The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is the defense contract industry’s leading compliance model. It has gone through many iterations over the years, becoming one of the most thorough in the sector. Those seeking government contracts must adopt it as soon as possible, but many need to know where to start. These are the best companies for CMMC assessment from 2024 to lead agencies into more competitive futures in 2025. Businesses looking for assistance should do their homework before deciding which is the best option for them.
1. E-N Computers
Not every company wanting to vie for defense contracts has a seemingly unlimited budget to spend on the best CMMC consultants. This is where E-N Computers come into the picture. The organization is the best for helping smaller businesses obtain CMMC certification.
Offerings and Features
Partnering with E-N Computers sets clients up with a CMMC-registered practitioner. Its offerings are immediately clear — the team wants to provide personalized services and guidance to fit the needs, budget and capabilities of whoever it helps. This assurance brings a sigh of relief to businesses fearing the expense of hiring one of the best companies for CMMC assessment. There are numerous signposts to ease financial concerns if budgets are tight.
The practitioner meets with clients for an hour every week to go through the process in a gradual, unintimidating way. They assign homework for customers to accomplish outside of meetings, using the deadlines to build accountability. These are the domains the practitioners guide customers through:
- Gap analysis: Finds what parts of the company need improving to meet CMMC standards
- System security plans: Drafts a document to explain cybersecurity operations in a company
- Incident response plans: Establishes a plan to prevent, identify and respond to incidents
- Plan of action and milestones: Creates goals to monitor progress
- Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud (GCC) High: Teaches how to configure and use this software
- Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) tool implementation: Installs tools to control these factors in all departments, including budgeting and inventory
What Makes It Unique
The most apparent distinguishing point about E-N Computers is its focus on small-business development. It designs CMMC services differently than others by making the process more digestible and approachable for smaller teams. Practitioners also meet clients where they are, delivering information matching their digital literacy level and financial accessibility.
The company also posts transparent pricing on its page. Consultations cost between $750-$1,500 monthly, with situations varying based on compliance level and robustness of the client’s IT infrastructure.
E-N Computers’ suite of services is expansive. The business goes far beyond CMMC consulting and dives into tons of other realms, making it a one-stop shop for clients. It does on-site maintenance, disaster recovery, IT development and more.
2. Business Transformation Institute (BTI)
BTI has diverse compliance knowledge and a strong, ethical process. It believes in executing services correctly the first time while minimizing non-value-added consumption. Additionally, it provides results in a way that immediately validates the customer’s efforts.
Offerings and Features
The team at BTI is a CYBER-AB Licensed Training Provider (LTP). It is also authorized by the CMMC Third Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). Its objective is to verify its clients can measure the results of implementing the CMMC advice provided.
The process begins with an initial assessment of CMMC compliance. BTI’s CMMC services are divided into categories that meet prospects where they are. Companies can start with the consulting phase or move straight to training or qualifying assessments.
The company’s strong code of ethics reminds potential clients that BTI cannot do the final CMMC assessment if it’s used for consultations. This prevents a conflict of interest.
The client gets paired with one of the best C3PAOs on the market to review a range of categories related to CMMC adherence, including:
- Employee training and education
- Gap assessments and analysis
- Development of policy and supporting documentation
- Compliance consulting
- Implementation of policy
For example, if a client needs extensive training, BTI offers the Certified CMMC Professionals Comprehensive and the Certified CMMC Assessor courses.
What Makes It Unique
BTI’s strong focus on measurability with its services heightens its reputation. If there is no tangible evidence that its consultations were delivered, it will continue to provide services until this manifests.
It also motivates customers by accenting the benefits of CMMC compliance by advertising them on its site and reinforcing them throughout the service. The advantages of adherence are universal outside of gaining eligibility to bid on Department of Defense contracts. These include boosting staff trust, developing better reporting and making preparation measures more robust in case of an incident.
