With the growing emphasis on cybersecurity in the defense sector, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has become a critical requirement for contractors and suppliers working with the Department of Defense (DoD). Whether your organization is aiming for Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 certification under CMMC 2.0, understanding the time commitment involved is crucial for effective planning. Additionally, leveraging automation can significantly streamline the process, making compliance more efficient and less resource-intensive.

Understanding the CMMC 2.0 certification timeline

The time required to achieve CMMC certification varies depending on several factors, namely: 

• The applicable CMMC certification level 
• Your current cybersecurity posture
• Size and complexity of your IT infrastructure
• Scope and sensitivity of the CUI/FCI that you handle
• Resources available for assessment preparation
• How quickly you can implement required controls
• C3PAO scheduling and availability (if required)

Below we’ll share rough estimates of how long each step of the CMMC 2.0 compliance process can take. 

Timeline for CMMC 2.0 Level 1 certification

CMMC Level 1 is the most basic level, focusing on foundational cybersecurity practices. If your organization already has basic controls in place, the process can be relatively quick. However, if you're starting from scratch, expect the timeline to be closer to the higher end of the range.

Preparation time: 3-9 months

Initial gap analysis: 1-5 months
A CMMC Level 1 gap assessment can take between 4–6 weeks for small to medium-sized companies, and 12–20 weeks for larger companies. This involves evaluating the current cybersecurity practices against CMMC Level 1 requirements to identify gaps.

Remediation: 1-3 months (or more depending on the gaps identified).
The time required to address any gaps identified during the analysis will vary based on the complexity of the required changes and the resources available. If your organization already has a good security foundation, this may may be shorter.

Document preparation: 2-4 weeks
CMMC Level 1 requires documentation of cybersecurity practices. Preparing this documentation, especially if it needs to be created from scratch, can take a few weeks.

Internal readiness assessment: 1-2 weeks
Once the remediation is complete and documentation is in place, conducting a preliminary self-assessment to ensure readiness is recommended.

Self-assessment: 2-3 weeks

Self-assessment process: 1-2 weeks
CMMC Level 1 certification involves a self-assessment process, where the organization evaluates its compliance with the required practices. 

Submitting the self-assessment: 1 day
After completing the self-assessment, the results must be submitted to the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS).

Timeline for CMMC 2.0 Level 2 certification

CMMC Level 2 Level 2 is more involved, requiring more mature and extensive cybersecurity practices. Depending on whether your organization handles critical CUI, you may also need a third-party assessment, which can extend the timeline.

Preparation time: 7-16 months

Initial gap analysis: 2-6 months
This phase involves evaluating current cybersecurity practices against CMMC Level 2 requirements to identify gaps. The analysis for Level 2 is more detailed compared to Level 1, as there are more practices to assess.

Remediation: 3-6 months (or more depending on gaps)
Addressing identified gaps is likely to take longer due to the increased complexity and number of required practices. The organization may need to implement new systems, processes, and controls.

Documentation preparation: 4-8 weeks
Documentation for CMMC Level 2 is more extensive, covering policies, procedures, and evidence of practice implementation. This phase can be time-consuming if comprehensive documentation is not already in place.

Training and awareness: 2-4 weeks
Ensure that staff are trained on the new practices and understand their roles in maintaining compliance. This step is critical for a successful assessment.

Internal self-assessment preparation: 2-4 weeks
Before undergoing the formal assessment, conducting a thorough internal self-assessment to identify and correct any remaining issues is crucial.

Non-critical Level 2 - Self-assessment: 2-4 weeks

Self-assessment process: 2-4 weeks
The self-assessment for Level 2 is more involved than Level 1, as it covers more practices and requires detailed documentation and evidence.

Submitting the self-assessment: 1 day
Results from the self-assessment are submitted to the SPRS.

Critical Level 2 - Third-party assessment: 3-4 months

Scheduling the assessment: 8-12 weeks
It can take some time to schedule the independent third-party assessment, depending on the availability of certified third-party assessment organizations (C3PAOs). Many C3PAOs are booked at least 8+ weeks or even further out, so the farther ahead you can plan to schedule your assessment the better. 

