How to Choose a CMMC Consultant

EXECUTIVE BRIEF

Phase 2 of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) enforcement is on the horizon, bringing mandatory third-party assessments for Level 2 certification. Choosing the right CMMC consultant ensures your organization protects sensitive data and stays eligible for future Department of Defense (DoD) (also known as the Department of War) contracts.
But with so many options on the market, there are a few key differentiators to look out for: 

• Cyber AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO) certification

• On-staff Registered Practitioners (RPs)
• Specific focus on DoD cybersecurity regulations, such as National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171)

 Choosing the right CMMC consultant is becoming a critical business decision. A qualified CMMC consultant can help you assess readiness, identify risks, remediate compliance gaps, prepare for audits, and maintain long-term alignment with DoD cybersecurity requirements.

You’re likely being bombarded with ads from companies of all sorts offering CMMC compliance services. But what should you be looking for? Dig deeper below to learn what certifications, experience, and offerings defense contractors should keep in mind when comparing consulting partners.

CMMC and Its Importance for Defense Contractors

CMMC is the DoD’s framework for standardizing how defense contractors protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Built on the requirements of NIST SP 800-171, CMMC establishes consistent cybersecurity practices across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to reduce supply-chain risk and improve data security.

The final CMMC rule went into effect in late 2024, formally establishing the program structure, certification levels, and assessment requirements, and Phase 1 of implementation began in 2025. By Phase 2 of the CMMC rollout beginning on November 10, 2026, contractors handling CUI will be mandated to demonstrate their compliance with CMMC requirements through CMMC Level 2 third-party certification (via a CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO)).

This means compliance can no longer be put on the back burner. With CMMC compliance now tied directly to contract eligibility, selecting the right consulting partner can directly impact your ability to win and retain DoD work.

An Introduction to CMMC and Its Importance for Defense Contractors

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program standardizes cybersecurity practices to protect Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the defense supply chain. 

This program was revised and streamlined with CMMC 2.0, which will be effective beginning on December 16, 2024. One of the biggest revisions in CMMC 2.0 requires defense contractors to achieve CMMC certification both to win new contracts and to sustain current contracts. 

Compliance can no longer be put on the back burner; now it's a part of any defense contractors’ overarching business goals. 

What Is a CMMC Consultant?

A CMMC consultant is an individual or organization—often a specialized Managed Service Provider (MSP)—that helps defense contractors meet CMMC standards by addressing compliance gaps, strengthening security posture, and preparing for certification.

A CMMC consultant may:

• Act as an external or supplemental IT and cybersecurity team
• Implement policies, procedures, and technical controls aligned with CMMC and NIST SP 800-171A
• Identify and remediate compliance gaps through readiness assessments
• Prepare your organization for CMMC self-assessments or third-party assessments
• Support long-term cybersecurity maturity beyond certification

The Significance of the MSP  

Compliance can overburden a small IT department, especially if they don't have DoD regulatory experience. An MSP can work alongside your current IT department to ensure your organization can confidently bid on new, lucrative contracts. A few of the significant benefits of working with an MSP are: 

• Cost Predictability: You can avoid the risk of last-minute adjustments, upgrades, and additional services to pass assessments and maintain compliance.
• Sustained Compliance: An MSP can proactively monitor compliance changes and tool enhancements, ensuring your security needs stay aligned with evolving federal regulations.
• Demonstrated Expertise: CMMC certified MSPs have demonstrated the ability to uphold requirements, offering more predictable assessment success.
  
  

Understanding the Role of a CMMC Consultant in CMMC Compliance

A CMMC consultant ensures your organization is prepared for a CMMC audit by conducting a readiness assessment, documenting your system security plan (SSP), identifying vulnerabilities, and developing a clear plan of action. This often includes a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) outlining remediation steps, milestones, and a realistic roadmap toward certification.

Common Challenges

It's estimated that small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) account for 73% of contractors within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). While SMBs drive innovation within the DIB, they often lack the resources larger organizations have access to. Some common challenges are: 

• Lack of technical experience in cybersecurity compliance regulations
• Not enough resources to fund a fully functional IT department
• Team members serving in dual-hatted roles to meet contract demands

These constraints make ongoing risk assessments and sustained compliance especially difficult for small and mid-sized defense contractors.

