How to Identify a Legitimate CMMC Provider
With the Department of Defense (DoD) requiring Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance for prime and subcontractors, organizations in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) are faced with the task of finding credible partners who can guide them through the process. Unfortunately, this urgency has also led to misleading claims from providers promising “instant compliance.”
The hard truth is that CMMC compliance can’t be achieved in a matter of days. Providers who claim otherwise are offering shortcuts that aren’t on the right path to compliance and often leave organizations ill-equipped for official assessments.
Here’s how you can protect your organization by verifying whether a provider is truly legitimate.
Step 1: Verify Through the CyberAB Marketplace
The Cyber Accreditation Body (CyberAB) is the only organization authorized by the DoD to accredit and regulate the CMMC ecosystem. The CyberAB Marketplace lists all vetted and registered entities, and a provider that isn’t listed is not formally recognized
Step 2: Be familiar with Provider Roles and How to Vet Them
Certified Third-Party Assessor Organizations (C3PAOs)
Role: Authorized to perform official CMMC Level 2 or 3 assessments.
How to Verify:
Search the CyberAB Marketplace and filter by “C3PAO.”
Confirm that individual Certified CMMC Assessors (CCAs) from the firm are also listed.
Ask about their assessment experience and request references.
Watch for: Conflict of interest. A C3PAO can’t also function as your consultant (RPO) at the same time.
Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs)
Role: Consulting firms that help organizations prepare for a CMMC assessment.
How to Verify:
Search the CyberAB Marketplace for their name.
Confirm they employ at least one Registered Practitioner (RP) or Registered Practitioner Advanced (RPA).
Request client references to measure experience and outcomes.
Individual Practitioners (RP, RPA, CCP, CCA)
Role: Consultants or assessors who may work for RPOs or C3PAOs.
How to Verify:
Search for them individually in the CyberAB Marketplace.
Confirm their affiliation with a legitimate RPO or C3PAO.
Step 3: Spot Red Flags
When gauging a provider, be cautious of:
Not listed on the CyberAB Marketplace– If they aren’t there, they aren’t legitimate.
“Pre-certification” claims– No such thing exists; only C3PAOs can conduct official assessments.
Conflict of interest– A provider cannot serve as both your consultant (RPO) and assessor (C3PAO).
Unofficial logos or badges– Be skeptical if the branding doesn’t align with CyberAB standards.
Choosing the Right Partner
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. CMMC compliance takes time, careful planning, and a trusted partner. It’s about building a defensible, sustainable security posture. Investing in a platform or tool alone is not enough; compliance requires structured governance, documented evidence, and measurable maturity.
The team at Clark Schaefer Consulting helps companies navigate this journey with services including:
Readiness Assessments– Evaluate your current security posture and identify gaps.
Remediation Planning– Build a roadmap to close gaps and improve maturity.
Evidence Build– Develop documentation and artifacts to prove compliance.
Mock Assessments– Conduct trial assessments to validate readiness.
Sustainment– Provide ongoing support to maintain compliance over time.
Before you invest in any provider, confirm their legitimacy through the CyberAB Marketplace and be sure to ask the right questions.
As a certified CMMC RPO, we’ve helped countless defense contractors navigate compliance with confidence. Our experts guide you every step of the way, from gap assessments to sustainment. Don’t risk choosing the wrong partner or wasting time on shortcuts that won’t hold up under audit. Talk to our team today and take the first step toward lasting CMMC compliance.
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