Assessment process: 1-2 weeks
The actual assessment process can vary in length depending on the size and complexity of the organization. The assessors will review documentation, interview staff, and examine systems and controls.

Remediation (if needed): 2-4 weeks
If the assessors identify areas that need remediation, additional time will be needed to address these before the final certification is granted.

Timeline for CMMC Level 3 certification

CMMC Level 3 certification is the most rigorous under the CMMC 2.0 framework and is designed for organizations handling the most sensitive unclassified information, including CUI that is critical to national security. Organizations aiming for this level must be prepared for a lengthy and detailed process, including a mandatory government assessment.

Preparation time: 12 - 18 months

Initial gap analysis: 3-7 months
This phase involves a detailed evaluation of the organization’s current cybersecurity practices against the 110+ practices required for CMMC Level 3. Due to the complexity and number of controls, this phase can be more time-consuming than for Levels 1 or 2.

Remediation: 6-12 months (or more depending on gaps)
The remediation phase could be extensive, depending on how mature the organization’s cybersecurity practices are. Implementing the necessary policies, processes, and technologies to close identified gaps can be complex and time-intensive.

Document preparation: 8-12 weeks
CMMC Level 3 requires comprehensive documentation, including detailed policies, procedures, plans, and records of practice implementation. Creating or updating this documentation is a significant task.

Personnel training and awareness: 4-8 weeks
Extensive training is necessary to ensure all personnel are aware of their roles in maintaining compliance and can properly implement the required practices.

Internal readiness assessment: 4-6 weeks
Before the formal assessment, conducting a thorough internal self-assessment is critical to identify any lingering issues. This phase ensures the organization is fully prepared for the third-party audit.

Certification assessment: Under development

The DoD is still developing requirements for government assessments. This information is expected to be released with the final ruling.

Tips for using automation to streamline the CMMC certification process

Given the complexity and time required for CMMC certification, particularly at Levels 2 and 3, automation can be a game-changer. Let’s examine how automation can streamline the process. 

Automated gap analysis and monitoring

Automated tools can help perform an initial gap analysis to identify deficiencies in your current cybersecurity practices. These tools can continuously monitor your network, alerting you to vulnerabilities and compliance issues in real-time. This proactive approach allows for quicker remediation, keeping your certification timeline on track.

Centralized document management

One of the most time-consuming aspects of CMMC preparation is creating and maintaining documentation. Automation platforms can centralize and standardize documentation processes, ensuring that all policies, procedures, and evidence are up-to-date and accessible. 

Automated evidence collection

Compliance automation platforms integrate with your existing IT infrastructure, including cloud providers, identity and access management systems, and other tools. Once connected, it automatically collects evidence such as access logs, configuration settings, and security policies. This continuous collection ensures that you always have up-to-date evidence without having to manually collect and organize screenshots and other documents.

It’s important to note that CMMC includes strict access controls, and CUI can only be shared with authorized vendors. Organizations are restricted from sharing sensitive data with any vendor who isn't certified at the required CMMC level, so only work with approved vendors if you decide to implement automated evidence collection.

Streamlined personnel management

Cybersecurity and insider threat training is essential for compliance, especially at higher CMMC levels. Compliance management systems can help deploy and track employee training programs and policy acceptance, ensuring that your full team, including employees and contractors, is fully prepared and compliant without the need for extensive manual oversight.

Continuous compliance monitoring

Automation can also aid in continuous compliance monitoring, which is particularly useful for organizations at Levels 2 and 3. Automated systems can regularly check compliance with CMMC practices, providing alerts when issues arise and ensuring that your organization remains compliant over time.

Achieving CMMC certification is a significant commitment, but with proper planning and the right tools, the process can be managed effectively. By understanding the time requirements and leveraging automation, organizations can streamline their path to compliance, ensuring they meet DoD requirements with greater efficiency and less stress.