Pricing
What CMMC Level 2 Compliance Actually Costs
You're here because every other CMMC consultant's website says "contact us for a custom quote." You filled out a form, waited three days for a call, sat through a sales pitch, and still didn't get a number.
We're going to tell you what it costs.
These are real ranges based on what companies like yours — small manufacturers with 10 to 100 employees — actually pay to get CMMC Level 2 certified. Not theoretical. Not "it depends." Real numbers from real engagements.
Can we predict your exact cost on a web page? No. But we can get you within striking distance, and that's more than anyone else is willing to do.
The Three Buckets of CMMC Cost
Every dollar you spend on CMMC Level 2 falls into one of three categories. Understanding these upfront prevents sticker shock later.
Consulting & Preparation
What you pay someone like us to assess your gaps, implement security controls, write your System Security Plan, and get you ready to pass your assessment.
Technology Costs
GCC High licensing, security tools, endpoint protection, SIEM, backup solutions. These are recurring monthly costs that continue after certification.
C3PAO Assessment
What you pay the certified third-party assessment organization to evaluate your compliance and grant certification. This is completely separate from consulting.
Consulting Costs
What You Pay Us
Three ways to work with us, depending on where you are in your CMMC journey and what you need.
Gap Assessment + Roadmap
Fixed price. One-time engagement.
- ✓ Full assessment against all 110 NIST 800-171 controls
- ✓ Identify your CUI data flows and system boundaries
- ✓ Scored gap analysis showing exactly where you stand
- ✓ Prioritized remediation roadmap with timeline and budget estimates
- ✓ Scope reduction recommendations (enclave approach where applicable)
Best for: Companies that want to understand where they stand before committing to full remediation. Also useful if you want to handle some work internally.
Get StartedFull Remediation + Documentation
Scoped and quoted for your environment.
- ✓ Everything in the Gap Assessment
- ✓ Technical implementation of all security controls
- ✓ GCC High migration and configuration
- ✓ Complete System Security Plan (SSP) development
- ✓ All required policies, procedures, and documentation
- ✓ Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) management
- ✓ C3PAO assessment preparation and support
Best for: Companies ready to go all-in on certification. You want one team handling everything from technical controls to documentation.
Learn MoreCompliance as a Service
Monthly. Ongoing after certification.
- ✓ Continuous monitoring of all security controls
- ✓ Annual SSP reviews and updates
- ✓ POA&M tracking and remediation
- ✓ Security awareness training for your team
- ✓ Incident response support
- ✓ Preparation for triennial reassessment
Best for: Companies that have passed their assessment and need to maintain compliance without hiring a full-time security team.
Get StartedTechnology Costs: What You'll Pay Beyond Consulting
Consulting gets you ready, but you also need the right tools running in your environment. These are recurring costs that most CMMC consultants gloss over in their proposals. We'd rather you know about them now.
Microsoft 365 GCC High
[object Object]Required for handling CUI. This is the single biggest recurring cost.
SIEM / Log Management
[object Object]Centralized logging and monitoring to meet audit and incident response controls.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
[object Object]Advanced threat detection beyond basic antivirus. Required for several CMMC controls.
Backup and Recovery
[object Object]Encrypted, compliant backup for CUI data. Your current Dropbox or Google Drive backup won't cut it.
MFA Solution
[object Object]Multi-factor authentication for all users. Often included with GCC High licensing, but not always fully configured.
The bottom line on technology: For a typical small manufacturer with 15-25 users in scope, expect to budget [INSERT PRICE RANGE] per month in total technology costs. This number scales with your user count — which is exactly why the enclave approach can dramatically reduce your ongoing spend.
C3PAO Assessment: The Certification Cost
This is the money you pay to the certified third-party assessment organization (C3PAO) to actually evaluate your compliance and grant your CMMC Level 2 certification.
Typical range: $30,000 to $100,000+, depending on the size and complexity of your environment, number of locations, and how many assessors need to be on-site.
One critical thing to understand: the company that helps you prepare cannot be the same company that assesses you. This is by design. The C3PAO must be independent. We help you get ready. They verify you're ready. Different organizations, different checks.
We'll help you select a C3PAO and coordinate the assessment timeline, but their fee is separate from ours. Think of it like the difference between a driving instructor and the DMV — you pay both, but they serve different roles.
What Drives Your Cost Up
When we scope an engagement, these are the factors that move the price. The more of these that apply, the higher the total cost.
More users in scope (every user touching CUI adds licensing and configuration cost)
Starting from zero (no existing policies, no security tools, no documentation)
Complex CUI data flows across multiple systems and locations
Need a full GCC High migration from commercial Microsoft 365
ITAR requirements that add export control complexity on top of CMMC
Timeline pressure — rush jobs always cost more
How to Reduce Your Costs
You're not powerless here. These are practical strategies our clients use to bring the total cost down without cutting corners on compliance.
Enclave approach
Isolate CUI handling to a smaller group of users and systems. Fewer users in scope means lower licensing costs, less configuration, and a smaller assessment surface.
Start early
No rush premiums. Spread costs across multiple budget cycles. Give yourself time to phase remediation instead of cramming it into one quarter.
One vendor for implementation and documentation
Hiring one consultant for your gap assessment, another for technical implementation, and a third for SSP writing means everyone is re-learning your environment. One team that does all three saves time and money.
Don't overbuild
You need to meet the 110 controls in NIST 800-171. Not exceed them. We right-size solutions to your actual requirements — not sell you enterprise tools a 30-person shop doesn't need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want a Number Specific to Your Situation?
Our free scoping call gives you a ballpark based on your actual environment -- number of users, current state, CUI scope. No obligation, just clarity.
30-minute call. Real numbers, not ranges.
Not ready to talk? Read our CMMC gap assessment guide to learn what's involved.