“Corsica is a one-stop shop for us. If I have a problem, I can go to my vCIO or a number of people, and you take care of it. That’s an investment in mutual success.”
It takes dedicated experience to use technology strategically in your industry. That’s why we specialize in certain verticals while offering comprehensive technology services.
CMMC Compliance Consulting: Finding the Right Partner
Ross Filipek
Compliance, Manufacturing IT Support
CMMC compliance is now essential for all Department of Defense contractors that will be working with Federal Contract Information (FCI) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Whether they’re bidding on new contracts or renewing old ones, contractors must prove compliance to be considered.
Many contractors lack the expertise on staff to understand compliance requirements and implement them—let alone maintain compliance over the long haul. CMMC compliance consultancies, like Corsica Technologies, help bridge this gap with deep expertise and proven processes for assessments, remediation, and continual compliance.
But what does a CMMC consultant do?
How do you find the right consultancy for your organization?
We’ve got all the answers below.
Key takeaways:
A CMMC compliance consultant is a specialist who helps organizations achieve compliance with the CMMC.
A CMMC compliance consultant helps with gap assessments, remediation plans, and implementation of required controls.
A CMMC compliance consultant also helps organizations maintain continuous compliance.
CMMC compliance consulting typically costs $200 – $400 per hour.
What is a CMMC compliance consultant?
A CMMC compliance consultant is a specialist who helps organizations prepare for, achieve, and maintain compliance with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). This certification is required for companies that contract with the US Department of Defense and work with FCI and/or CUI.
What has changed for CMMC in 2026?
The CMMC Final Rule took effect on November 10, 2025. This means that Department of Defense procurement officers can now include binding CMMC requirements in new contracts. Note that there is no grandfathering or renewing of contracts that previously did not require compliance. All contractors must achieve compliance to renew existing contracts or bid on new ones.
Contractors pursuing Level 2 compliance can self-assess and report their score in the SPRS Portal until roughly November 9, 2026. After that date, Defense procurement officers can require that contractors have passed an audit led by a C3PAO (CMMC Third Party Assessor Organization). This means Level 2 self-assessments will no longer be sufficient to bid on such contracts.
For all DoD contractors, 2026 is a critical year to complete two objectives:
Achieve CMMC compliance at the Level required by your relationship with DoD
Establish processes, controls, and resources to maintain compliance on a continual basis
CMMC consulting is essential to achieving both objectives.
What does a CMMC compliance consulting company do for its clients?
A CMMC compliance consultant translates CMMC requirements into practical actions that facilitate compliance for a specific organization. Common responsibilities include:
Readiness and gap assessments. A CMMC consultant compares an organization’s current systems, controls, and practices against CMMC and NIST SP 800-171 requirements, identifying gaps and risks against the standards of the framework.
Remediation planning. A CMMC compliance consultant creates the client’s POA&M (Plan of Action and Milestones). This is a formal document that prioritizes fixes, assigns owners, and tracks progress toward compliance.
Development of documentation. A CMMC compliance consultant drafts and refines documentation related to compliance, including the client’s SSP (System Security Plan), a required document that outlines how the client implements and maintains NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity controls to safeguard CUI.
Preparation for assessment. A CMMC consultant helps prepare the client’s stakeholders and systems for audits performed by a C3PAO (CMMC Third Party Assessment Organization).
How is a CMMC consultant different from a C3PAO?
CMMC consultants and C3PAOs (CMMC Third Party Assessment Organizations) perform very different functions in an organization’s compliance journey. In a nutshell:
A CMMC consultant helps your organization prepare for your audit.
A C3PAO officially audits and certifies your organization.
The separation of these roles is mandated, as it helps avoid conflicts of interest.
Here’s a chart that breaks it down further.
Aspect
CMMC Consultant
C3PAO
Primary role
Preparation and readiness
Validation and certification
Timing
Before assessment
At certification
Can fix gaps
✅ Yes
❌ No
Can give advice
✅ (pre‑audit only)
❌ Prohibited
Issues certification
❌ No
✅ Yes
Required independence
No
Yes (mandatory)
Can a CMMC consultant perform our final certification audit as well as prepare us for the audit?
No. A CMMC consultant can only prepare you for your audit. They cannot also perform the final CMMC certification audit for the same organization. Doing so is explicitly prohibited under CMMC conflict-of-interest rules.
CMMC requires a strict separation of duties between:
Preparation (consulting and readiness)
Validation (certification assessment)
This rule exists to ensure assessments remain independent, objective, and credible. An organization cannot audit its own work, directly or indirectly.
What is the hourly rate for a CMMC consultant?
CMMC consultants typically charge $200 – $400 per hour. The exact figure usually depends on the consultancy’s experience and expertise as well as the Level of compliance that the client must achieve.
Here are the factors that can influence the hourly rate:
CMMC Level (Level 1 vs. Level 2) and alignment to NIST 800‑171 requirements
Scope and complexity (number of systems, users, and CUI handling)
Role type (gap analysis, remediation, SSP/POA&M writing, vCISO, assessment coaching)
Credentials and experience, especially prior assessor or C3PAO-adjacent experience
Engagement model (hourly vs. fixed‑fee projects or ongoing retainers)
What is the typical cost to achieve Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 CMMC compliance?
The Department of Defense included estimated costs for each Level when the proposed CMMC 2.0 rule was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2023. Note that these estimated costs cover only assessment, certification, and affirmation—not the implementation of cybersecurity controls. The cost of implementing required controls will depend on the results of a company’s gap assessment.
That said, here are the estimates that the Department of Defense provided in 2023, as reported in DefenseScoop.
CMMC Level
DoD Estimated Cost (Assessment/Affirmation Only)
Level 1 (Self‑assessment)
$4,000–$6,000 annually
Level 2 (Self‑assessment, triennial)
$37,000–$49,000
Level 2 (C3PAO certification)
$105,000–$118,000 (3‑year cycle)
Level 3
Level 2 costs + ~$41,000
The takeaway: Get the CMMC consulting you need
CMMC is a complex undertaking, and most DoD contractors don’t have the resources on staff to achieve and maintain compliance. Here at Corsica Technologies, we’ve helped 1,000+ clients solve their problems with technology. Our cybersecurity specialists maintain deep expertise in CMMC compliance. Contact us today, and let’s get started on your CMMC compliance journey.
About
Ross Filipek
Ross Filipek is Corsica Technologies’ CISO. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the managed cyber security services industry as both an engineer and a consultant. In addition to leading Corsica’s efforts to manage cyber risk, he provides vCISO consulting services for many of Corsica’s clients. Ross has achieved recognition as a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE #18994; Security track) and an ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). He has also earned an MBA degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Ready to take your next step?
Contact us today to get the outside perspective you need for the next step on your journey.
