CMMC Consultant: DoD Compliance Experts for Levels 1, 2 & 3
Petronella Technology Group is a Cyber AB Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) with 24+ years of experience guiding defense contractors from gap assessment through C3PAO-ready certification. We turn 110 NIST 800-171 controls into a documented, evidence-backed program that survives audit.
Key Takeaways
- A CMMC consultant translates 110 NIST 800-171 controls into a Body of Evidence that survives a C3PAO assessment under DFARS 252.204-7012, 7019, 7020, and 7021.
- PTG works as a Cyber AB Registered Practitioner Organization, led by Craig Petronella (CMMC-RP, author of the CMMC 2.0 Certification Guide).
- Most defense contractors fail their first SPRS self-assessment because policies, plans of action, and System Security Plans (SSPs) were never built — not because controls were missing.
- PTG's average engagement closes the gap from a negative SPRS score to Level 2 readiness in 90–180 days, with monthly evidence collection automated by ComplianceArmor.
- Engagements are fixed-fee with monthly milestones, no long-term contracts, and a 30-day promise: measurable progress in the first month or the next month is on us.
A CMMC consultant builds the program that earns — and keeps — certification.
A CMMC consultant is an outside cybersecurity and compliance partner who plans, implements, and documents the technical and administrative controls required by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. The consultant's job is to make sure that when a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) walks the door at Level 2 or Level 3, the contract holder can produce a System Security Plan, Plan of Action and Milestones, evidence binder, and policy library that match the live network.
Most defense contractors hire a CMMC consultant for one of three reasons: (1) the SPRS score is negative and prime contractors are pushing for proof of remediation, (2) a flow-down clause from a Department of Defense subcontract requires Level 2 certification by a deadline, or (3) leadership wants a single accountable team that owns CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-172, DFARS 252.204-7012/7019/7020/7021, ITAR, and any cyber-insurance overlap rather than fragmenting the work across an MSP, an auditor, and a tooling vendor.
Petronella Technology Group has worked CMMC since the framework was first announced. Founder Craig Petronella is a Cyber AB Registered Practitioner and author of the CMMC 2.0 Certification Guide. Our team operates the ComplianceArmor platform — proprietary CMMC, HIPAA, SOC 2, and PCI documentation automation that closes 70% of the evidence-collection burden so your engineers stay focused on production.
NIST 800-171 Controls
Years In Business
Clients Protected
Client Breaches
Books Authored
What a CMMC Consultant Should Actually Deliver
Many defense contractors confuse a CMMC consultant with a software vendor, an MSP, or an auditor. None of those covers the full job. A consultant owns the bridge between policy and proof — the documentation that auditors will read and the operational habits that keep the program alive between audits. PTG's CMMC consulting engagement covers the following deliverables.
System Security Plan (SSP)
A control-by-control narrative covering all 110 NIST 800-171 controls with diagrams of the CUI environment, asset inventory, network segmentation, and the boundary that makes Level 2 scope realistic.
SPRS Score & Gap Analysis
A scored Supplier Performance Risk System submission with a control-by-control gap matrix, weighted evidence quality, and a remediation roadmap. Confirm or correct the prior self-attestation before a prime asks for it.
Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M)
A working POA&M with target dates, control owners, evidence checkpoints, and budget. PTG's team manages it as a live workbook, not a static spreadsheet.
CMMC Policy Library
17 policy documents mapped to NIST 800-171 domains: access control, audit and accountability, configuration management, identification and authentication, incident response, maintenance, media protection, personnel security, physical protection, risk assessment, security assessment, system and communications protection, system and information integrity, awareness and training.
Technical Control Implementation
FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography for CUI at rest and in transit, multi-factor authentication on every privileged path, GCC High or equivalent enclave for protected data, FedRAMP-moderate cloud services where the boundary requires it, and managed XDR for continuous monitoring.
Evidence Body of Work
A Body of Evidence binder — screenshots, logs, configuration exports, training records, vendor letters, asset inventories — organized control-by-control with a clear chain of custody, refreshed monthly through ComplianceArmor.
Awareness & Role-Based Training
Annual security awareness training, role-based training for system administrators and CUI handlers, simulated phishing baseline and quarterly refresh, and documented attendance records that satisfy the AT (Awareness and Training) family.
Incident Response Tabletop
A documented incident response plan, an annual tabletop exercise with after-action notes, the 72-hour DFARS 252.204-7012 reporting workflow to DC3, and a coordination plan with PTG's digital forensics team.
C3PAO Liaison & Audit Defense
Selection of a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization, mock-assessment dry run, point-of-contact during the live audit, and management of any post-assessment Plan of Action items through certification close-out.
