CMMC Certification Cost: Breaking Down the Cost Components
Anwita
Oct 17, 2024
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), developed by the U.S. Department of Defense details the cybersecurity requirements for contractors in the Defense Industrial Base. It is published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
If you are a defense contractor, you must protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) from a wide range of threats and ensure cyber hygiene.
But how much does CMMC certification cost? Let’s understand the various factors associated with each level.
How much does CMMC certification cost?
There is no objective answer to this question. CMMC certification costs depend on various factors. These factors include but are not limited to the level of certification, the complexity of your organization, existing systems, and IT infrastructure – we will discuss each in detail in a bit. But to give you a rough estimate, expect to spend anything between $5,000 to $4,000,000.
Levels of CMMC certification & Its cost
CMMC divides certification levels into three categories – Level 1 (Foundational), Level 2 (Advanced), and Level 3 (Expert). This is an update on the previous version (CMMC 1.0) consisting of five levels. Let’s understand each CMMC level.
Level 1
The basic or foundational level consists of 14 practices and cross references to NIST SP 800-171 rev 2. It has 59 objectives and focuses on safeguarding Federal Contract Information (FCI). The assessment criteria is an annual self assessment.
Level 2
The advanced level consists of 110 practices aligned with NIST SP800-171. With a total of 320 objectives, the main area of focus is to protect CUI. It requires organizations to undergo triennial third-party assessments if their system processes critical national security information. Annual self assessment is applicable for select programs.
Level 3
The highest and the expert level consists of 110+ practices based on NIST SP 800-171 and a selected subset of requirements from NIST SP 800-172. This level has 320+ objectives and protects CUI. Organizations must undergo triennial government led assessments and annual affirmation.
Save upto 60% on CMMC certification
What are the factors that impact CMMC certification cost?
The factors that impact the CMMC certification cost are many. As previously mentioned, the landing cost of your certification program boils down to various factors listed below. Let’s explore each briefly:
Planning and implementation
Big projects like implementing a compliance framework are likely to transcend into chaos without proper planning. A complete plan generally involves creating a roadmap, deciding the timeline, allocating resources, facilitating a training program, and documenting the entire process.
Many organizations relegate the planning and implementation activities to their internal IT team. However, this is a good idea only if your team is experienced in handling the entire lifecycle of a regulation. Otherwise, you are better off with external consultants to effectively strategize and execute. If you opt for consultants, consider the costs associated with their services.
IT system and facilities
These costs can be divided into two categories – risk assessment and risk remediation.
Risk assessment is a requirement for all three models. If you are undergoing a level one assessment, you have to bear the cost of vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
Risk remediation involves fixing the gaps your VAPT surfaced. The cost associated with upgrading includes upgrading existing systems, patching vulnerabilities, and implementing new tools if required.
Existing infrastructure and compliance
Both time and cost to certification depends on how good/bad your current security posture is. For example, if you are a startup, a weak posture is only normal. Enterprises, on the other hand, generally have a better managed posture. If you are already compliant with one of the most commonly implemented regulations or cybersecurity standards like ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, or HIPAA, you are already halfway through your certification program, thanks to the common controls.
Level of certification
The cost of CMMS certification goes up as your level increases. Level three will cost you significantly more than level one, thanks to the higher number of practices, external audits, time to completion, and comprehensiveness of the requirements.
If you are not sure which maturity level is right for you, consider undergoing a Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) scoping to correctly determine your obligations and security requirements.
Organizational size
The employee strength directly impacts the cost as more users mean additional tools, management systems, and a complex infrastructure. Since you need to train your employees to meet CMMC certification requirements, it adds to the list of your CMMC audit costs.
Larger organizations also need to consider the cost of time. Implementing controls, getting stakeholders involved, and creating policies is time consuming.
Also Check: Top 5 CMMC software in 2024
Get CMMC certified at a fraction of cost and speed
The CMMC 2.0 certification process can easily turn chaotic if not done right. This means losing your contract and even landing in legal trouble.
Sprinto helps you meet your contract requirements, and implement a security plan consistent with NIST standards.
It connects with your system to detect CUI, identify cyber threats across your environment, and implement the applicable security controls.
Its adaptive automation capabilities continuously monitor your controls, detect vulnerabilities in real-time, collect evidence for corrective actions, and offer ready to use security policies.
Talk to our NIST experts to know how we can help you implement an effective CMMC program at a fraction of a cost.
FAQs
Is there a fixed cost for CMMC certification?
No, there is no fixed cost for CMMC certification as it depends on various factors based on the unique needs and size of the organizations. However, pentagon has released the following estimates based on certification level and assessment type:
- Level 1 – roughy $5,000
- Level 2 self-assessment – $37,000 for small and $49,000 for large entities
- Level 2 certification assessment – $105,000 for small $118,000 for large entities
- Level 3 certification assessment – $2.7 million for smaller and $4.1 million for large entities.
How does the Department of Defense plan on reducing the cost of CMMC 2.0?
The Department of Defense intends to publish a detailed cost analysis for each level of CMMC 2.0. Since this is meant to evaluate the level of existing security programs, these costs are in addition to the controls you need to implement to comply with the requirements.
How can you get a CMMC certification?
You can be certified with CMMC following these steps:
- Understand Your CMMC level requirements
- Prepare for CMMC assessment
- Conduct a Self-Assessment
- Select a C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessor Organization)
- Engage with a Registered Practitioner (RP)
- Submit your CMMC assessment
Is CMMC Compliance mandatory?
If you are a contractor in the Defense Industrial Base, CMMC is a mandatory requirement from March 2023.
What is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is information that should be safeguarded or protected using disseminating controls as per a law, regulation, or government-wide policies.
What is the purpose of CMMC?
The CMMC framework protects CUI transmitted or shared by DoD to ensure accountability while reducing the barriers to compliance with DoD requirements.
Who needs CMMC certification?
Any organization that is/aims to participate in DoD contracts needs CMMC certification based on the sensitivity of the information they handle. This includes prime contractors and subcontractors as well. Organizations that handle CUI or Federal Contract Information (FCI) in the course of their work with the DoD like companies in the defense industrial base, from manufacturers to service providers are usually in its purview.
