For a CMMC Level 2 assessment that requires a third party, you will need a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) — an organization authorized by The Cyber AB to conduct the assessment. Choosing one is a real decision, and a few principles keep it clean.
Verify authorization first
Only a C3PAO listed in The Cyber AB Marketplace is authorized to conduct Level 2 certification assessments. Confirm the listing before anything else. The individual who performs the work is a Certified CMMC Assessor (CCA) operating under that C3PAO’s authorization.
Separation of duties is the whole point
Here is the rule that surprises people: your C3PAO cannot both consult on your readiness and assess you. The independence is deliberate — the same firm cannot build your program and then grade it. That is why a healthy, common pattern is one partner to get you ready (a preparer) and a separate C3PAO to assess. If a single vendor offers to do both, that is a conflict, not a convenience.
What to actually evaluate
- Relevant experience — have they assessed organizations like yours, at your scope and complexity?
- Scheduling reality — assessor capacity is finite and demand is high. Ask about lead times before you are against a contract deadline.
- Scope alignment — do they understand your CUI boundary and enclave design? A mismatch here wastes everyone’s time.
- Clarity — a good assessor explains how the process works and what evidence they will expect, without turning the engagement into a sales motion.
Get ready before you book
The best time to engage a C3PAO is when you are actually ready — when your SSP is accurate, your evidence exists, and you have run your own dry run against the objectives. Booking an assessment to ‘find out where you stand’ is an expensive way to learn what a readiness review would have told you for less.
We prepare DIB contractors for assessment and coordinate cleanly with your chosen C3PAO — never assessing our own work. See how our readiness work fits alongside your assessment.