MSPs and CMMC Compliance: 7 Advantages from Hiring a MSP

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) can present a daunting hurdle for small and mid-sized defense contractors. For IT teams striving to meet these rigorous new standards, enlisting the expertise of a managed services provider (MSP) can be a game-changer.

The right MSP can offer specialized knowledge and resources that streamline the path to CMMC compliance. They can demystify the complexities of CMMC and ensure your IT infrastructures are secure, resilient, and capable of protecting sensitive defense information.

Dig deeper below to explore seven critical benefits that IT professionals can leverage by partnering with an MSP to master CMMC compliance and secure their position within the Department of Defense (DoD) (also known as the Department of War) supply chain.

What Does an MSP Do?

MSPs remotely administer IT infrastructure and end-user systems for their customers. Within the DIB sector, those customers typically include government agencies and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that contract or subcontract with the DoD.

SMBs rely on MSPs to offer expertise in handling the complex and time-consuming work of managing IT infrastructure. MSPs typically:

• Oversee compliance and risk management
• Offer technical support
• Manage IT infrastructure
• Administer cybersecurity

Do MSPs Need To Be CMMC Certified?

No, not every MSP is required to be CMMC certified. However, if an MSP provides services to defense contractors and has access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)—or supports systems that store, process, or transmit CUI—that MSP must meet the same CMMC requirements as the contractor. In practical terms, if your MSP touches your environment, your security stack, or your compliance documentation in a way that impacts CUI, their compliance posture directly affects yours.

That’s why working with a CMMC-certified provider matters. ISI was one of the first managed service providers in the United States to achieve CMMC Level 2 certification. Our team understands what it takes to be audit-ready because we’ve been through it ourselves.

Do You Need an MSP?

CMMC is no longer a proposed framework waiting on rulemaking. Now that 48 CFR has gone into effect and the official CMMC rollout has begun, CMMC requirements are now being written directly into DoD solicitations and contract awards. That means contractors must meet their required CMMC level—and be prepared to prove it—if they want to compete for and win new defense work.

If your organization handles CUI, you’re expected to meet the required security controls and successfully complete a CMMC assessment at the appropriate level. For the majority of contractors and subcontractors in the DIB, that means preparing for CMMC Level 2 and working toward becoming CMMC certified through a third-party assessment.

For small and mid-sized contractors, this is not a light lift. Achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance requires documented processes, technical safeguards, ongoing monitoring, and coordination across IT, security, leadership, and compliance teams. Attempting to navigate CMMC Level 2 alone can quickly overwhelm internal systems and stretch IT staff beyond capacity, especially in organizations where teams are already lean. An experienced MSP can reduce that strain by helping design, implement, and manage the required controls, ensuring your environment remains secure, audit-ready, and positioned to pass a CMMC assessment without derailing day-to-day operations.

Here’s how.

7 Ways MSPs Help IT Professionals Achieve CMMC Compliance

1. MSPs Save You Money

Achieving and maintaining CMMC compliance is a complex and time-consuming undertaking consisting of 110 different security controls and 320 assessment objectives at Level 2. For organizations seeking CMMC Level 2, this means preparing for a formal CMMC assessment conducted by a C3PAO assessor as part of the broader certification process.
MSPs can provide resources to meet these compliance requirements on a subscription basis, eliminating the need for large upfront capital expenditures in security infrastructure, software, and personnel. Outsourcing these tasks to an MSP frees up your internal IT staff to focus on your core business activities and core IT management, improving productivity and efficiency while strengthening overall CMMC readiness.

2. Select MSPs Let You Leverage DoD-Specific Industry Expertise and Experience

An MSP with DoD-specific industry expertise will have a deep understanding of the CMMC framework, including what is considered in scope for a CMMC Level 2 environment and how to protect CUI and other sensitive data. At ISI, for instance, we have over 300 years of combined industrial security experience and have worked with more than 900 DIB clients. Partnering with a specialized MSP like ISI allows your IT professionals to strengthen their own understanding of the DoD-specific security landscape while reinforcing the shared responsibility model between contractor, subcontractors, and external partners.

3. MSPs Can Simplify Compliance Reporting

MSPs implement robust tools and technologies to gather and consolidate compliance-related data, eliminating the need for manual collection from multiple systems. They also leverage automation to generate documentation required for a CMMC assessment, supporting consistency and accuracy throughout the certification process.

An MSP may use advanced monitoring solutions and platforms—often built within secure Microsoft environments—to provide dashboards that clearly demonstrate your compliance posture. This helps your organization show that the required controls protecting sensitive data are properly implemented and maintained, making it easier to remain CMMC compliant as requirements evolve.

4. MSPs Can Offer Sophisticated Security Services, Such as Advanced Threat Detection

Cybersecurity-focused MSPs can provide a wide range of sophisticated security services that go beyond basic antivirus and firewall protection—services that are critical for contractors seeking to meet CMMC Level 2 compliance requirements and align with FedRAMP-equivalent cloud standards. These can include:

Advanced Threat Detection and Response - With Managed Detection and Response (MDR), businesses get 24/7 monitoring of networks and endpoints for suspicious activity, coupled with rapid response to contain and mitigate threats. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) uses behavioral analysis and machine learning to identify and stop sophisticated attacks. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) conducts centralized log collection and analysis to correlate security events, identify patterns, and detect potential threats.

