The Department of Defense now requires contractors to meet Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards in order to win or keep contracts. Contractors that handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) will be required in all new solicitations to attest to their CMMC readiness. CMMC Level 2 (CUI) will soon require an independent CMMC third party assessment.
Digital Beachhead is here to help. We are an Authorized C3PAO (CMMC Third Party Assessment Organization) and a service-disabled veteran owned cybersecurity firm ready to guide you through this mandatory process with a friendly, expert approach. From initial readiness consulting or the formal CMMC certification assessment, our team makes the journey as smooth as possible.
CMMC is not optional for DoD contractors. CMMC is the framework introduced by the DoD to protect sensitive information in the defense supply chain. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 32 Part 170 created the CMMC program December 16th, 2024 and CFR Title 48 Part 204.75 that mandates CMMC for Defense Contractors utilizing Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 252.204.7021. This DFARS clause is now required in all new DoD solicitations for future contracts.
Most companies will need a CMMC Level 2 certification (for handling CUI), which must be obtained via an independent assessment by an accredited CMMC 3rd party assessor (C3PAO). Failing to meet CMMC requirements or lacking a certification can make a contractor ineligible for DoD contract awards – at both prime and subcontractor levels.
Basic FCI protection. Self-attestation required annually by senior company official
CUI protection. Self-attestation may be allowed until November 2026 then it will require a CMMC 3rd party assessment by an authorized C3PAO
CMMC compliance requires:
We can guide you through each step. As an authorized C3PAO with hands-on consulting experience and having passed our own DoD lead assessment, we help ensure you’re prepared or serve as the independent assessor to certify your organization.
Digital Beachhead is proud to be officially listed as an Authorized C3PAO in the CMMC ecosystem. This means we are fully qualified to perform formal CMMC certification assessments for organizations seeking Level 2 (Advanced) certification.
As a C3PAO, we serve as an impartial third-party assessor of your cybersecurity program. We evaluate your implemented security controls against the CMMC framework and verify that you meet sufficiency of the required 110 practices and 320 objectives.
If you’ve done the work to harden your systems and comply with NIST SP 800-171 requirements, our assessment will confirm it and help you achieve official CMMC certification.
Our CMMC third-party assessment is thorough but collaborative and broken into four (4) phases:
Phase 1: The pre-assessment phase where our assessment team reviews documentation such as the SSP, policies, procedures, artifacts, and network / data flow diagrams. During this phase it is determined if there is ample documentation to proceed to Phase 2.
Phase 2: The assessment phase where interviews and demonstrations of the control / objective implementation take place.
Phase 3: The results phase where your organization receives one of three (3) possible outcomes: Final Certification (you have met all controls), No Certification (not all controls have been met) or Conditional Certification (where over 88 controls have been et and only single point controls have been found to be unmet).
Phase 4: The assessment closeout phase where Final Certification is issued or within a period of 180 days the Conditional Certification is reviewed (only those unmet controls) and a finding of Final or No Certification is delivered.
During the assessment daily reports are delivered so your organization is never in the dark as to where you stand on each control/objective with “Trending Met” or “Trending Not Met” outlined for each. Minor changes can take place during the assessment to bring anything “Trending Not Met” into a “Trending Met” state. Once Phase 3 begins everyone should have the same understanding of what the outcome will be.
Preparing for a CMMC assessment can be challenging, especially for small and mid-sized businesses. If you’re unsure of where you stand, Digital Beachhead offers comprehensive CMMC readiness consulting (separate from the assessment function) to get you ready.
We help defense contractors prepare so there are no surprises during the official C3PAO CMMC assessment.
Our goal is to make the formal CMMC Level 2 C3PAO assessment go smoothly and to be there by your side during the stressful process from beginning to final certification. Digital Beachhead is more than a consultant we are a member of your team.
Colorado Springs is one of the nation’s key defense and space hubs, making strong cybersecurity and CMMC compliance critical for local DoD contractors. Digital Beachhead is based here, providing nearby contractors with an Authorized C3PAO partner for CMMC assessments and readiness support.
The Denver–Aurora area supports major space, missile warning, and intelligence missions, drawing a large community of aerospace and defense contractors. We help Denver-area firms meet CMMC requirements and complete C3PAO assessments so they can stay competitive on upcoming DoD contracts.
Pueblo manufacturers and service providers often support supply chains tied to the larger Colorado Springs and Front Range military community. We work with Pueblo-based contractors to build CMMC-aligned security programs that satisfy primes and protect long-term DoD opportunities.
The Las Vegas region anchors advanced aviation, RPA, and test and training missions that rely heavily on trusted defense partners. Digital Beachhead helps Las Vegas–area contractors strengthen cybersecurity and obtain CMMC certification through independent C3PAO assessments.
Albuquerque’s mix of space, nuclear, and national security R&D demands rigorous protection of sensitive data. We support local contractors with CMMC readiness and third-party assessments so they can confidently serve Kirtland, Sandia, and other high-impact programs.
The Phoenix metro, anchored by Luke AFB, is a major center for fighter training, aerospace, and defense industry work. We help Phoenix-area DoD contractors align with CMMC, close cyber gaps, and successfully complete C3PAO certification.
The San Francisco Bay Area is a leading hub for dual-use and defense technology serving DoD and intelligence customers. Digital Beachhead helps these innovators translate strong engineering into formal CMMC compliance so they can keep winning sensitive defense work.
Greater Los Angeles is central to U.S. military space acquisition and a dense cluster of aerospace primes and suppliers. We partner with LA-area contractors to meet CMMC requirements, pass C3PAO assessments, and protect the space and defense programs they support.
We are not just another consulting firm – we are an Authorized C3PAO. That means:
If you’ve been searching the C3PAO list or comparing C3PAO companies, Digital Beachhead offers the rare combination of authorized assessor status and real-world, defense-focused cyber experience. Our leadership team has over 30 years of direct DoD experience.
Digital Beachhead is a service-disabled veteran owned small business. Our founders and many team members have served in the U.S. military and government. We bring a mission-first mindset to cybersecurity:
Cybersecurity and compliance can feel overwhelming. Our approach:
We want you to feel supported, not judged.
We believe the path to cybersecurity begins with a conversation so let’s talk soon!