CMMC Readiness
AIQSO CMMC Readiness is a cybersecurity compliance service that prepares defense contractors and government suppliers for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification through gap analysis, remediation planning, and continuous compliance monitoring.
CMMC isn't optional anymore.
Key Takeaways
- •CMMC 2.0 compliance is mandatory for defense contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
- •Level 1 (Foundational) covers 17 practices — Level 2 (Advanced) requires all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls
- •Gap analysis identifies your current state and creates a prioritized remediation roadmap
- •Continuous compliance monitoring prevents drift between assessments
- •Most organizations need 3-12 months to reach Level 2 readiness depending on current posture
What is CMMC?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the Department of Defense's framework for protecting sensitive information across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). It verifies that contractors have implemented proper cybersecurity practices and processes.
Starting in 2025, CMMC certification will be required for all DoD contracts. Organizations that fail to achieve certification will be unable to bid on or maintain defense contracts.
Without CMMC compliance, your organization cannot participate in DoD contracts - representing potential loss of significant revenue streams.
Level 1 - Foundational
17 practices | Self-Assessment
Basic cyber hygiene for protecting Federal Contract Information (FCI). Annual self-assessment required.
Level 2 - Advanced
110 requirements | C3PAO Assessment
NIST SP 800-171 R2 controls for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Third-party assessment required.
Level 3 - Expert
134 requirements | DIBCAC Assessment
Highest level for critical CUI programs. Requires government-led assessment by the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center.
Assessment Packages
Gap analysis included. Clear remediation roadmaps.
CMMC Level 2 Standard
Advanced Cyber Hygiene
Best for: Organizations with moderate IT complexity and anticipated Level 2 requirements
What's Included:
- Full assessment against all 110 NIST 800-171 controls
- Security architecture & configuration review
- Policy & procedure gap review
- Evidence readiness scoring
- Detailed Gap Analysis Workbook (Excel + PDF)
- Prioritized remediation roadmap (30/60/90-day plan)
- 2-hour executive briefing
- Tooling & process improvement recommendations
Add-Ons
Need help with implementation or ongoing support? We can help.
Policy & Procedure Development
Custom development of required security policies including access control, incident response, risk management, training, and media protection.
Technical Remediation Support
Hands-on implementation support for MFA rollout, logging configuration, vulnerability remediation, network segmentation, and secure configurations.
SSP/POA&M Enhancement
Complete System Security Plan development and Plan of Action & Milestones documentation ready for C3PAO assessment.
Ongoing Advisory Support
Monthly retainer for continuous compliance monitoring, policy updates, and remediation guidance.
How It Works
Five steps from kickoff to roadmap.
Discovery
Initial intake questionnaire, environment overview, and scoping discussion
Assessment
Control testing, documentation review, technical interviews, and evidence gathering
Gap Analysis
Evidence scoring, NIST 800-171 control validation, and findings compilation
Report Development
Remediation roadmap creation, findings report, and recommendations
Executive Briefing
Final presentation, walkthrough of findings, and next steps planning
Where Automation Actually Helps
Most of CMMC is evidence. Evidence is what decays.
The hard part of CMMC is rarely understanding a control — it is producing evidence that the control was in force, and keeping that evidence current between assessments. Screenshots go stale. Spreadsheets drift from reality. Most firms answer this with more consulting hours. We answer it the way we answer every other operational problem: build the system that collects the evidence continuously, then hand it over. Most integrators bolt security onto an AI practice. We are a security firm that integrates AI.
Evidence collection
Control evidence pulled on a schedule from the systems that already hold it — identity providers, endpoint tooling, SIEM, ticketing — and filed against the control it supports, instead of being screenshotted the week before an assessment.
Continuous control monitoring
Alerting when a control drifts out of force, rather than discovering it at the next review. Built on the same monitoring stack we deploy for operations — Wazuh SIEM, log pipelines, and workflow automation.
Gap analysis that stays current
The 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls mapped once, then re-checked against live system state, so the gap list reflects the environment as it is today and not as it was on assessment day.
Scoping and asset inventory
Knowing what is actually in the CUI boundary — including the AI tools and shadow services staff adopted without asking. Asset discovery is where scope creep hides, and an unscoped asset is an unassessed one.
Automation does not make you compliant, and no tool can certify you. A CMMC Level 2 certification assessment is conducted by an authorised C3PAO; tooling only determines how much of the evidence is ready when they arrive. AIQSO is not a C3PAO and is not CMMC certified — we do readiness, gap analysis, and remediation engineering. Any vendor selling "automated CMMC certification" is selling something that does not exist.
Why Work With Us
( 01 )
20+ Years Experience
Enterprise cybersecurity experience across financial services and critical infrastructure.
( 02 )
NIST-Aligned Methodology
Assessment methodology directly aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC requirements.
( 03 )
Fast Turnaround
Senior-level delivery with rapid assessment completion and actionable results.
( 04 )
Actionable Deliverables
Clear gap analysis workbooks and prioritized remediation roadmaps you can act on immediately.
( 05 )
Small Business Agility
Direct access to senior consultants, low overhead, and flexible engagement models.
( 06 )
Security-First Approach
Every assessment includes practical security improvements, not just compliance checkboxes.
( Credentials & Training )
Is This Right for You?
When to Use This Service
- Ifyou are a defense contractor or subcontractor handling CUI — CMMC compliance will be required for contract eligibility
- Ifyou need to demonstrate cybersecurity maturity to prime contractors — even before mandatory enforcement, primes are requiring CMMC readiness from subs
- Ifyou want a compliance partner, not just a one-time assessment — our continuous monitoring prevents drift between certification cycles
When This May Not Be the Right Fit
- Ifyou only handle Federal Contract Information (FCI), not CUI — Level 1 self-assessment may be sufficient — our assessment package can confirm
- Ifyou already have a mature NIST 800-171 implementation — you may only need a gap assessment and C3PAO preparation, not full readiness
- Ifyour organization has fewer than 5 employees handling CUI — an enclave approach may be more cost-effective than organization-wide compliance
Common Questions
Let's Talk
CMMC requirements are active. Contracts are going to compliant organizations. Let's get you ready.
Official Sources
All CMMC requirements, level definitions, and control counts referenced on this page are sourced from official DoD and NIST publications. For the most current information, please refer to the official sources linked above.
Important Note: AIQSO provides CMMC readiness assessment and advisory services. We do not perform official CMMC certification assessments. Only authorized C3PAOs (CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organizations) can conduct certification assessments. Our services help prepare your organization to successfully pass a C3PAO assessment.