CMMC Compliance Services

Zapata Technology provides comprehensive CMMC compliance services for defense contractors navigating the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements. As a VOSB defense contractor that maintains its own NIST 800-171 compliance posture and operates within a TS/SCI facility, we bring firsthand operational experience to every CMMC engagement. Our CMMI Level 3 processes ensure consistent, repeatable assessment and remediation services that prepare your organization for CMMC Level 2 certification.

What Is CMMC and Why It Matters

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a Department of Defense program that verifies defense contractors have adequate cybersecurity controls in place to protect sensitive defense information. CMMC was developed in response to the growing threat of cyberattacks targeting the defense industrial base (DIB) and the inconsistent self-assessment approach that previously governed contractor cybersecurity compliance.

Under CMMC 2.0, defense contractors that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must achieve CMMC Level 2 certification through a third-party assessment conducted by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). This requirement is being phased into all DoD contracts through DFARS clause 252.204-7021, meaning that contractors who cannot demonstrate CMMC compliance will be ineligible to bid on or perform DoD contracts requiring CUI handling.

For defense contractors, CMMC compliance is no longer optional — it is a prerequisite for doing business with the Department of Defense. Whether you are a prime contractor or a subcontractor in the defense supply chain, your CMMC certification status will directly impact your ability to compete for and win DoD contracts.

CMMC Level 2 Requirements

CMMC Level 2 is aligned with the 110 security requirements defined in NIST Special Publication 800-171 Rev. 2, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations. These requirements are organized across 14 control families that address the full spectrum of cybersecurity practices needed to protect CUI:

Achieving CMMC Level 2 requires organizations to implement all 110 requirements, document their implementation in a System Security Plan (SSP), and maintain a SPRS score of 110 (a perfect score indicating full compliance). Any gaps must be documented in a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) with defined timelines for remediation.

How Zapata Technology Helps

Zapata Technology delivers end-to-end CMMC compliance services that take defense contractors from initial assessment through certification readiness. Our approach is practical, efficient, and informed by our own experience maintaining NIST 800-171 compliance as a DoD contractor handling CUI.

Gap Assessments

We conduct thorough assessments of your current security posture against all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements. Our gap assessment identifies exactly where your organization meets, partially meets, or does not meet each requirement, and produces a clear roadmap to full compliance.

• Full NIST 800-171 Control Assessment — Evaluating all 110 requirements across 14 control families against your current environment
• SPRS Score Calculation — Determining your current Supplier Performance Risk System score based on existing gaps
• CUI Flow Analysis — Mapping how Controlled Unclassified Information enters, transits, and is stored within your systems
• Scope Determination — Identifying the systems, networks, and personnel in scope for CMMC assessment to minimize compliance burden
• Risk-Prioritized Remediation Roadmap — Organizing compliance gaps by risk level, implementation complexity, and timeline

SSP Development

The System Security Plan is the foundational document that CMMC assessors use to evaluate your compliance. Zapata Technology develops comprehensive SSPs that clearly document how each NIST 800-171 requirement is implemented within your environment.

• System Boundary Definition — Clearly defining the assessment scope including networks, systems, services, and personnel
• Control Implementation Descriptions — Documenting how each of the 110 requirements is satisfied with specific technical and procedural details
• Network Architecture Documentation — Diagrams and descriptions of your CUI processing environment
• Inherited Controls Mapping — Identifying controls inherited from cloud service providers, managed security services, and shared infrastructure

SPRS Scoring & Submission

DoD contractors are required to submit their NIST 800-171 self-assessment score to the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS). Zapata Technology calculates your accurate SPRS score, identifies the weighted gaps impacting your score most significantly, and assists with submission to the SPRS portal.

POA&M Remediation

For every identified gap, we develop actionable Plans of Action & Milestones (POA&M) that define the specific steps, resources, and timelines needed to close each compliance gap. Our team can also execute remediation activities directly, including:

• Technical Control Implementation — Configuring multi-factor authentication, encryption, endpoint detection, and access controls
• Policy & Procedure Development — Creating the documented policies required by NIST 800-171 (incident response plans, access control policies, media protection procedures, etc.)
• CUI Enclave Architecture — Designing isolated environments that minimize the number of systems in scope for CMMC assessment
• Cloud Migration Support — Migrating CUI workloads to FedRAMP-authorized cloud environments (GCC High, IL4/IL5) to leverage inherited controls

Continuous Monitoring

CMMC compliance is not a one-time event. Zapata Technology provides ongoing compliance monitoring services that ensure your security posture remains aligned with NIST 800-171 requirements between assessments. Our continuous monitoring includes vulnerability scanning, configuration compliance checking, and periodic reassessment of controls.

Why Choose Zapata Technology for CMMC

Unlike consultants who only advise on CMMC compliance, Zapata Technology lives it every day. We maintain our own NIST 800-171 compliance posture, handle CUI on our own systems, and operate within a TS/SCI facility environment. This operational experience means we understand the practical challenges of implementing and maintaining compliance — not just the theoretical requirements.

CMMC Frequently Asked Questions

Contract Vehicles

Federal contracting officers and prime contractors can procure Zapata Technology’s CMMC compliance services through the following contract vehicles:

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