CMMC Compliance Consulting in Pasadena, California

CMMC compliance consulting means leading companies through the entire CMMC readiness journey. It includes CMMC Level 2 readiness assessment to understand where you stand, control-by-control gap analysis to identify what needs to be done, SSP (System Security Plan) development to document your security environment, POA&M (Plan of Action & Milestones) creation to plan remediation, CUI flow diagrams to understand how CUI moves through your business, asset inventory and system boundary definition to define your security boundary, password, access, and MFA hardening to secure access, log management and monitoring setup to track security events, risk assessment to identify and prioritize risks, incident response planning to prepare for incidents, configuration baselines to ensure consistent security, policy and procedure writing to document processes, evidence collection guidance to prepare for assessments, data protection and encryption controls to protect CUI, vendor and supply chain review to secure your supply chain, user training and awareness to educate your team, quarterly progress reviews to track progress, and roadmap aligned with the November 10 rulemaking (48 C.F.R.) to meet requirements. Think of it like building a security foundation that matches CMMC requirements. Instead of having never gone through a compliance project before and not knowing where to start, internal IT being overwhelmed by the CMMC workload, thinking you're "close" but an assessment revealing dozens of gaps, documentation being outdated or nonexistent, or needing a real roadmap with realistic timelines, you get a guided, structured approach that makes the process clear, steady, and achievable. For Pasadena manufacturers, aerospace suppliers, and engineering firms working with the DoD or handling CUI, CMMC compliance consulting gives you the guidance needed to build a program that can survive a real assessment—not just a spreadsheet.

You probably need CMMC compliance consulting if you're working with the Department of Defense (DoD), plan to work with them, or you're part of the supply chain that touches Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). You also need it if you have never gone through a compliance project before and don't know where to start, your internal IT is overwhelmed by the CMMC workload, you thought you were "close," but an assessment revealed dozens of gaps, you recently learned that 48 C.F.R. will require a third-party assessment for CMMC Level 2, your documentation is outdated or nonexistent, you need a real roadmap with realistic timelines, you want a partner who actually leads the process, not a consultant who hands them a spreadsheet, or you've been told "CMMC is coming" but no one has helped you prepare. Many Pasadena businesses don't realize they need CMMC compliance consulting until they face a close call. A Pasadena manufacturing company reached out after a close call that rattled their leadership. They were a subcontractor for a prime that worked directly with the DoD. They handled drawings, engineering files, and work instructions containing potential CUI. One morning, a production manager clicked on what looked like a routine shipping notification. It wasn't. It was a phishing attack designed to harvest credentials and gain entry into the company's cloud storage. Within minutes, the attacker attempted logging into their file-sharing platform, downloading engineering drawings, creating email forwarding rules, scanning for shared links with sensitive content, and searching for keywords related to manufacturing processes. The attack was caught early, but the leadership team knew something unsettling: they were lucky—not prepared. During the internal discussion that followed, the COO said: "If this attacker had gotten any deeper, we wouldn't have known what they touched. We can't move forward like this." Shortly after, they learned about the updated 48 C.F.R. rulemaking released on November 10. They discovered that if they wanted to stay in the DoD supply chain, they would need stronger cybersecurity controls, documented processes, enforcement of multi-factor authentication, logging and audit trails, access control policies, incident response documentation, a full System Security Plan (SSP), a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M), evidence collection, and a roadmap toward a future CMMC Level 2 assessment. If you're handling CUI or part of the DoD supply chain, that's a sign you need CMMC compliance consulting. We make CMMC achievable for companies that don't have unlimited resources.

Companies that delay compliance face lost DoD contracts, removal from the supply chain, inability to bid on future work, insurance complications, costly emergencies, failed assessments, loss of prime relationships, and inability to prove adequate security to customers. CMMC is not optional for the defense sector. It is the cost of staying in the game. One Pasadena manufacturing company had a close call that rattled their leadership. They were a subcontractor for a prime that worked directly with the DoD. They handled drawings, engineering files, and work instructions containing potential CUI. One morning, a production manager clicked on what looked like a routine shipping notification. It wasn't. It was a phishing attack designed to harvest credentials and gain entry into the company's cloud storage. Within minutes, the attacker attempted logging into their file-sharing platform, downloading engineering drawings, creating email forwarding rules, scanning for shared links with sensitive content, and searching for keywords related to manufacturing processes. The attack was caught early, but the leadership team knew something unsettling: they were lucky—not prepared. Most businesses don't fail CMMC because they lack tools. They fail because they lack documentation, policies, control enforcement, logging, monitoring, processes, evidence, roadmaps, or accountability. Common misconceptions we hear: "Microsoft 365 is secure out of the box." "It's just a paperwork project." "We already have MFA; we're done." "Our IT company said we're fine." The reality is different. CMMC requires proof, not assumptions. It requires repeatable processes, not one-time tasks. It requires documentation, not verbal explanations. It requires long-term discipline, not quick fixes. And it requires 12–18 months for companies starting from scratch to build the maturity needed for Level 2.

