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.
End-to-end CMMC preparation and NIST 800-171 compliance for the defense industrial base
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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 Level 2 (Advanced) requires defense contractors to implement all 110 security requirements from NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2. It applies to organizations that process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) as part of DoD contracts. Level 2 certification requires a third-party assessment by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) and is valid for three years. This is the level most defense contractors handling CUI will need to achieve.
The timeline for achieving CMMC Level 2 compliance depends on your organization’s current security posture. Organizations starting from scratch may need 12 to 18 months to implement all 110 controls, develop required documentation, and prepare for assessment. Organizations with an existing cybersecurity program and partial NIST 800-171 compliance may achieve readiness in 6 to 9 months. Zapata Technology’s gap assessment provides an accurate timeline specific to your environment.
Yes, if your DoD contract involves handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The DoD is phasing CMMC requirements into contracts through DFARS clause 252.204-7021. By the end of the phased rollout, all DoD contracts involving CUI will require CMMC Level 2 certification. Even contracts requiring only Federal Contract Information (FCI) will need CMMC Level 1 (self-assessment). If you are in the defense supply chain, preparing for CMMC now is critical to maintaining your eligibility for DoD work.
NIST Special Publication 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations, defines 110 security requirements across 14 control families. It is the technical foundation for CMMC Level 2. The requirements cover access control, identification and authentication, system and communications protection, incident response, and other security domains. Defense contractors have been required to implement NIST 800-171 since 2017 under DFARS 252.204-7012, and CMMC adds third-party verification that these requirements are actually in place.
CMMC compliance costs vary significantly based on organization size, existing security infrastructure, and the scope of CUI handling. Key cost factors include technology investments (MFA, encryption, SIEM, endpoint protection), documentation development, policy creation, staff training, and the C3PAO assessment fee itself. Zapata Technology helps organizations minimize costs through CUI enclave strategies that reduce the number of in-scope systems and by leveraging FedRAMP-authorized cloud services that provide inherited controls. Contact us for a no-obligation assessment of your CMMC compliance requirements and estimated investment.
Federal contracting officers and prime contractors can procure Zapata Technology’s CMMC compliance services through the following contract vehicles:
Contact Zapata Technology for a no-obligation CMMC readiness discussion. We’ll assess your current posture and provide a clear path to compliance.
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