See where your CMMC program stands today
Free 30-minute consultation with a CMMC Registered Practitioner. We'll review your existing SPRS score, in-scope environment, and DFARS flow-downs — no obligation, no sales pressure.
How PTG Runs a CMMC Engagement
Every CMMC engagement at Petronella Technology Group follows a seven-phase roadmap that we have refined across hundreds of compliance projects since 2010. Each phase has a defined output, a fixed budget, and a delivery date, so your leadership team always knows what is paid for and what is next.
Scoping & CUI Boundary
Identify which contracts touch Controlled Unclassified Information, map the data flow, and define the boundary that becomes the in-scope environment.
Deliverable: scoping report + boundary diagramGap Assessment & SPRS Score
Score every NIST 800-171 control, document evidence already in place, and submit (or correct) the SPRS self-assessment so primes see honest progress.
Deliverable: gap matrix + SPRS submissionRemediation Planning
Build a POA&M with control owners, target dates, vendor selections, hardware costs, and a quarterly milestone calendar approved by leadership.
Deliverable: POA&M workbook + budgetPolicy & SSP Authoring
Draft the 17-policy library and the System Security Plan from the inside-out using PTG templates, then walk leadership through approval and rollout.
Deliverable: policy library + SSP v1Technical Implementation
Stand up MFA on every privileged path, FIPS-validated encryption, GCC High or equivalent enclave, managed XDR, vulnerability management, and continuous monitoring through PTG's 24/7 SOC.
Deliverable: technical control attestationsEvidence Collection & Mock Audit
Run ComplianceArmor in production, populate the Body of Evidence binder, then bring in a senior CMMC-RP to mock the C3PAO interview and close any remaining gaps.
Deliverable: evidence binder + mock audit reportC3PAO Assessment & Sustainment
Coordinate with the chosen C3PAO, attend the live assessment as your liaison, and transition the program to a sustainment retainer that keeps evidence current.
Deliverable: certification + sustainment retainerWhich Level Does Your Contract Require?
CMMC 2.0 collapsed the original five-level model into three. PTG's CMMC consultants will tell you, before you sign, which level your contracts actually require — some primes overstate the level, others understate it. Our Level 2 deep dive and levels explained guide cover this in detail.
Level 1
Required for contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI). Annual self-assessment, basic safeguarding under FAR 52.204-21.
- 17 basic safeguarding controls
- Annual self-attestation
- No third-party audit required
- Most subcontractor flow-downs
Level 2
Required for contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). C3PAO assessment every three years for prioritized acquisitions.
- All 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls
- C3PAO triennial assessment
- SSP, POA&M, Body of Evidence
- Most defense subcontractors target this level
Level 3
Required for contractors supporting the most sensitive DoD programs. Government-led assessments against NIST 800-172 enhanced controls.
- NIST 800-171 + 24 NIST 800-172 enhancements
- DIBCAC government-led assessment
- Advanced persistent threat protections
- Reserved for top-tier programs
PTG vs. a Typical CMMC Consultant vs. DIY
Defense contractors generally end up choosing between three paths to Level 2: hiring a generalist compliance firm, working with a niche CMMC boutique, or attempting do-it-yourself with internal IT. Here is how PTG stacks up against the alternatives most often shopped against us.
| Capability | PTG CMMC Consultant | Generic Compliance Firm | DIY With Internal IT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber AB Registered Practitioner | Yes — CMMC-RP on staff | Sometimes | No |
| Owns Cybersecurity + IT Operations | Yes — 24/7 SOC + Managed XDR | Documents only | Partial |
| Documentation Automation | ComplianceArmor (proprietary) | Manual templates | Spreadsheets |
| NIST 800-171 + 800-172 Coverage | Both | 800-171 only | 800-171 only |
| Evidence Collection Effort | ~70% automated | Manual | 100% manual |
| SPRS Score Submission Help | Included | Add-on | Self-service |
| Mock Audit With CMMC-RP | Included | Add-on | No |
| C3PAO Liaison During Assessment | Included | Add-on | No |
| Sustainment / Continuous Monitoring | Yes — monthly | Quarterly check-ins | Ad hoc |
| Incident Response & Forensics | In-house, NC Licensed DFE | Refer out | Refer out |
| Pricing Model | Fixed-fee, monthly milestones | Hourly + project | Internal labor |
| 30-Day Promise | Yes | No | N/A |
Defense Verticals We Serve
PTG's CMMC consultants work across the full Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Each vertical has its own contract patterns, DFARS clauses, and supply-chain pressure points. The pages below dive deeper into each industry and the controls it tends to need first.
