Most CMMC Level 2 failures aren't technical — they're preparation failures. Missing evidence, inaccurate SSPs, and undocumented control implementations that exist in the infrastructure but can't be demonstrated to an assessor. We close every gap before your C3PAO walks in.
Technical implementation verified across all 14 control families
Accuracy, completeness, and boundary alignment
Logs, configs, screenshots, and policies per control
In-scope systems and data flow documentation
Staff must describe controls they operate and maintain
Open items must be tracked, dated, and risk-accepted
Structured preparation that mirrors the CMMC Assessment Guide methodology used by accredited C3PAOs.
Validate your CUI boundary. Map every in-scope system. Run a full 110-control gap assessment against your actual technical posture — not your documented posture.
Close gaps using Infrastructure as Code — Terraform, Azure Policy, AWS Config. Controls enforced at the infrastructure layer don't drift between assessments.
Build the evidence package the C3PAO will request. Every control mapped to its evidence artifact — logs, screenshots, configurations, policies, and training records.
Mock assessment using the CMMC Assessment Guide — the same methodology your C3PAO will follow. Identifies remaining findings before they become formal assessment findings.
A failed C3PAO assessment triggers a remediation period and reassessment. Both cost time and delay contract eligibility. Most failures are preventable.
SSP doesn't match the actual environment
Documented controls exist on paper but aren't technically implemented or configured correctly
Evidence packages are incomplete
Controls are implemented but logs, configs, or policies can't be produced on request
CUI boundary is incorrectly scoped
Systems handling CUI aren't in scope, or non-CUI systems are included unnecessarily, creating extra control burden
Staff can't describe controls they operate
C3PAO assessors conduct technical interviews — staff must explain how controls work, not just that they exist
POA&M items treated as "passing"
Open POA&M items must be tracked with dates and risk acceptance — they are not automatic disqualifiers but must be managed
C3PAO preparation works in sequence with the full readiness journey.
Identify which of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls are missing, partially implemented, or incorrectly documented before you begin remediation.
Validate your self-assessed SPRS score against actual control implementation. Fix inaccurate scoring before a C3PAO flags it.
Implement all 14 NIST 800-171 control families using Infrastructure as Code — the technical foundation for C3PAO assessment readiness.
A C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization) is an organization accredited by the Cyber AB to conduct official CMMC Level 2 assessments. They evaluate whether your organization has technically implemented all 110 NIST SP 800-171 requirements. Assessors review your SSP, conduct technical interviews, request evidence artifacts, and validate your CUI boundary. A passed assessment results in a CMMC Level 2 certification valid for three years.
Preparation timeline depends on your starting SPRS score and number of open control gaps. Organizations with an SPRS score above 90 and an existing SSP can typically complete preparation in 60–120 days. Organizations starting below 70 should expect 4–9 months. VIS LLC front-loads gap closure using Infrastructure as Code, which significantly compresses the implementation timeline versus manual control-by-control remediation.
C3PAOs assess evidence across all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements. Commonly requested items include: SSP and POA&M, network diagrams showing CUI boundary, user access control lists, MFA configurations, audit log samples, configuration baselines, vulnerability scan reports, incident response plan, backup and recovery documentation, training completion records, and media sanitization logs. VIS LLC builds evidence packages organized by NIST control family to make assessor review efficient.
A pre-assessment is an internal practice run conducted before scheduling the formal C3PAO assessment. VIS LLC conducts pre-assessments using the same CMMC Assessment Guide methodology that accredited C3PAOs follow. We identify control deficiencies, evidence gaps, and SSP accuracy issues before the formal assessment, giving your organization the opportunity to remediate. A failed C3PAO assessment requires a remediation period and reassessment — both costly and both preventable.
No. VIS LLC is a CMMC readiness consulting firm, not a C3PAO. We prepare DoD contractors for their C3PAO assessment — closing control gaps, building evidence packages, hardening SSPs — but we do not conduct official CMMC Level 2 assessments. This separation is required by Cyber AB rules to prevent conflicts of interest. Our role is to get you assessment-ready, then coordinate your scheduling with an accredited C3PAO.
We'll review your current SPRS score, SSP status, and evidence posture — and give you an honest assessment of what needs to happen before you schedule your C3PAO.
Book Free Readiness ReviewNo sales pitch. Technical review only. South Brunswick, NJ · +1 (732) 200-7352