Different Types of CMMC Consultants

When evaluating CMMC consulting services, most organizations encounter either a generalist MSP or a specialized CMMC compliance consulting provider focused exclusively on defense contractors.

The benefit of a specialized MSP like ISI is that the entire organization has experience with—and is solely focused on—the complex regulations specific to the DIB. The services we offer are all tailored to CMMC practices and can be modified to meet your organization’s needs while still achieving compliance. 

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a CMMC Consultant

Not all MSPs are the same. There are varying degrees of expertise, comprehensiveness, and commitment that defense contractors have to weed through when searching for the right external support. 

Let's dig deeper into what your organization should be looking for in an MSP. Beginning with...  

Expertise in CMMC

As of now, only defense contractors are mandated to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The regulations surrounding CUI are completely niche to this industry. That's why it's vitally important your organization hires an MSP that has the DIB-specific expertise needed to support your progress toward compliance.

Three things to look for in your potential MSPs are:

• Percentage of clients in the DIB
• Registered Provider Organization (RPO) certification, showcasing organization-wide expertise with CMMC regulations
• Staff with Registered Practitioner (RP) certification, signaling individual expertise with CMMC

Comprehensive Service Offerings

In the defense contracting world, there’s no “quick fix” to achieve CMMC certification. Implementing all 110 of the security controls required for CMMC Level 2 takes time and effort: often six months or more, depending on your initial readiness. 

Three things to look for in your potential MSPs are:

• Percentage of clients in the DIB
• RPO certification, showcasing organization-wide expertise with CMMC regulations
• Staff with Registered Practitioner (RP) certification, signaling individual expertise with CMMC

These indicators demonstrate whether a consultant has the track record and organizational commitment required to support CMMC Level 1 and Level 2 efforts.

Excellent Customer Support

With CMMC compliance, there's a lot to be done. But, when working with an MSP, the work shouldn’t feel siloed, and your consultants shouldn’t be strangers. Your MSP should prioritize quick response times, regular check-ins and updates, and transparent communication about any changes or issues that arise. While they’re not on your payroll, you should feel like your MSP advisor is part of your team.

Collaborative Partnerships

As with any consultant, you want to make sure you're choosing a true partner for your compliance journey. You should sense your MSP cares about the success of your business and has your overall cybersecurity posture at the top of their mind. Remember: while achieving compliance is a critical part of the work they do for you, the overall goal is to build and strengthen your overall cybersecurity. A dedicated MSP should always be working toward that end.

Efficiency with Advanced Technology

The computer you buy from Dell or Best Buy won’t meet CMMC standards without additional security controls, often implemented through platforms such as Microsoft and cloud services aligned with FedRAMP requirements. Look for an MSP whose security stack has been proven in real CMMC assessments. At ISI, our curated stack has supported both our own certification efforts and our customers’ path through the CMMC process, creating a more predictable and repeatable readiness outcome.

Tips for Evaluating and Selecting the Right CMMC Consultant for Your Organization

There are a few things you should do when selecting an external service provider for your compliance journey: 

• Interview multiple organizations before choosing one
• Make sure you choose an external service provider that you can build a rapport with
• Double-check to ensure they have experience with CMMC practices (i.e. that they're a certified Cyber AB RPO)

What Questions Should I Ask a Potential CMMC Consultant? 

When interviewing potential MSP partners, consider asking these questions to ensure your organization is receiving the best quality service: 

Is your organization currently, or working towards, a Cyber AB RPO certification? 

• The RPO certification shows the MSP’s expertise and commitment to upholding CMMC requirements and best practices. It's a clear indication of a committed consultant.
• ISI is a certified RPO.

Are any of your team members certified CMMC Registered Practitioners (RPs)? 

• Having RPs on staff shows not only expertise in CMMC requirements, but also in implementing CMMC compliant solutions. 

Does your organization plan on becoming CMMC certified? 

• The Final CMMC Program rule states that External Service Providers (including MSPs) are not required to achieve CMMC certification since the services provided will be part of the Organization’s Seeking Assessment (OSA's) scope. However, going through a voluntary assessment showcases an MSPs commitment to cybersecurity standards and demonstrates their ability to pass a CMMC audit.
• ISI achieved its CMMC Level 2 Certificate of Status in March 2025. We were one of the first MSPs to do so.

