Let's be real. When someone tells you that you need to implement 110 security controls to keep your defense contracts, your first instinct is probably to close your laptop and take a very long walk.

We get it. That number sounds intimidating. It is a lot. But here's the thing , it doesn't have to be your problem to solve alone.

Think of CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance like climbing a mountain. Sure, you could grab your hiking boots and start trudging up the trail. Or you could hop on a chairlift and enjoy the view while someone else does the heavy lifting.

That chairlift? That's CPE Level 2.

What Are We Even Talking About Here?

If you're a defense contractor or subcontractor handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), CMMC 2.0 Level 2 is your new reality. The Department of Defense isn't playing around anymore. They want to know that the sensitive information flowing through the defense industrial base is actually protected.

To prove you're up to the task, you need to demonstrate compliance with all 110 security controls from NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2. These controls are spread across 14 security domains and cover everything from access control to risk assessment to systems and communications protection.

Cybersecurity Protected Enclave Promotional Graphic

The 14 Domains (A.K.A. The Mountain Range)

Here's a quick rundown of what you're looking at:

  1. Access Control : Who gets in and who doesn't
  2. Awareness and Training : Making sure your team knows the rules
  3. Audit and Accountability : Tracking what happens and when
  4. Configuration Management : Keeping your systems locked down properly
  5. Identification and Authentication : Verifying users are who they say they are
  6. Incident Response : What happens when things go sideways
  7. Maintenance : Keeping everything running securely
  8. Media Protection : Protecting physical and digital storage
  9. Personnel Security : Vetting the humans in your organization
  10. Physical Protection : Securing the actual facilities
  11. Risk Assessment : Knowing where your vulnerabilities are
  12. Security Assessment : Testing your own defenses
  13. System and Communications Protection : Securing data in transit and at rest
  14. System and Information Integrity : Keeping everything clean and trustworthy

Each domain has multiple controls. Each control has specific objectives. It adds up fast.

Why Most Organizations Hit a Wall

Here's where things get messy for most small and medium defense suppliers.

You're not a cybersecurity company. You make parts, provide services, or support the warfighter in ways that have nothing to do with firewalls and encryption algorithms. But suddenly, you need to become a cybersecurity expert overnight?

That's not realistic.

Most organizations hit the wall somewhere around control number 15. They realize they don't have the in-house expertise. They don't have the infrastructure. They definitely don't have the time to figure all this out while also running their actual business.

And the clock is ticking. Compliance isn't optional anymore : it's becoming a requirement to compete for contracts.

Planet Security Inc. Cybersecurity Protected Enclave Promotional Graphic

Enter the Chairlift: CPE Level 2

This is where CPE Level 2 changes everything.

Instead of building your own compliant infrastructure from scratch : hiring consultants, buying equipment, writing policies, training staff, and praying you didn't miss something : you step into a purpose-built environment that's already compliant.

Here's what that actually means:

  • 100% coverage of all 110 NIST SP 800-171r2 requirements
  • 320 assessment objectives addressed before you even walk in the door
  • Audit readiness in as little as 4 weeks
  • No more scrambling to figure out what controls you're missing
  • Reduced compliance workload so you can focus on what you actually do best

We're not talking about some generic IT solution. CPE Level 2 was specifically designed for defense suppliers who need CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance without the headache of building it themselves.

The Assessment Reality Check

Let's talk about what happens when you actually need to prove compliance.

For CMMC 2.0 Level 2, you'll need either a self-assessment or a third-party assessment by a Cyber-AB accredited C3PAO (that's a Certified Third Party Assessment Organization, for those keeping track). This assessment happens every three years, with annual affirmations that you're still maintaining compliance in between.

That's a lot of pressure. And assessors aren't just checking boxes : they're looking at documentation, evidence, and how controls are actually implemented in your environment.

With CPE Level 2, you walk into that assessment with confidence. The infrastructure is already hardened. The policies are already in place. The evidence is already documented.

You're not scrambling to create a POA&M (Plan of Action and Milestones) for all the things you haven't finished. You're ready.

Cybersecurity Protected Enclave Level 2 Graphic

What Makes CPE Level 2 Different?

There are plenty of managed service providers out there who will promise you CMMC compliance. But here's the reality : most of them are generic IT shops trying to bolt compliance onto their existing services.

CPE Level 2 is different because it was built from the ground up specifically for this purpose. We're talking about:

  • 900+ CPE-specific cybersecurity hardening steps
  • Scientific compliance methodology based on decades of NIST experience
  • Resilience against global cyber-attacks : not just theoretical protection
  • Your CUI never leaves the enclave : it stays protected where it belongs
  • EMP-hardened options for organizations that need the extra layer
  • Integrated security management so you're not juggling multiple vendors

This isn't compliance theater. This is the real thing.

The Bottom Line

Look, we know 110 controls sounds like a nightmare. We've heard it from hundreds of defense suppliers who came to us overwhelmed, frustrated, and running out of time.

But here's the truth: It doesn't have to be that hard.

When you leverage CPE Level 2, you're not climbing that mountain alone. You're stepping onto a chairlift that takes you straight to compliance while you focus on winning contracts and supporting the warfighter.

The mountain is still there. The 110 controls aren't going anywhere. But with the right partner, you don't have to break a sweat getting to the top.

Ready to stop stressing about compliance? Let's talk.

planetsecurity.net | QR Code: Learn More About CPE Level 2

Scroll to Top