In addition to CMMC, it also offers assistance on these popular frameworks if companies want to expand their certification portfolio:
- CMMI
- DevOps and Agile
- Lean Six Sigma
These additional certifications will only become more prevalent throughout the years. The Department of Defense may even give precedent to those with more, so choosing BTI should be a consideration.
3. CTI
Meet one of the most experienced CMMC consultants in the field. CTI’s project history is one of the most long-standing, making it an industry thought leader and worthy competitor. It has been around since 1985, working in countless sectors, including education and health care.
Offerings and Features
This consultant is a Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO), so clients know the readiness assessment they receive is legitimate.
It also includes a gap analysis to prioritize a plan for implementing new cybersecurity processes aligning with the Department of Defense and the Federal Acquisition Regulation. CTI helps customers undergo gap remediation to progress toward a more secure architecture.
CTI’s CMMC services are descriptive and specialized for each certification level. It outlines what each stage involves:
- Level 1, Foundational: Essential cybersecurity hygiene to prepare clients for annual self-assessments of 17 prescribed controls
- Level 2, Advanced: Expanded cybersecurity to include NIST 800-171 controls to prepare for more in-depth reviews every three years
- Level 3, On-Site Solutions: Advanced cybersecurity that comprises the now-outdated CMMC Levels 4 and 5 to prepare for assessments from the Department of Defense instead of a C3PAO
Also read: Top 10 Second Career Choices
What Makes It Unique
CTI touts 40 years of experience, which many other companies cannot boast. This establishes a particular reputation and standard for its CMMC consultants. Because CTI is known for its longevity, even new talent it hires must reflect the business’s legacy.
Its website also offers context on CMMC’s history and development. While this knowledge likely arises during consultations, CTI provides this free of charge with more detailed information as part of its service descriptions.
It also includes a thorough FAQ for prospective customers wanting to get more education before committing to a consultant. CTI explains why CMMC is important, the differences between the 2.0 and 1.0 versions, how NIST relates to CMMC and much more.
4. CohnReznick
CohnReznick is another authorized RPO and C3PAO by Cyber AB, making it a great company to reach out to for Level 2 assessments and more. This agency is all about staying on top of industry trends. How do political shifts or infrastructure modernization change cybersecurity? The team puts these reports front and center to provide context on why CMMC is essential to obtain right now.
Offerings and Features
The team is well-versed in the different levels of CMMC to guide clients to their aspirations, whether Level 1 or Level 3. Its RPO services include:
- Doing CMMC readiness assessments
- Developing a plan of action and milestones
- Providing coaching and training templates and tools
- Doing a controlled unclassified information (CUI) flow analysis
However, CohnReznick offers more than RPO-qualified services. It provides strategic program management solutions, which enhance project and risk management. Consultants also teach clients how to establish CMMC-grade data service systems for federal contract information and CUI. Consultants also help with post-assessment services, guiding clients to their desired CMMC maturity if they do not want to stop at Level 1.
Most importantly, CohnReznick’s CMMC readiness services include a comprehensive list of cybersecurity tests, such as penetrating testing, vulnerability assessments and basic cybersecurity awareness observations on the most common attack variants.
What Makes It Unique
When describing its CMMC services, CohnReznick lets clients know that understanding compliance in and out is important. However, none of it matters without insider knowledge of the world of government contracting. CohnReznick’s team helps its customers become CMMC experts and teaches them how to navigate the business of securing contracts.
Additionally, CohnReznick’s focus on informing customers on the cybersecurity and compliance landscape is a singular perspective in the industry. Clients may feel CMMC is essential because it is mandatory, but establishing why it matters emphasizes the importance of committing to consultations.
The Best C3PAO in the Business
Navigating the complex world of cybersecurity frameworks is a full-time job. Companies may need help from an outside organization if they lack the resources to devote to it. Seeking third-party assistance from the best CMMC consultants of the year will jettison businesses into a new era of stability and client trust. Businesses that meet with a CMMC expert will likely acquire more defense contracts with greater purpose in no time.
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