Proactive Defense - Systems and applications are regularly scanned and assessed to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Meanwhile, penetration testing simulates attacks to identify weaknesses in an organization’s defenses and provide recommendations for improvement. These practices are coupled with regular employee training on new best practices for security.

Incident Response - MSPs develop and test incident response plans to ensure swift and effective action if a breach occurs; they conduct in-depth investigations to identify the root cause of security incidents and prevent future occurrences; and they can assist in recovering data lost or compromised during a security incident.

5. MSPs Help Identify and Mitigate New Risks

MSPs focused on CMMC compliance for DoD contractors identify and mitigate new risks by staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats; by conducting comprehensive IT infrastructure assessments to identify vulnerabilities, gaps, and potential risks; and by implementing continuous monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activity, anomalies, and potential threats in real-time. This multifaceted approach helps prevent security breaches and bolster your company’s ongoing cybersecurity posture.

6. MSP Services Are Adaptable and Can Scale with the Growth of Your Organization

As your business grows or changes, your CMMC compliance needs are also likely to evolve. A good MSP can scale its services to accommodate these changes, eliminating the need for you to immediately invest in additional infrastructure or personnel when you land a new contract. An MSP that specializes in CMMC compliance will have the knowledge and expertise to stay ahead of the curve in recommending and implementing the latest best practices for meeting regulatory requirements.

7. MSPs Can Help You Attain Compliance with Minimal Business Disruption

Achieving CMMC compliance is critical for SMBs to compete for DoD contracts, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of disrupting your core business. MSPs can help you avoid disruption by performing compliance activities remotely; by developing a phased implementation plan that prioritizes the most critical controls; and by scheduling assessments, installations, and other compliance-related activities during off-hours or low-traffic periods to avoid interfering with essential business operations.

Is Your MSP Ready for CMMC?

With ISI, you get total IT, security, and compliance coverage from a single vendor. Whether you’re a small contractor or a growing mid-sized firm, we help you navigate the CMMC framework at any level of complexity. We’re 100% focused on DIB clients and our service offerings scale to fit your organization’s needs.

To learn more about how we can help you achieve CMMC certification, contact us today.

FAQs about CMMC and MSP

Are NIST and CMMC the Same?

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) are closely related, but they’re not the same. NIST SP 800-171 presents a broad range of voluntary cybersecurity guidelines and standards applicable to non-federal organizations that handle CUI. CMMC, on the other hand, is a DoD program that incorporates many of the security controls from NIST 800-171, but builds upon them. CMMC presents its own set of what will soon be mandatory requirements for defense contractors who want to do business with the DoD.

Does CMMC Require SIEM?

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) isn’t mandatory for Level 1 and 2 CMMC compliance, but for organizations aiming for CMMC Level 3 certification, a SIEM solution is essentially necessary to meet the required standards for threat hunting.
However, even for organizations only seeking Level 1 or 2 CMMC compliance, a SIEM can significantly streamline and simplify CMMC compliance by centralizing log collection, facilitating real-time monitoring and analysis, and helping to identify potential security incidents.

How Can MSPs Demonstrate Their Own Internal Security Practices Align with CMMC Requirements?

In order for you to feel confident in an MSP, it’s important you ask them to demonstrate that their own internal security practices align with CMMC requirements. MSPs can accomplish this by achieving CMMC certification themselves, and by providing detailed documentation about security policies, procedures, and practices, such as:

•  Incident response plans 
•  Evidence of employee security training 
•  Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing reports 
•  Reports from third-party SOC 2 audit 

What’s the Difference Between an MSP and an MSSP?

MSSP (managed security service provider) is a term sometimes used to refer to a specialized type of MSP (managed service provider) that focuses specifically on cybersecurity, often operating from a security operations center (SOC) to monitor, detect, and respond to threats. MSPs deliver a broad array of IT services, including network management, infrastructure support, help desk, and system maintenance. MSPs often provide security as one of their services, but MSSPs focus solely on providing cybersecurity.

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 small 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).

For a further breakdown of how to budget for CMMC Level 2 Compliance, refer to our CMMC Budget Guide: Compliance Without Compromise.

Choose the Right MSP for Your CMMC Compliance Needs

At IsI, we understand the challenges of CMMC compliance, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. We believe that continuous cybersecurity maturity is more than a compliance necessity: it can help you achieve true operational excellence and allow you to shine with your government customers.

Regardless of where you are in your CMMC compliance journey, our expertise will help you navigate the complexities of the process. Our curated security stack enables our clients to achieve 65% compliance during the onboarding and initial compliance phases alone. Through cost effective guidance, expert vendor management, streamlined assessment preparation, and reliable IT and cybersecurity support, we’ll push you over the finish line.

To learn more about how we can help you achieve CMMC certification, contact us today.