Manufacturing & OT
Precision-machining shops, additive manufacturers, and OEMs with OT networks. We segment shop-floor controllers from CUI environments and document the boundary. Manufacturing »
Engineering Firms
Civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineering firms with mixed government/commercial work. Tooling lockdown, ITAR data flows, design-file CUI handling. Engineering »
Defense Contractors
Subcontractors and primes with Department of Defense contracts. Flow-down management, FedRAMP-moderate cloud setup, supply-chain risk evaluation. Defense Contractors »
Law Firms Supporting DoD
Boutique law firms representing defense contractors on procurement and litigation. ITAR data handling, privileged communications, conflict checks. Law Firms »
Construction & Facilities
Federal facility builders, base infrastructure contractors, A/E firms with classified or sensitive site plans. Construction »
Professional Services
Consulting, accounting, and HR firms supporting defense primes. Smaller scope, faster Level 2 path, often Level 1 for FCI-only contracts. Accounting »
Need to know your SPRS score before a prime asks?
Use our free SPRS Calculator to estimate your score in 10 minutes — or schedule a 30-minute call with a CMMC-RP and we will walk through it with you live.
Why ComplianceArmor Changes the Math
The single most expensive part of a CMMC engagement is not the technical controls. It is the evidence collection — gathering screenshots, logs, vendor attestations, and configuration exports for every one of the 110 controls, every 90 days, forever. PTG built ComplianceArmor to automate that work for our own clients, then opened the platform to other defense contractors.
ComplianceArmor automates roughly 70% of the evidence-collection burden across CMMC, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-172, HIPAA, SOC 2, and PCI DSS. The platform pulls control evidence directly from Microsoft 365, Azure AD, Active Directory, your endpoint protection platform, your SIEM, and your patch-management tool. Evidence is timestamped, hash-verified, and dropped into a Body of Evidence binder mapped to the SSP. C3PAO assessors love it because the chain of custody is provable.
For PTG CMMC consulting clients, ComplianceArmor is included in the engagement. For organizations that want the platform without consulting, the CMMC software module is licensed independently. Either path means your engineers stop spending Friday afternoons grabbing screenshots.
"Craig takes the time to understand our business model, not just our technology stack. It makes his recommendations more strategic and tailored to our actual goals."
— Daniel Lee, TrustIndex verified review"Petronella's work has been a major factor in our business success, helping it to become one of the most secured networks of its kind on the Internet."
— Financial Services Firm, Raleigh, NCFixed-Fee CMMC Consulting Tiers
Every PTG CMMC engagement is fixed-fee with monthly milestones. Pricing depends on environment size, contract count, and existing security maturity. The tiers below show the typical band — we send a written scope-of-work and budget after the free consultation. No long-term contracts, no surprise overages.
For FCI-only contractors needing FAR 52.204-21 compliance and an annual self-attestation.
- 17-control gap assessment
- SSP-lite + 12-policy library
- Annual self-assessment template
- 4-week delivery
- 30-day promise
For CUI contractors targeting C3PAO certification. The full 110-control program and audit-defense package.
- 110-control gap + SPRS submission
- 17-policy library + full SSP
- POA&M workbook + remediation plan
- ComplianceArmor included
- Mock audit + C3PAO liaison
- Sustainment retainer transition
For Level 3 contractors and large primes with multi-enclave environments and NIST 800-172 enhancements.
- 110 + 24 enhanced controls
- Multi-enclave boundary engineering
- DIBCAC pre-assessment
- Dedicated CMMC-RP team
- Quarterly leadership briefings
Common CMMC Consultant Questions
How long does a typical CMMC Level 2 engagement take?
Most PTG CMMC Level 2 engagements run 90 to 180 days from kickoff to mock-audit-ready. Shops with a stable Microsoft 365 or GCC High tenant, modern endpoints, and existing MFA hit the 90-day end of the band. Organizations starting from spreadsheets and shared admin accounts land closer to 180 days. We run weekly status calls with leadership and a monthly milestone review so timing is always visible — and our 30-day promise means measurable progress shows up in month one or the next month is on us.
What does CMMC Level 2 certification typically cost?
Total Level 2 cost depends on environment size and the gap between current state and the 110 NIST 800-171 controls. PTG's fixed-fee Level 2 readiness engagement starts at $34,500 turnkey, plus C3PAO assessment fees ($25,000–$60,000 paid directly to the assessor) and any technology investments such as GCC High licensing. We publish a written scope and budget after a free 30-minute consultation. See our Level 2 cost guide for the full breakdown.
