted. Failing to achieve compliance may prevent your organization from bidding on or renewing DoD contracts.
Still not sure if CMMC applies to your business's CorpInfoTech can help you navigate CMMC Compliance. Let us answer all your personal questions about CMMC Compliance, let’s chat.
CorpInfoTech is a CMMC Level 2 (C3PAO) certified MSP
CMMC Update: As of November 10, 2025, CMMC compliance requirements are officially in effect and mandatory for all new Department of Work (formerly DoD) contracts. In Phase 1, organizations handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) must complete a CMMC Level 1 self-assessment and submit their results to the Supplier Risk Performance System (SRPS) before being awarded new contracts. Primes may also require their supply chain partners to achieve CMMC certification at any stage of the rollout.
CorpInfoTech a Managed Service Provider (MSP) with over 25 years in the SMB space, is a trusted partner for business pursuing compliance and cybersecurity. We are a CMMC Level 2 (C3PAO) certified MSP and a Cyber AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO). Also, as the first CIS accredited organization, we help organizations implement the CIS controls as it pertains to CMMC and your overall cybersecurity posture. CorpInfoTech is your trusted partner for secure, compliant growth in every changing digital landscape.
Further CMMC resources: