CMMC Level 2 Cost
What “CMMC Level 2 Cost” Actually Includes
CMMC Level 2 cost is not a single fixed price. The total cost of achieving and maintaining CMMC Level 2 compliance is made up of several distinct components that vary based on an organization’s size, complexity, system architecture, and contractual requirements.
At a high level, CMMC Level 2 cost typically includes three major categories. The first is preparation and readiness, which covers the effort required to implement required security controls, align documentation with actual operations, and prepare objective evidence. This work may be performed internally, with external consulting support, or through a combination of both.
The second category is assessment and certification. Depending on Department of Defense contract language, organizations may be required to complete either a self-assessment or an independent third-party assessment conducted by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). While the assessment method may differ, the underlying security requirements remain the same.
The third category is ongoing compliance and maintenance. CMMC Level 2 is not a one-time expense. Organizations must continue operating security controls, maintaining documentation accuracy, and sustaining evidence over time. Changes to systems, personnel, or workflows can introduce additional costs as documentation and controls are updated to remain compliant.
Understanding these cost categories helps organizations budget realistically and avoid focusing solely on assessment fees. In many cases, preparation and internal labor represent a larger portion of total cost than the assessment itself. Evaluating CMMC Level 2 cost holistically provides a clearer picture of what is required to achieve compliance and sustain it over the long term.
The Two Cost Paths: Self-Assessment vs C3PAO Assessment
CMMC Level 2 includes two possible assessment paths, and the required path is determined by Department of Defense contract language. Understanding which assessment type applies is critical, as it directly affects certification costs and preparation requirements.
In some cases, organizations may be permitted to perform a self-assessment. Under this path, the organization evaluates its own implementation of the CMMC Level 2 requirements and submits an affirmation of compliance through the appropriate reporting mechanisms. While this approach typically has lower direct assessment costs, it still requires full implementation of all applicable NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 requirements, accurate documentation, and objective evidence to support the assessment results.
Other contracts require an independent third-party assessment conducted by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). This assessment involves external assessors reviewing documentation, evaluating evidence, interviewing personnel, and validating system configurations. Third-party assessments introduce additional costs related to assessor time, assessment scope, and coordination, but they do not change the underlying security requirements that must be met.
It is important to note that the assessment method does not reduce compliance obligations. Whether an organization completes a self-assessment or undergoes a C3PAO assessment, the same 110 NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 requirements apply. Organizations must still implement controls, maintain accurate documentation, and operate security practices consistently.
Organizations should not assume they can choose the lower-cost assessment path. The required assessment type is dictated by contract requirements, not organizational preference. Confirming assessment obligations early helps organizations budget accurately and avoid unexpected costs later in the compliance process.
Typical Assessment and Certification Costs
When organizations talk about the “cost of CMMC Level 2,” it’s helpful to start with what the Department of Defense itself has estimated for certification-related expenses. These estimates provide the most objective baseline available for budgeting assessment activities tied to DoD contracting.
In regulatory cost analysis, the DoD estimated that the total certification costs over a three-year cycle for CMMC Level 2 assessments are approximately:
- $105,000 for small entities, and
- $118,000 for entities other than small businesses
These figures represent the expected costs associated with completing required certification activities for Level 2 over a three-year period, including the initial assessment and any required annual affirmation activities.
It’s important to understand what these estimates do and do not include. The DoD numbers focus on assessment and related coordination costs — not the preparatory work required to become assessment-ready. Preparation activities, such as implementing controls, aligning documentation with operations, remediating gaps, and collecting supporting evidence, are separate and may represent a larger share of total expense.
Actual certification costs for a given organization may vary widely due to factors such as:
- The number of systems, networks, and locations in scope
- The clarity and completeness of existing documentation
- How well controls are implemented prior to assessment
- The complexity of CUI handling, interfaces with external systems, and third-party services
For organizations required to undergo an independent third-party assessment by a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO), assessor time and effort are a major component of the cost. Larger or more complex environments typically result in longer assessment engagements, which increases cost relative to a tightly scoped, well-organized environment.
These published estimates provide a useful anchor for planning, but they should be considered in context. Assessment fees are only one piece of the overall cost picture, which also includes readiness work, internal labor, and ongoing maintenance of controls and documentation.
Readiness and Consulting Costs
For many organizations, the largest portion of total CMMC Level 2 cost is not the assessment itself. The biggest cost driver is often the readiness work required to become assessment-ready. This includes implementing required security controls, correcting gaps, aligning documentation with real operational practices, and preparing objective evidence that demonstrates controls are operating consistently.
Readiness and consulting costs typically fall into a few common categories, depending on how mature the organization’s cybersecurity program is and how much work is needed before assessment:
• Scoping and CUI boundary definition, including decisions around whether a CUI enclave approach is appropriate
• Gap assessment or readiness review to identify missing controls, weak evidence, or documentation misalignment
• Documentation build and tailoring, including policies, procedures, plans, and SSP alignment to the real environment
• Technical remediation support to implement or strengthen controls that are missing or operating inconsistently
• Evidence collection readiness and “mock assessment” support to confirm that evidence exists, is organized, and can be validated efficiently
Consulting support is often priced either hourly or as a fixed-scope engagement. Hourly consulting rates for CMMC Level 2 readiness and implementation support are commonly quoted in the range of approximately $250 to $400 per hour, depending on the provider’s expertise and the complexity of the environment. Fixed-scope readiness reviews or gap assessments are often marketed from a few thousand dollars into the tens of thousands of dollars depending on depth, scope, and how much validation is performed.
It is important to understand that consulting is not mandatory for compliance. Consulting is optional, but labor is not — you either pay internal time or external time. Even with outside support, internal leadership and technical teams must still spend time confirming scope, validating documentation accuracy, producing evidence, and ensuring security practices are operating consistently.
Organizations that invest in readiness early typically reduce assessment friction, lower remediation risk, and avoid last-minute scrambling. The goal is not to generate paperwork, but to ensure that controls, documentation, and evidence all align so that compliance can be validated efficiently and confidently.
For an overview of required CMMC Level 2 documentation, see our CMMC Level 2 documentation guide.