CMMC consultants typically charge $15,000 to $50,000 or more for compliance engagements. For a small business, that's a significant investment—sometimes more than the profit margin on the contracts you're trying to protect. Here's what many small business owners don't
Machine shops are the backbone of defense manufacturing. From precision aerospace components to submarine parts, small machine shops across the country produce the pieces that keep our military operational. If you run a machine shop doing DoD work, you handle drawings, specifications, tolerances, and technical data every day. All of
One of the most persistent myths about CMMC: you need to buy special government-approved software to be compliant. Vendors love this myth. It sells expensive products. But for Level 1, it's simply not true. CMMC Level 1 can be achieved with standard business tools you probably already own.
One of the first questions every DoD contractor asks: do I need Level 1 or Level 2? The answer matters. Level 1 is manageable for most small businesses. Level 2 is a significantly larger undertaking—more requirements, more documentation, more cost. Getting this wrong in either direction creates problems. Pursue
If you've tried reading official CMMC documentation, you've probably encountered a wall of acronyms and jargon. C3PAO, SPRS, POA&M, FCI, CUI—it can feel like a different language. This glossary translates the 30 most common CMMC terms into plain English. No technical background required.
System and Information Integrity is about keeping bad stuff out of your systems and keeping those systems working properly. Viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other malicious software are constant threats. Security flaws in the software you use create openings for attackers. This domain addresses both. CMMC Level 1 has four requirements
System and Communications Protection is about safeguarding information as it travels through your network and between your systems and the outside world. It sounds technical—and the underlying technology can be complex—but the Level 1 requirements are manageable for any small business. CMMC Level 1 has two requirements in
When people hear "cybersecurity," they think about passwords, firewalls, and antivirus software. Physical security often gets overlooked. But if someone can walk into your office and access your computers directly, all those digital protections don't matter much. CMMC Level 1 includes five Physical Protection requirements. The
In CMMC terminology, "media" means anything that stores information. Hard drives, USB sticks, CDs, backup tapes—and yes, paper. If it holds data, it's media. For CMMC Level 1, the Media Protection domain has just one requirement. But it's an important one that many
Before your systems can control what someone does, they need to know who that someone is. That's what the Identification and Authentication domain is all about—knowing who is using your systems and verifying they are who they claim to be. For CMMC Level 1, this domain has
Access Control is the first domain you'll encounter in CMMC Level 1—and for good reason. Before you worry about antivirus software, firewalls, or any other security measures, you need to answer a fundamental question: who can get into your systems in the first place? At its core,
If you've tried reading the official CMMC documentation, you've probably felt your eyes glaze over within minutes. Terms like "system security plans," "assessment objectives," and "organizational systems" pile up fast. For small business owners and managers without IT backgrounds, it