Does PTG do C3PAO assessments?
No, and that is intentional. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification rules require strict separation between the Registered Practitioner Organization that builds the program and the Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization that audits it. PTG is an RPO — we build, document, and remediate. We act as your liaison during the C3PAO assessment, but the audit itself is conducted by a separate, accredited firm we help you select.
What is a Cyber AB Registered Practitioner?
The Cyber AB is the accreditation body for the CMMC ecosystem. A Registered Practitioner (RP) has completed CMMC training, passed the Cyber AB exam, and is listed on the Cyber AB Marketplace as authorized to deliver CMMC consulting services. Craig Petronella holds the CMMC-RP credential and has been delivering CMMC consulting since the framework's first version. RPs work inside Registered Practitioner Organizations (RPOs) like PTG, which carry their own Cyber AB listing and program-quality standards.
Can a single CMMC consultant cover both compliance and IT operations?
Most cannot. Pure compliance firms write policies but cannot stand up the technical controls. Pure MSPs run the network but cannot author an audit-ready SSP. PTG is built to do both because we have been a managed services and cybersecurity provider for 24+ years. Our 24/7 Security Operations Center, Managed XDR Suite, vCISO bench, and CMMC-RP team all live under one roof. That single point of accountability is the reason most of our defense contractor clients consolidate with us instead of stitching three vendors together.
Do we need GCC High to be CMMC Level 2 compliant?
Not always. The CMMC framework requires that any cloud service handling Controlled Unclassified Information be FedRAMP-moderate or equivalent. Microsoft 365 GCC High is the most common landing spot because it is FedRAMP-high authorized, but commercial Microsoft 365 with the right tenant configuration, plus FedRAMP-authorized add-ons, can satisfy Level 2 in some scenarios. PTG's CMMC consultants will model both options against your contract clauses, your CUI volume, and your budget before you commit to a tenant migration. The wrong choice here adds 3–6 months and six figures to the program.
What happens after we get certified?
Certification is a snapshot — sustainment is the ongoing job. CMMC Level 2 is reassessed every three years, and contracting officers can request evidence at any time. PTG transitions every certified client to a sustainment retainer that includes ComplianceArmor evidence collection, monthly control reviews, quarterly POA&M updates, an annual tabletop exercise, and a refreshed SPRS score submission. The retainer also folds in Managed XDR monitoring and incident response on standby so the program stays compliant between assessments.
Where is PTG based, and do you work with contractors outside North Carolina?
PTG is headquartered at 5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606, with deep coverage of the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex). We work nationwide on CMMC engagements — the technical work is delivered remotely with on-site visits scheduled around boundary mapping, mock audits, and the C3PAO assessment. Roughly 60% of our active CMMC engagements are with contractors outside the Triangle, including Charlotte, Wilmington, Fayetteville near Fort Liberty, and clients in Virginia, Maryland, Texas, and California.
Free CMMC Tools & Reading
PTG publishes a deep library of free CMMC content authored by our CMMC-RP team. The resources below pair well with this consulting overview — use the SPRS calculator first, then the level breakdowns, then the certification guide for the full picture.
A CMMC Consultant Built on 24 Years of Cybersecurity
Petronella Technology Group has been protecting clients since April 2002. We started as a managed services provider, expanded into cybersecurity in 2010, completed our 340th healthcare security audit in 2018, earned the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential in 2020, and launched our AI division in 2023. CMMC consulting is not a side project for PTG — it is a natural extension of two decades of compliance and security work that already covers HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and NIST CSF 2.0.
Founder Craig Petronella is the working CMMC-RP on every engagement. He is a NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner, a cybersecurity expert witness for law firms, and the author of 15 Amazon best-selling books including the CMMC 2.0 Certification Guide, How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice, and How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm. He has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and WRAL as a cybersecurity expert and hosts the Encrypted Ambition podcast. When you hire PTG, you get Craig's bench — not a junior consultant fronting a brand.
We protect 2,500+ businesses with zero client breaches on our managed program. The combination of long-tenured leadership, in-house ComplianceArmor automation, a 24/7 SOC, and a fixed-fee engagement model is what defense contractors are looking for when they search for a CMMC consultant. We promise measurable progress in the first 30 days — or the next month is on us.
Talk to a CMMC Registered Practitioner today
Free 30-minute consultation. No long-term contracts. We will review your contracts, your SPRS score, and your in-scope environment, then send a written scope and fixed-fee budget within 48 hours.
5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-348-4912 · info@petronellatech.com
Cyber AB Registered Practitioner Organization · BBB A+ Since 2003 · 24+ Years in Business