CMMC compliance consulting prevents problems through comprehensive guidance: we perform CMMC Level 2 readiness assessment to understand where you stand, we conduct control-by-control gap analysis to identify what needs to be done, we develop SSP (System Security Plan) to document your security environment, we create POA&M (Plan of Action & Milestones) to plan remediation, we create CUI flow diagrams to understand how CUI moves through your business, we define asset inventory and system boundary to define your security boundary, we harden passwords, access, and MFA to secure access, we set up log management and monitoring to track security events, we perform risk assessment to identify and prioritize risks, we plan incident response to prepare for incidents, we establish configuration baselines to ensure consistent security, we write policies and procedures to document processes, we guide evidence collection to prepare for assessments, we implement data protection and encryption controls to protect CUI, we review vendors and supply chain to secure your supply chain, we provide user training and awareness to educate your team, we conduct quarterly progress reviews to track progress, and we align roadmap with the November 10 rulemaking (48 C.F.R.) to meet requirements. Instead of reacting to compliance failures when they happen, we prevent them before they impact your business. This proactive approach means you avoid lost DoD contracts, removal from the supply chain, inability to bid on future work, insurance complications, costly emergencies, failed assessments, loss of prime relationships, and inability to prove adequate security to customers. Many Pasadena businesses find that CMMC compliance consulting transforms how they handle compliance. One manufacturing company had a close call that rattled their leadership. They were a subcontractor for a prime that worked directly with the DoD. They handled drawings, engineering files, and work instructions containing potential CUI. One morning, a production manager clicked on what looked like a routine shipping notification. It wasn't. It was a phishing attack designed to harvest credentials and gain entry into the company's cloud storage. Within minutes, the attacker attempted logging into their file-sharing platform, downloading engineering drawings, creating email forwarding rules, scanning for shared links with sensitive content, and searching for keywords related to manufacturing processes. The attack was caught early, but the leadership team knew something unsettling: they were lucky—not prepared. When they contacted us, we performed a CMMC readiness assessment and uncovered no centralized logging, inconsistent MFA enforcement, dormant accounts still active, no documented access control procedures, no incident response process, no formal risk assessment, no asset inventory, no boundary diagram, and a file structure that made tracking CUI nearly impossible. We built a realistic roadmap—not false promises. A roadmap that recognized the truth: for a company starting fresh, full CMMC Level 2 readiness can take 12–18 months. The updated 48 C.F.R. timelines require meaningful and steady progress, not shortcuts. When we presented the roadmap, the CEO said: "For the first time, I understand what we need to do, why it matters, and how we're actually going to get there." Today, they have stronger identity and access controls, clear CUI boundaries, documented policies, a functioning incident response plan, a compliance-focused IT roadmap, security monitoring, and a clear path to achieving CMMC Level 2 readiness. They aren't "compliant" yet—because no one is at this stage. But for the first time, they know exactly what to do and how to get there.

Our CMMC compliance consulting services include: CMMC Level 2 readiness assessment to understand where you stand, control-by-control gap analysis to identify what needs to be done, SSP (System Security Plan) development to document your security environment, POA&M (Plan of Action & Milestones) creation to plan remediation, CUI flow diagrams to understand how CUI moves through your business, asset inventory and system boundary definition to define your security boundary, password, access, and MFA hardening to secure access, log management and monitoring setup to track security events, risk assessment to identify and prioritize risks, incident response planning to prepare for incidents, configuration baselines to ensure consistent security, policy and procedure writing to document processes, evidence collection guidance to prepare for assessments, data protection and encryption controls to protect CUI, vendor and supply chain review to secure your supply chain, user training and awareness to educate your team, quarterly progress reviews to track progress, and roadmap aligned with the November 10 rulemaking (48 C.F.R.) to meet requirements. We help you build a program that can survive a real assessment—not just a spreadsheet. For Pasadena manufacturers, aerospace suppliers, and engineering firms working with the DoD or handling CUI, we provide the CMMC compliance consulting needed to lead companies through the entire CMMC readiness journey.

