CMMC Compliance for Defense Contractors in 6 Months, Not 18

ACTsavi Partners with Alchemi Data for Automated Compliance, Shop Floor Security, and Evidence Collection

If you're a defense contractor or manufacturer handling CUI, CMMC Level 2 certification is no longer optional. It's required to bid on Department of War contracts. Through our partnership with Alchemi Data, ACTsavi delivers expert implementation guidance while you inherit 90% of CMMC controls automatically through Alchemi's secure compliance enclave, achieving certification in half the time at 50-60% lower cost.

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What is CMMC Compliance?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the U.S. Department of War's framework to verify that defense contractors have adequate cybersecurity protections in place.

If you're anywhere in the Department of War supply chain (prime contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, or service provider), CMMC applies to you if you handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Unlike previous self-certification approaches, CMMC requires independent third-party assessments to ensure you're actually protecting sensitive government information.

The Three CMMC Levels

Level 1

Basic Protection

Who Needs It: Contractors handling FCI

Requirements: 17 basic cybersecurity practices

Assessment: Annual self-assessment

  • Federal Contract Information protection
  • Basic security controls
  • Self-assessment process
  • Foundation level security
Level 2

Advanced Protection

Who Needs It: Contractors handling CUI

Requirements: 110 controls based on NIST SP 800-171

Assessment: Third-party C3PAO assessment every 3 years

  • Controlled Unclassified Information protection
  • NIST SP 800-171 compliance
  • Third-party verification
  • Required for most DoD contracts
Level 3

Expert Protection

Who Needs It: High-priority programs

Requirements: Advanced NIST SP 800-172 practices

Assessment: Government-led assessment

  • Advanced persistent threat protection
  • Enhanced security practices
  • Government assessment required
  • Highest level of protection

Why CMMC Certification is Required for Defense Contractors

Contract Requirement as of November 2025

CMMC certification is required to bid on and maintain Department of War contracts. Prime contractors like Lockheed Martin and Boeing are already requiring subcontractors to provide proof of CMMC compliance. This isn't optional. It's a contract requirement that affects your ability to do business with the Department of War.

False Claims Act Liability - Real Consequences

Claiming cybersecurity compliance without adequate proof can trigger Department of Justice action. The consequences go far beyond lost contracts:

$9MAerojet Rocketdyne settlement for falsely claiming DFARS 7012 compliance
$293KJellybean Communications fine for false compliance assertions

The Bottom Line

If you say you're compliant, you must be ready to prove it. This isn't a checkbox exercise. It's a legal and business risk that requires real implementation and documentation.

5 Major Challenges with Getting CMMC Certified

Most companies drastically underestimate the complexity of CMMC compliance

1

The Reality Gap

What companies believe: "We're 95% compliant"

What audits reveal: 60%+ control failures due to weak boundaries, missing evidence, and inadequate documentation

The problem? CMMC Level 2 isn't just 110 controls. It's actually 326 control objectives. If you don't meet ALL objectives for a control, you don't meet the control at all.

2

Timeline & Cost

  • Industry average timeline: 18-24 months from start to certification
  • Typical costs: $150,000+ in consulting, technology upgrades, and internal staff time
  • C3PAO wait times: 9-15 months just to schedule your assessment
  • Hidden costs: Many companies need to hire a full-time cybersecurity engineer ($120K-$185K annually)
3

Shop Floor Complexity

For manufacturers, CUI isn't just in your office systems. It's also in:

  • CAD drawings and technical specifications
  • G-code and build files sent to CNC machines
  • 3D printer instructions and additive manufacturing data
  • Engineering communications and supplier technical data

Most CMMC consultants focus on network security and ignore the shop floor entirely. But auditors are increasingly scrutinizing how you protect CUI on production equipment.

4

Spreadsheet Chaos

Many companies try to manage compliance through disconnected spreadsheets and document repositories. This creates:

  • Rework and missed evidence during audits
  • No way to prove continuous compliance
  • Last-minute scrambles every time an assessor asks for proof
  • High failure rates on first assessments
5

Generic IT Solutions

Standard cloud services (regular Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) don't meet CMMC requirements for CUI. You need FedRAMP Moderate or higher environments like Azure Government GCC-High or AWS GovCloud.

