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 Confident in your compliance posture? Explore our CMMC Readiness Signal

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CMMC compliance for Defense Contractors

Simplify compliance with a CMMC Level 2 Certified partner
focused on the Defense Industrial Base.

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CMMC Compliance Made Simple, Seamless, and Sustainable

CMMC can feel like a moving target, especially for businesses trying to balance compliance, cybersecurity, and day-to-day operations. ISI is purpose-built to solve that challenge.

We integrate compliance, cybersecurity, and managed IT into one convenient solution. This gives you a single, accountable partner who can guide you through every stage of your compliance journey.

Whether you are determining your CMMC level, preparing for an assessment, or maintaining compliance long term, we handle the heavy lifting. Our experts keep you audit ready, secure, and confident in pursuing and keeping your DoD contracts.

CMMC Command Center

Our Unique Expertise

Certified by Cyber-AB

We are CMMC Level 2 certified and a leading Registered Provider Organization (RPO).

3 RPs on Staff

Get expert assistance on preparation for your CMMC certification.

180+ NIST Assessments Completed

We are highly skilled in completing this crucial step to achieving CMMC compliance.

900+ Customers

ISI is trusted nationwide by small and midsize businesses in the DIB.

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Designed with you in mind

As a Registered Provider Organization (RPO) with our own CMMC Level 2 Certification, ISI guides companies to achieve and maintain compliance with confidence. From tool selection to policy creation, we keep your CMMC status at the forefront while helping you control costs, reduce risk, and eliminate guesswork.

Our curated security stack delivers up to 65% compliance during the onboarding and initial phase alone. Backed by a proven track record and a highly experienced team, we make your compliance journey smooth and efficient so you can focus on growing your business.

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Confidently Prepare for New CMMC Requirements

Starting in late 2025, defense contractors must meet CMMC compliance requirements to bid on new contracts, and by 2028 to keep existing ones.

CMMC builds on existing frameworks like NIST 800-171, introduced in 2015 to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Here’s what that means to you: third party-audits and certification requirements are non-negotiable.

ISI reduces the stress of audits, shaves time off the entire process, and reduces the load on your staff. Take our readiness questionnaire to see where you currently stand.

CMMC Readiness Questionnaire

Your path to CMMC compliance

Defense contractors will need to meet the compliance requirements of NIST 800-171 to prepare for their assessment – and ISI will be there through every critical step.
Dig Deeper: Steal our CMMC Level 2 Readiness Strategy

  • Selecting CMMC provider (commonly referred to as an RPO)
  • Identifying your CMMC level
  • Specifying your CMMC assets
  • Selecting a technical design
  • Ensuring cloud compliance
  • Planning, recording, and adopting
  • Completing assessment
  • SelectingCMMC provider (commonly referred to as an RPO)
  • Identifying your CMMC level
  • Specifying your CMMC assets
  • Selecting a technical design
  • Ensuring cloud compliance
  • Planning, recording, and adopting
  • Completing assessment

Get expert guidance

Bidding on Defense Contracts: What Contractors Need to Know

Executive Brief Winning a defense contract requires more than a strong product or service, you must meet strict Department of Defense (DoD) compliance and security standards. The path includes multiple steps: registration, meeting Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) / National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requirements, and achieving the right Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Option years are not guaranteed. If your compliance posture slips, your contract extension could be at risk. After the CMMC phase-in, many commercial contracts will also require current certification for eligibility. Strong compliance preparation positions your business for long-term success in the defense supply chain. Want to see how to position your business for success? Dig deeper below.

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FAQs

Here's everything you need to know

What is CMMC?

CMMC stands for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It is a program designed by the DoD to protect the Pentagon’s supply chain and standardize compliance across the DIB. CMMC expands upon an existing compliance framework called NIST 800-171 which has been in place since 2017.

What does the future of CMMC look like?

CMMC 2.0 is expected to become law in 2025. We are expecting to see CMMC published as a final rule before the end of 2024, making CMMC 2.0 active. Assessments can begin in earnest by C3PAOs at this point. Sometime early next year, the CMMC requirement will begin to appear in new DoD contracts and potentially in modifications to existing contracts. By 2028, the CMMC requirement will appear in ALL applicable DoD contracts.

How long does it take to prepare for a CMMC assessment?

Our team estimates that the preparation period leading up to the CMMC assessment could span 9-12 months. With the CMMC requirement starting to appear in contracts early 2025, the time is now to get ahead of your competition. 

Who needs to follow NIST 800-171?

Simply put, organizations handling CUI must adhere to NIST 800-171 requirements. This includes both prime and subcontractors working for the Department of Defense (DoD), research institutions receiving federal grants, and organizations that store, handle, or process CUI for federal agencies. Organizations can confirm their handling of CUI by carefully examining their government contracts for specific clauses and by checking for a CUI designation block.

How is NIST 800-171 assessed?

Assessment of compliance with NIST 800-171 relies on the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score. Achieving compliance entails attaining an SPRS score of 110, indicating the implementation of each of the 110 security controls. Within each security control, specific requirements are detailed, varying in complexity and associated costs.