CMMC compliance consulting times depend on your current security posture and how much work needs to be done. For most Pasadena businesses starting from scratch, CMMC Level 2 readiness typically takes 12–18 months. This includes: discovery call to understand your business and contract obligations, CMMC readiness assessment to analyze your environment and identify gaps, control-by-control gap analysis to map controls to NIST 800-171 requirements, SSP (System Security Plan) development to document your security environment, POA&M (Plan of Action & Milestones) creation to plan remediation, CUI flow diagrams to understand how CUI moves through your business, asset inventory and system boundary definition to define your security boundary, password, access, and MFA hardening to secure access, log management and monitoring setup to track security events, risk assessment to identify and prioritize risks, incident response planning to prepare for incidents, configuration baselines to ensure consistent security, policy and procedure writing to document processes, evidence collection guidance to prepare for assessments, data protection and encryption controls to protect CUI, vendor and supply chain review to secure your supply chain, user training and awareness to educate your team, quarterly progress reviews to track progress, and roadmap aligned with the November 10 rulemaking (48 C.F.R.) to meet requirements. If your environment is extremely complex with many systems and users, readiness can take longer (18–24 months). If your environment is relatively simple and you already have some security controls in place, it can be faster (6–12 months). The key advantage of CMMC compliance consulting is that once it's complete, you have a clear roadmap toward CMMC Level 2 readiness that aligns with 48 C.F.R. requirements. Many Pasadena businesses find that the consulting investment pays off quickly through improved security posture, easier contract renewals, and peace of mind. The updated 48 C.F.R. timelines require meaningful and steady progress, not shortcuts. We guide you through the 12–18 month process with realistic timelines and steady progress.

CMMC compliance consulting costs depend on the complexity of your environment and how much work needs to be done. For most Pasadena small to medium-sized businesses, CMMC compliance consulting typically costs $5,000-$15,000 per month for ongoing consulting. Initial assessments and gap analysis typically cost $10,000-$25,000 depending on complexity. Larger businesses with more complex needs typically pay more. The cost depends on factors like: how many systems you have, how many users you have, what level of documentation you need, whether you need help with implementation, what level of evidence collection you need, and what additional compliance services you need. Compare this to the cost of not being compliant: lost DoD contracts, removal from the supply chain, inability to bid on future work, insurance complications, costly emergencies, failed assessments, loss of prime relationships, and inability to prove adequate security to customers. One Pasadena manufacturing company had a close call that rattled their leadership. They were a subcontractor for a prime that worked directly with the DoD. They handled drawings, engineering files, and work instructions containing potential CUI. One morning, a production manager clicked on what looked like a routine shipping notification. It wasn't. It was a phishing attack designed to harvest credentials and gain entry into the company's cloud storage. Within minutes, the attacker attempted logging into their file-sharing platform, downloading engineering drawings, creating email forwarding rules, scanning for shared links with sensitive content, and searching for keywords related to manufacturing processes. The attack was caught early, but the leadership team knew something unsettling: they were lucky—not prepared. CMMC is not optional for the defense sector. It is the cost of staying in the game. We'll provide a detailed quote after assessing your specific CMMC compliance consulting needs.

Three things set our CMMC compliance consulting apart: First, we take responsibility - we are not checkbox consultants, we are guides who take responsibility for your progress, we lead companies through the entire CMMC readiness journey, and we don't hand you a spreadsheet—we guide you. Second, we're realistic - we recognize that for a company starting fresh, full CMMC Level 2 readiness can take 12–18 months, we build realistic roadmaps—not false promises, we understand that the updated 48 C.F.R. timelines require meaningful and steady progress, not shortcuts, and we make the process clear, steady, and achievable. Third, we're comprehensive - we have 27 years securing manufacturing and engineering companies, deep experience with NIST 800-171, CMMC, and DoD requirements, local engineers who respond quickly, and a track record of building realistic compliance programs. Many CMMC compliance providers focus on one aspect (like documentation) but don't help with implementation or ongoing support. We provide comprehensive CMMC compliance consulting that covers everything from understanding CUI to preparing for third-party assessments. We also understand that CMMC compliance is not something you guess your way through. It requires a guided, structured approach—especially now that the November 10 rulemaking (48 C.F.R.) clarified the coming obligations. For Pasadena manufacturers, aerospace suppliers, and engineering firms working with the DoD or handling CUI, this responsibility, realistic approach, and comprehensive coverage makes all the difference. We make CMMC achievable for companies that don't have unlimited resources.

Getting started is simple. First, book a 15-minute discovery call where we'll learn about your business, your contract obligations, and your current security posture. We'll ask questions like: Are you working with the DoD or planning to? Do you handle CUI? What's your current security posture? What documentation do you have? What gaps are you concerned about? Based on that conversation, we'll perform a full CMMC readiness assessment that analyzes your environment, identifies gaps, and maps your controls to NIST 800-171 requirements. We'll explain what we're doing, how long it will take, and what you'll receive. Once the assessment is complete, we'll create a realistic roadmap that recognizes the truth: for a company starting fresh, full CMMC Level 2 readiness can take 12–18 months. We'll guide you through the process, build documentation, implement controls, and prepare your team for what's coming. The process typically takes 12–18 months for full readiness, and then we provide ongoing support to maintain compliance and prepare for third-party assessments. There's no commitment required for the initial consultation—it's just a chance to see if CMMC compliance consulting makes sense for your Pasadena business.