CMMC and NIST 800-171 readiness for defense contractors.
ControlSolid helps defense contractors, subcontractors, and technology providers understand applicable security requirements, define the FCI and CUI environment, identify gaps, organize evidence, and prioritize remediation before self-assessments or independent assessments.
Common reasons teams come to us
- A prime contractor is asking about NIST SP 800-171 or CMMC posture during due diligence.
- A new contract flows down protection requirements for FCI or CUI.
- An SSP and POA&M exist but have not been reviewed against current guidance.
- The CUI environment has grown organically and needs a defensible scope definition.
- An independent assessment is on the horizon and the team wants to prepare properly.
- A previous self-assessment score needs to be revisited with fresh evidence.
Talk through your scope, timeline, and customer pressure on a 30-minute call.
- Defense contractors and subcontractors
- Small and midsize organizations entering the defense supply chain
- SaaS, cloud, and technology providers supporting defense contractors
- Teams handling or preparing to handle FCI or CUI
- Organizations preparing for NIST SP 800-171 or applicable CMMC requirements
- Applicability and scoping workshop
- FCI and CUI data-flow review
- Security boundary and asset review
- CMMC Level 1 or Level 2 readiness gap assessment, where applicable
- NIST SP 800-171 readiness assessment
- SSP and evidence review
- Prioritized remediation roadmap
- Executive summary
- Independent C3PAO coordination or referral when required
What readiness covers
Applicability & scoping
Understanding contract flow-down, information types (FCI, CUI), and the systems that touch them.
NIST SP 800-171 gap assessment
Control-by-control review with evidence expectations and remediation guidance.
CMMC level readiness
Level 1 or Level 2 readiness review where applicable, aligned to current official guidance.
SSP & evidence review
System Security Plan review, POA&M support, and evidence organization for an assessor handoff.
Remediation planning
Prioritized roadmap that balances risk, contractual pressure, and engineering capacity.
Assessor handoff
Clean handoff to a self-assessment team or an independent C3PAO while preserving assessor independence.
- A defensible view of scope, FCI, and CUI in your environment
- Clear picture of gaps against applicable requirements before an independent assessment
- Evidence organized the way an assessor will ask for it
- Prioritized remediation that respects your engineering capacity
- Defined assessment scope
- Gap register mapped to applicable requirements
- Evidence-readiness inventory
- Prioritized findings
- Remediation roadmap
- Executive summary
- Assessor-handoff package where appropriate
A clear path from scope to remediation
- 01
Discover
Understand contracts, information types, systems, and organizational structure.
- 02
Scope
Define the FCI and CUI environment, connected systems, and assessment boundary.
- 03
Assess
Perform the NIST SP 800-171 readiness gap assessment and applicable CMMC-level review.
- 04
Prioritize
Rank findings by risk, contractual pressure, and remediation effort.
- 05
Prepare
Support SSP updates, POA&M, and evidence organization.
- 06
Validate
Coordinate a clean handoff to a self-assessment team or an independent C3PAO when required.
Explore other ControlSolid services
SOC 2 Readiness
SOC 2 readiness for SaaS teams — Trust Services Criteria gap assessment, policy and control build-out, evidence library, and audit-ready handoff.
Learn more →ISO 27001
ISO 27001 consulting and ISMS build-out — Annex A control mapping, risk assessment, statement of applicability, and certification-ready evidence.
Learn more →- Cybersecurity readiness & gap assessment →Broader readiness across SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST CSF, and CIS alongside 800-171 work.
- Application & cloud security reviews →AWS, Azure, and GCP configuration and architecture review for CUI-bearing systems.
- vCISO & customer security reviews →Ongoing advisory support for defense supply-chain security posture.
Questions we hear most
- Does ControlSolid provide CMMC certification?
- No. ControlSolid provides readiness, gap assessment, implementation, remediation, and evidence-preparation support. Official assessments must be performed by the appropriate independent assessment organization when required.
- What is the relationship between CMMC and NIST SP 800-171?
- CMMC uses applicable cybersecurity requirements to verify how defense contractors protect Federal Contract Information and Controlled Unclassified Information. The exact requirements and assessment type depend on the contract and current government guidance.
- Can ControlSolid help define the CUI environment?
- Yes. The engagement can include data-flow analysis, asset identification, architecture review, boundary definition, and documentation of the systems involved.
- Can ControlSolid work with our C3PAO?
- Yes. ControlSolid can prepare documentation, organize evidence, support remediation, and coordinate a clean handoff while preserving the assessor's independence.
- Are CMMC requirements currently changing?
- CMMC implementation and contractual requirements may change. ControlSolid validates current official guidance and the client's contractual obligations at the beginning of the engagement.
Need a clear view of your security gaps?
Start with a focused readiness call. We'll discuss your customer pressure, compliance goals, application risk, and the best next step.