Does your organization utilize varying vendors for your security stack? 

• Over-reliance on a single vendor may achieve CMMC certification, but may cause your organization headaches in the future. If the Crowdstrike outage showed us anything, it’s that your cybersecurity solutions need to include a variety of vendors to ensure continuity in services.
• ISI isn’t reliant on one vendor to provide cybersecurity tools, which ensures continuity in services during an outage or vendor breach.

Use Our Comparison Tool  

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Ready to Move Forward with CMMC?

CMMC timelines are no longer abstract and waiting to prepare only narrows your options. The right CMMC consultant can help you close compliance gaps, build a realistic roadmap, and position your organization to remain competitive as certification requirements roll into DoD contracts.

ISI specializes in supporting defense contractors through CMMC readiness, remediation, and audit preparation. With deep experience across the DIB and a team focused on long-term cybersecurity maturity—not just passing an assessment—we help organizations move forward with clarity and confidence.

If CMMC certification impacts your ability to bid, win, or retain contracts, now is the time to act.

>> Partner with ISI for your compliance journey! 

FAQs about CMMC Consultants

How much does a CMMC audit cost?

The cost of a CMMC audit depends on your certification level, organizational size, and overall readiness. For organizations pursuing CMMC Level 2, which requires a third-party assessment conducted by a C3PAO, factors that influence the final cost include the scope of systems handling CUI, the maturity of your SSP, the number of identified compliance gaps, and the amount of required remediation. Engaging a CMMC consultant ahead of time can help streamline the assessment process, reduce risk, and avoid costly rework.

How much does CMMC compliance cost?

The cost of working with a CMMC consultant or provider of CMMC compliance consulting services varies based on the level of support required and your starting security posture. Some organizations may only need targeted expert guidance or a readiness assessment, while others require ongoing support to develop a roadmap, address vulnerabilities, manage a POA&M, and prepare for audit milestones. For a breakdown of how to budget for CMMC Level 2 Compliance, refer to our CMMC Budget Guide: Compliance Without Compromise.

What does a CMMC consultant actually deliver?

A CMMC consultant delivers readiness assessments, risk assessments, documented system security plans, remediation support, and audit preparation to help organizations meet compliance requirements efficiently.

How does ISI compare to other MSPs for CMMC readiness services?

We’re known for:

• End-to-end support: ISI combines managed IT, cybersecurity, and NIST 800-171 compliance—closing gaps, maintaining SSPs/POA&Ms, and supporting audits. 
• Purpose-built DIB service model: ISI was designed for multi-hatted contractors that need responsive, relationship-driven support—not a one-size-fits-all technical deployment.
• Security Control platform: ISI offers a dedicated compliance management system for mapping controls, tracking evidence, and scoring readiness—something most competitors don’t provide.
• Partner-style engagement: ISI emphasizes proactive communication, responsiveness, and personalized guidance (a major gap cited by many MSP customers after onboarding with tech-first providers).

Do I need a CMMC consultant to get certified?

While hiring a CMMC consultant is not required, many defense contractors choose to work with one due to the complexity of CMMC requirements, the technical depth of NIST SP 800-171 controls, and the risk of failing an assessment. A CMMC consultant can significantly reduce preparation time and compliance risk.

How long does a CMMC assessment take?

The length of a CMMC assessment varies for a variety of reasons. Everything from internal preparation and organization to staff availability come into play. That said, you should plan for at least one, full work week (five, 8-hour days) for the assessment period. 

Who can audit CMMC?

Audits are completed by a CMMC C3PAO. Once you select a C3PAO, an assessment team consisting of a lead CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA), a secondary CCA, and an individual conducting quality assurance reviews for the assessment team will begin your audit. C3PAOs and CCAs accredited by the Cyber AB are the only entities capable of completing a CMMC assessment.

What is the difference between a CMMC consultant and a C3PAO?

A CMMC consultant is a service provider to support the technical aspects of your compliance journey. With an MSP, you can complement or outsource components of your IT department with individuals with CMMC expertise. A C3PAO, on the other hand, reviews your IT infrastructure as well as any policies or procedures associated with CMMC practices.