The CMMC market map

v1.1 · May 2026 · Market data current at publication; pricing is directional.

About 80,000 small defense contractors need CMMC Level 2 certification. Roughly one percent have it.

The reason is structural. Only 103 firms in the country are authorized to do the assessment, and by rule none of them can also do the readiness work on the same engagement. The firm that can prepare you cannot test you. The firm that tests you cannot prepare you. Most small contractors land between those two firms, paying both, without a clear path through either.

This map is the whole market in one view. Tap any cell for what the firm or tool does, who it serves, and what it costs.

Interactive periodic table of the CMMC services market. 89 firms, tools, and authorities organized by category. Filter by category, search by name, click any cell for details.

Tier 1 federal & Big 4 consulting

Tier 2 regional advisory (C3PAO + RPO hybrids)

Boutique CMMC consulting & MSSPs

Methodology and confidence

The map includes 89 entities selected to capture the structural competition in CMMC-relevant GRC services for DIB contractors. Inclusion criteria: the firm or product is (a) a regulatory authority in the CMMC ecosystem, (b) a buyer or demand-creation actor, (c) an automation, enterprise, or CMMC-native software vendor that competes for DIB attention, or (d) a services firm credibly delivering CMMC readiness or assessment work. The map is exclusionary by design: it does not catalog point security tools (firewalls, SIEMs, endpoint), cloud infrastructure providers below the FedRAMP layer, or pure compliance-document templates.

How to read this. Per-cell notes describe stated focus and segment fit. Pricing is directional. Published assessment bands are sourced. Consulting hourly rates and SaaS annual bands anchor to mid-2025 public listings and may drift. The cells are not editorial verdicts on individual firms.

On AI use. Eagle Ridge uses LLMs internally to accelerate control-narrative drafting and gap analysis. All output is reviewed by a Registered Provider. Client CUI and Security Protection Data (per 32 CFR §170.4) is never sent to commercial LLMs.

Each element carries a confidence tag:

  • High. Sourced from primary materials (firm press releases, regulator filings, official accreditation records) and corroborated.
  • Medium. Sourced from secondary aggregators or single primary sources. Positioning claims involve judgment.
  • Low. Informed estimate. Verification incomplete. Pricing or capability claims should be treated as directional.

The 103 C3PAO count and the ~1% Level 2 certification rate reflect the most recent public reporting at time of writing8. Tier 2 advisory row entries received the deepest verification pass; other entries draw from earlier research and remain subject to update. Corrections welcome at contact@eagleridge.io.

If you are trying to work out where your firm fits in this market and want a second pair of eyes on it, write to contact@eagleridge.io.

For the longer argument behind this map, read Nobody Built the First Mile.

Sources

  1. The Cyber AB — Pre-Authorized C3PAOs & Authorization Requirements. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body, Inc. Official directory and authorization criteria for C3PAOs. cyberab.org/Pre-Authorized-C3PAOs · R2001 Authorization Requirements (Jan 2026) High confidence
  2. Cherry Bekaert Secures Reauthorization as CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization. PRNewswire, January 16, 2025. Authorization ID C0125-CBA-034. Documents reauthorization under updated 32 CFR Part 170 framework. prnewswire.com High confidence
  3. Cherry Bekaert Collaborates With Lifeline Data Centers for Streamlined CMMC Compliance. PRNewswire, August 26, 2025. Describes "CMMC Fasttrack Implementation" model targeting SMBs. prnewswire.com High confidence
  4. Aprio Earns C3PAO Status to Lead CMMC Assessments and 3PAO Status to Lead FedRAMP Assessments. Aprio firm news, June 2025. Confirms dual authorization as one of ~12 firms. aprio.com High confidence
  5. Baker Tilly Achieves Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Third-Party Assessor Accreditation. BusinessWire, April 27, 2021. Confirms C3PAO via Baker Tilly Data Systems subsidiary (now Baker Tilly Beers & Cutler, LLC). businesswire.com High confidence
  6. Schneider Downs Achieves C3PAO Authorization to Conduct CMMC Certifications. Schneider Downs newsroom, February 2025. Among first 54 nationwide C3PAOs authorized. schneiderdowns.com High confidence
  7. CMMC C3PAO List — Authorized Assessors. Secureframe directory of accredited C3PAOs sourced from Cyber AB Marketplace. Confirms RSM US LLP, Forvis Mazars, HORNE LLP, and others as authorized. secureframe.com/hub/cmmc/c3pao-list Medium confidence (secondary aggregator)
  8. CMMC — Low Compliance Rate, Few C3PAOs Hamper Pentagon Program. ExecutiveGov, early November 2026. Cites the Cyber AB on 103 authorized C3PAOs and reports ~1% Level 2 certification rate among ~100,000 DIB contractors. executivegov.com High confidence
  9. Understanding CMMC Levels: Best Practices for Compliance Readiness. Aprio Insights, December 2025. Cites "over 80,000 contractors are expected to fall under Level 2," and assessment availability constraints. aprio.com High confidence
  10. How to Choose a C3PAO for CMMC Level 2: Key Criteria. Elevate Consult, April 2026. Pricing data: Level 2 assessments $30K–$100K typical; $30K–$50K for 1–50 employee organizations; $120K–$150K+ for 500+. elevateconsult.com Medium confidence
  11. SC&H Group services — Cybersecurity Advisory & Assessment. Firm services page. Cyber sits within Risk practice; no C3PAO or RPO designation visible in public materials. schgroup.com High confidence (corroborated absence)
  12. Eagle Ridge Advisory — engagement record. Internal proof point. CMMC Level 2 SSP deliverable at proof-of-concept pricing for an SMB DIB contractor (Nereid Biomaterials, 2026). Validates the readiness-layer thesis at the low end of the SMB segment. High confidence (primary, internal)

If you are trying to work out where your firm fits in this market and want a second pair of eyes on it, write to contact@eagleridge.io.

For the longer argument behind this map, read Nobody Built the First Mile.