How to Tell If You’re Ready for a CMMC Assessment and the Hidden Gaps Most Contractors Miss (Clone)

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) readiness is more than a compliance requirement. True CMMC readiness reflects how well an organization protects and manages the sensitive information entrusted to it by the Department of Defense.  

While working closely with defense contractors who are navigating the path to CMMC compliance, ProActive Solutions has seen that most contractors misjudge their cybersecurity maturity. Many have policies and plans in place, but few realize that meeting the standard of operational readiness is about evidence, validation, and maintaining consistency across all 14 domains of the CMMC framework. 

What Assessors Actually Look for During a CMMC Assessment 

The Department of Defense has made it clear that contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) need to demonstrate measurable cybersecurity maturity during a CMMC assessment, meaning assessors will review more than policies for controlling risk. Assessors at Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) will look for documented proof that your organization consistently follows those policies in practice using procedures that align with the CMMC framework. 

During a CMMC assessment, C3PAOs need to see access logs, repeated tasks related to risk management, and configuration alignment, not just stated intentions. 

CMMC Readiness: Going Beyond a Compliance Checklist 

Being ready for CMMC goes beyond having a binder full of compliance documents. CMMC readiness means your organization can demonstrate the maturity of each control with consistent, verifiable evidence. Assessors are looking for alignment between what your policies say, what your procedures describe, and how your systems operate. 

For example, a strong Access Control Policy is only the starting point. To prove compliance, your procedures must define how access is granted and revoked, and your logs or system reports should confirm those actions have been carried out. When policy, procedure, and evidence align, you have a mature and defensible control environment. 

Understanding the ProActive Readiness Scoring Model

To make readiness more measurable, ProActive Solutions uses a simple internal scoring system. Each of the 14 CMMC domains is evaluated on a 0–3 scale: 

• 0 – Not Implemented: No control or documentation exists. 

• 1 – Partially Implemented: Informal or ad hoc processes are in place, but documentation or consistency is missing. 

• 2 – Largely Implemented: Controls are active and documented but may lack full evidence or recurring validation. 

• 3 – Fully Implemented: Policies, procedures, and evidence are aligned, reviewed, and maintained regularly. 

This approach provides a transparent, data-driven way to assess where your organization stands. After scoring all domains, participants can determine their total readiness level: 

• 0–20 points (≤47%) – Major Deficiency 

• 21–32 points (≈50–76%) – Minor Deficiencies 

• 33–42 points (≥79%) – Ready for Assessment 

This model mirrors how a C3PAO assessor will evaluate your maturity but takes place in a supportive environment that is focused on improvement rather than compliance failure. 

Common Gaps Defense Contractors Miss 

Even experienced Defense Industrial Base (DIB) organizations often miss critical elements that affect their assessment outcomes. Here are some of the most common issues identified during our readiness engagements: 

• Outdated or incomplete System Security Plans (SSP) 

• Missing or unclear network, system, and data flow diagrams 

• Inconsistent configuration management and change tracking 

• Lack of evidence for recurring activities such as log reviews, user training, and patch management 

• Discrepancies between written procedures and actual technical configurations 

 If these issues look familiar, ProActive can help your organization bridge them before your C3PAO audit takes place. 

How to Close the CMMC Readiness Gap 

Participating in a structured readiness engagement helps contractors move from uncertainty to confidence. The engagement can begin with scoping and documentation review, followed by control validation and a mock assessment. ProActive’s Readiness Engagement follows this structure and uses the findings of the assessment to provide a prioritized roadmap that addresses deficiencies within realistic timeframes. 

ProActive’s engagement process mirrors the CMMC Assessment Process (CAP), ensuring you’re prepared for what a C3PAO will expect. By the end of the engagement, organizations have a clear Go or No-Go decision, backed by evidence, and a defined remediation plan that can be executed in 90 days or less. 

Join ProActive’s Free CMMC Readiness Workshop 

Our CMMC Readiness Workshop Series is designed to help small and mid-sized DIB companies understand what being “ready” really means, identify hidden gaps, and take the right steps before scheduling a formal assessment with a C3PAO. 

Our next CMMC Readiness Workshop offers a walkthrough of the assessment process, guidance on collecting and maintaining evidence, and an understanding of what it takes to be “Assessment Ready”. 

Join us to learn how to assess your organization’s CMMC readiness and gain confidence before your formal assessment. To register, visit ProActiveSolutions.com/request-CMMC-Readiness.