Is Your Company Ready for CMMC Level 2? A Step-by-Step Readiness Check

If your organization handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), CMMC Level 2 readiness is no longer optional. The fastest way to find out where you stand is a structured gap analysis before an assessor does it for you.

Step 1: Review Your Security Environment

Identify all systems, users, and processes that store, process, or transmit CUI. Review access controls, authentication methods, logging, monitoring, and written security policies.

Step 2: Compare Against NIST SP 800-171

CMMC Level 2 aligns to NIST SP 800-171, which includes 110 security requirements across 14 control families, including Access Control, Incident Response, Audit and Accountability, and Configuration Management.

Step 3: Identify and Document Gaps

Document where controls are missing, incomplete, or undocumented. Common gaps include weak MFA enforcement, incomplete logging, and undocumented procedures. Each gap should include risk, impact, and remediation steps.

Step 4: Build a Remediation Plan

Prioritize high-risk findings and assign owners, timelines, and resources. POA&Ms are limited under CMMC, so most controls must be fully implemented before assessment.

Step 5: Practice the Assessment

Test controls internally using the NIST SP 800-171A assessment methodology. Validate evidence, not assumptions. If you cannot prove it, it does not exist.

Step 6: Maintain Compliance

CMMC Level 2 requires ongoing compliance. Update documentation, train staff regularly, and monitor controls continuously to avoid regression.

Why This Matters

A structured readiness check protects CUI, reduces assessment delays, and lowers certification risk. One of the most common failures is treating compliance as a one-time exercise instead of an operational discipline.

CMMC Level 2 readiness starts long before an assessment. The earlier you identify gaps, the fewer surprises you face.