Even then, cloud storage alone doesn't address policy generation, evidence collection, continuous monitoring, or shop floor security.

ACTsavi Partners with Alchemi Data to Achieve CMMC Level 2 in 6 Months, Not 18+

ACTsavi provides expert implementation guidance while Alchemi Data provides proven compliance technology specifically built for manufacturers. Instead of building compliant infrastructure from scratch, you inherit 90% of CMMC controls automatically through Alchemi's secure compliance enclave.

6-Month Timeline

vs 18-24 months

Traditional consulting approaches take 18-24 months. Alchemi Data's compliance enclave approach with ACTsavi's implementation expertise gets you certified in 6 months.

Shop Floor Security

Alchemi Data secures CNCs, 3D printers, and CAD workstations. Built specifically for manufacturing environments to protect CUI on production equipment.

Automated Evidence Collection

No more audit scrambles. Alchemi Data's continuous automated evidence collection means you're always assessment-ready.

Continuous Monitoring

Alchemi Data maintains compliance after certification with automated monitoring and alerts for any drift from requirements.

50-60% Cost Savings

Compared to traditional consulting approaches ($150K+), Alchemi Data's automated compliance platform delivers certification at half the cost.

Manufacturer-Specific

Alchemi Data is built for precision machining, aerospace contractors, and defense subcontractors. ACTsavi understands your unique implementation challenges.

CMMC Compliance FAQs

CMMC Level 2 is the cybersecurity certification required for defense contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It requires implementation of 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls and verification through a third-party C3PAO assessment every 3 years. Most defense contractors and subcontractors need Level 2 certification.

Traditional CMMC compliance takes 18-24 months from start to certification, with an additional 9-15 months to schedule a C3PAO assessment. Through ACTsavi's partnership with Alchemi Data, you achieve CMMC Level 2 certification in 6 months by inheriting 90% of controls automatically through Alchemi's compliance enclave, while ACTsavi provides expert implementation guidance.

Traditional CMMC compliance typically costs $150,000+ in consulting fees, technology upgrades, and internal staff time. Many companies also need to hire a full-time cybersecurity engineer ($120K-$185K annually). Alchemi Data's automated compliance platform delivers 50-60% cost savings through inherited controls and automated evidence collection, with ACTsavi providing implementation support.

Shop floor security protects Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on manufacturing equipment like CNC machines, 3D printers, and CAD workstations. This includes securing CAD drawings, G-code files, technical specifications, and engineering data. Most CMMC consultants focus only on office IT systems and ignore shop floor security, but auditors are increasingly scrutinizing manufacturing environments. Alchemi Data's platform is specifically built to secure manufacturing environments.

For CMMC Level 2, any cloud services storing or processing CUI must be FedRAMP Moderate or higher. This means you need specialized government cloud environments like Azure Government GCC-High or AWS GovCloud. Standard commercial cloud services (regular Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) do not meet CMMC requirements for CUI.

As of November 2025, CMMC certification is required to bid on and maintain Department of War contracts. Without certification, you cannot compete for new contracts or renew existing ones. Additionally, false compliance claims can trigger Department of Justice action under the False Claims Act, with settlements ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars (e.g., Aerojet Rocketdyne: $9M, Jellybean Communications: $293K).

No. CMMC Level 2 requires third-party assessment by a certified C3PAO (CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization) every 3 years. Only Level 1 allows for self-assessment. This is a key difference from the previous DFARS 7012 self-certification approach.

A C3PAO (CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization) is an independent organization authorized to conduct CMMC assessments. For Level 2, you must be assessed by a C3PAO every 3 years. Current wait times for C3PAO assessments are 9-15 months, which is why starting your compliance journey early is critical.

Ready to Achieve CMMC Compliance in 6 Months?

Schedule a free consultation with ACTsavi to discuss your CMMC requirements, timeline, and how Alchemi Data's compliance platform can accelerate your certification. No obligation, just a clear understanding of your path to compliance.

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