CMMC isn’t just another cybersecurity framework— it’s a required condition for eligibility in Department of Defense contracting.

Nationwide CMMC Assessments Services

If your organization handles Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), CMMC compliance is now part of doing business with the DoD. While self-assessments are still permitted in limited cases, verified assessments are becoming the norm. Prime contractors are already asking their supply chains to demonstrate readiness, and enforcement tied to DFARS requirements continues to increase.

Cadra helps defense contractors prepare for, navigate, and pass CMMC assessments without panic, wasted spend, or last-minute scrambling.

What Is a CMMC Assessment?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the Department of Defense’s way of verifying that contractors are actually protecting sensitive data—not just claiming they do.

A CMMC assessment evaluates whether your organization:

  • Has the required cybersecurity controls in place
  • Can prove those controls are consistently followed
  • Maintains formal documentation that reflects how security is actually managed
Depending on your data types, contract requirements, and assigned CMMC level, compliance may involve an annual self-assessment or preparation for a formal third-party assessment. In all cases, organizations are expected to maintain ongoing compliance, not treat CMMC as a one-time event. CMMC also works in tandem with DFARS requirements, including reporting and maintaining accurate SPRS scores—making assessment readiness a continuous responsibility.

Who Needs a CMMC Assessment?

Cadra’s CMMC Assessment services can support you if:
  • You’re a DoD contractor or subcontractor
  • You handle or may handle CUI
  • A prime contractor has asked about your CMMC level or SPRS score
  • You’re bidding on upcoming DoD work
  • You’ve been told “CMMC is coming” but no one knows what that really means

Most organizations don’t fail CMMC because they’re careless. They fail because they underestimate the scope or start too late.

Understanding the CMMC Levels

CMMC 2.0 simplified the model into three levels. Here’s what matters:

Level 1 – Foundational

  • For organizations handling FCI only
  • 17 basic cybersecurity practices
  • Annual self-assessment

Level 2 – Advanced

  • For organizations handling CUI
  • 110 controls aligned to NIST SP 800-171
  • Required third-party assessment (C3PAO) every three years
Level 2 is where most defense contractors land– and where most of the complexity lives.

Level 3 – Expert

  • Applies to a small subset of highest-priority DoD programs
  • Based on NIST SP 800-172, with approximately 130 enhanced security practices
  • Focused on defending against advanced persistent threats (APTs)
  • Assessments are conducted by the DoD or authorized third-party assessors
Cadra helps you determine the correct level, scope the environment properly, and avoid over-engineering your compliance effort.

Why CMMC Assessments Are Harder Than They Look

On paper, CMMC is a cybersecurity framework. In reality, it’s an operational maturity test.

Common challenges we see:

  • Security tools exist, but nothing is documented
  • Policies are copied from templates and don’t match reality
  • CUI is spread everywhere, expanding scope (and cost)
  • Teams confuse “IT secure” with “audit ready”
  • Leadership underestimates the timeline and internal effort
Auditors don’t grade on intent. If it isn’t documented, repeatable, and provable, it doesn’t count.

Cadra’s Approach to CMMC Assessments

We don’t throw a checklist over the fence and wish you luck.
Cadra acts as a guide, translator, and steady hand through every phase of the CMMC journey, turning dense NIST language into a clear, executable plan.

Our CMMC Assessment Services Include:

Scoping & Data Classification

We help you correctly identify:

  • FCI vs. CUI
  • In-scope systems and users
  • Opportunities to isolate CUI into a secure enclave (often reducing cost and effort)

Mis-scoping is the #1 cause of wasted budget. We prevent that early.

Before any audit is scheduled, we assess your environment against:

  • CMMC requirements
  • NIST SP 800-171 controls
  • Documentation expectations

You get a clear picture of what’s compliant, what’s missing, what needs remediation, and how long it will realistically take

No surprises. No guesswork.

We help close gaps efficiently by:

  • Prioritizing high-risk controls
  • Aligning tools, processes, and documentation
  • Avoiding unnecessary spend
  • Supporting internal teams (without taking over their jobs)

This is where strategy saves time and money.

CMMC is documentation-heavy. We help you build:

  • A defensible System Security Plan (SSP)
  • Practical, audit-ready policies and procedures
  • Clear, maintainable evidence packages

Our documentation is designed to pass audits and make sense to your team.

When it’s time for your C3PAO assessment, we help you:

  • Prepare evidence
  • Conduct mock interviews
  • Address final readiness gaps
  • Walk into the assessment with confidence

How Long Does a CMMC Assessment Take?

CMMC is not a two-week sprint. For most organizations pursuing Level 2, the timeline looks like this:

Common challenges we see:

  • Gap Analysis & Scoping: 1–2 months
  • Remediation & Implementation: 4–12 months
  • Assessment & Certification: 1–3 months

Total timeline: 6 to 18 months, depending on starting point, scope, and resources. The organizations that succeed aren’t the fastest– they’re the most prepared.

Why Work with Cadra?

Because CMMC isn’t just a compliance exercise, it’s a business risk decision.
Cadra brings:
  • Deep experience with federal compliance frameworks
  • Practical knowledge of NIST 800-171
  • A calm, structured approach to complex assessments
  • Clear communication between technical teams and leadership
  • A focus on doing only what’s required—and doing it well
We translate government acronyms into business outcomes and help you turn compliance into a competitive advantage.

Your Next Step:

Get Clarity Before the Clock Runs Out

  • CMMC requirements are moving forward.
  • Prime contractors are already asking questions.
  • And waiting for the RFP is the most expensive way to start.

If you want to understand where you stand, what level you need, and how to move forward without chaos, we should talk.

Start Today:

Book a Free CMMC Consultation

Schedule a free consultation with Cadra to discuss:

  • Your current readiness
  • Your required CMMC level
  • Realistic timelines and next steps
No pressure. No jargon. Just clarity.
Fill in the form below to schedule a free consultation with Cadra.