Let's be real, if you're a small defense contractor, the words "CMMC compliance" probably make you want to hide under your desk. The thought of hiring a full IT security team, spending tens of thousands on infrastructure, and navigating 110 security controls sounds like a nightmare, especially when you're just trying to keep your shop running and deliver good work to your DoD clients.
Here's the good news: You don't need a Fortune 500 IT budget to meet CMMC Level 2 requirements. There's a smarter, more affordable way to get compliant, and it doesn't involve hiring an army of cybersecurity experts or draining your bank account.
The Real Cost of Traditional CMMC Compliance
Before we get into the solution, let's talk about what most small contractors face when they try to tackle CMMC Level 2 on their own:
The typical DIY approach costs:
- $80,000–$150,000+ in infrastructure upgrades
- $120,000–$200,000 annually for IT staff salaries
- $15,000–$50,000 for consultants and assessments
- Countless hours of your time that could be spent on actual work
- High risk of failing your assessment (which means starting over)
And here's the kicker: Even after spending all that money, you still might not be fully compliant. The NIST SP 800-171 requirements are complex, constantly evolving, and easy to misinterpret. One missed control and you're back to square one.
Enter CPE Level 2: The Turnkey Solution Built for Small Contractors
CPE Level 2 (Cybersecurity Protected Enclave Level 2) is exactly what small defense contractors have been waiting for. It's a complete, all-inclusive compliance solution that gives you everything you need to meet CMMC Level 2 requirements, for a fraction of what it would cost to build it yourself.
Think of it like this: Instead of buying all the ingredients, learning to cook, and hoping your meal turns out edible, you're getting a chef-prepared meal delivered to your door. Same result, way less hassle, and significantly cheaper.
What Makes CPE Level 2 So Affordable?
1. All-Inclusive Pricing (No Hidden Costs)
Starting at just $1,299 per month for up to 20 users, CPE Level 2 includes absolutely everything:
- Hardware (yes, the actual equipment)
- Software and security tools
- Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) support
- Managed Service Provider (MSP) support
- Security patching and updates
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Network segmentation
- Virtual CISO services
- Audit support and preparation
No upfront costs. No surprise bills. No "oh, we need to add this for an extra $5,000" moments. You know exactly what you're paying every month, and it's all covered.
2. Lightning-Fast Implementation (4 Weeks!)
Time is money, especially for small businesses. CPE Level 2 gets you fully operational and audit-ready in just 4 weeks. Compare that to the 6–12 months it typically takes to build your own compliant infrastructure, and you're saving massive amounts of time and opportunity cost.
3. 100% Coverage of All 110 Security Controls
This is huge. CPE Level 2 covers every single one of the 110 NIST SP 800-171 security controls required for CMMC Level 2. You're not guessing, you're not hoping you got it right: it's all handled.
We're talking about:
- Identity and access management
- Logging and monitoring
- Encryption (FIPS-validated, of course)
- Incident response
- System security plans
- Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M)
- Configuration management
- And 103 more controls…
Over 900 hardening steps are built into the solution, so you're not just meeting the minimum: you're exceeding it.
4. No Need to Hire an IT Security Team
Let's do some quick math. A single cybersecurity professional costs $120,000+ per year (and that's on the low end). For true CMMC compliance, you'd realistically need at least 2-3 specialists. That's $240,000–$360,000 annually just in salaries.
With CPE Level 2, you're paying $15,588 per year and getting a whole team of experts: MSSP support, virtual CISO guidance, and ongoing monitoring: all included. The savings are absolutely massive.
Why DIY Compliance is a Trap for Small Contractors
Here's what nobody tells you about trying to become CMMC compliant on your own:
It's a full-time job. You'll spend hundreds of hours researching requirements, configuring systems, creating documentation, and second-guessing yourself. That's time you're not spending on billable work or growing your business.
You'll probably get it wrong. The NIST SP 800-171 requirements are technical and nuanced. Without deep cybersecurity expertise, it's easy to misinterpret controls or implement them incorrectly. And if you fail your assessment? You start over: and lose even more time and money.
Ongoing maintenance is brutal. Even if you nail the initial setup, you need continuous monitoring, regular updates, patch management, threat response, and documentation updates. It never ends.
CPE Level 2 handles all of this for you. You focus on your core business while the compliance engine runs in the background, keeping you protected and audit-ready 24/7.
The Clock is Ticking: Phase 1 vs. Phase 2
Here's something critical to understand about CMMC timing. Right now, we're in Phase 1 (through November 9, 2026), which allows for self-assessments. Starting November 10, 2026 (Phase 2), you'll need a certified third-party assessment organization (C3PAO) for new contracts involving CUI.
C3PAO assessments are significantly more expensive and rigorous. Getting compliant now: during Phase 1: gives you more flexibility and time to perfect your security posture before the stricter requirements kick in.
CPE Level 2 prepares you for both self-assessment and third-party assessment, so you're covered no matter when your audit happens.
What You Actually Get with CPE Level 2
Let's break down what "all-inclusive" really means:
Infrastructure:
- Dedicated hardware designed for CUI protection
- Network segmentation to isolate sensitive data
- FIPS-validated encryption for data at rest and in transit
Security Services:
- 24/7 monitoring and threat detection
- Real-time security patching
- Incident response capabilities
- Insider threat resistance
Compliance Support:
- System Security Plan (SSP) creation
- Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management
- Virtual CISO guidance
- Audit preparation and support
- Documentation assistance
Management:
- Managed Service Provider (MSP) support for IT operations
- Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) for security operations
- Regular backups and disaster recovery
- Configuration management
This isn't a partial solution or a starting point: it's the complete package. Everything you need to protect CUI and pass your CMMC Level 2 assessment.
Real Talk: Is This Actually Affordable?
Let's put this in perspective with a real comparison:
Traditional DIY Approach:
- Initial setup: $80,000–$150,000
- Annual IT salaries: $120,000–$200,000
- Annual software/tools: $20,000–$40,000
- Consultant fees: $15,000–$50,000
- Total Year 1: $235,000–$440,000
CPE Level 2 Approach:
- Setup: $0 (included)
- Year 1 cost: $15,588
- Total Year 1: $15,588
You're saving over $220,000 in the first year alone. And that's not even accounting for the opportunity cost of all those hours you'd spend managing compliance instead of growing your business.
For a small contractor working on DoD contracts, that $220,000+ in savings could be the difference between thriving and barely surviving.
The Bottom Line
CMMC Level 2 compliance doesn't have to bankrupt your small defense contracting business. CPE Level 2 delivers everything you need: complete coverage of all 110 security controls, expert support, and audit readiness: for a predictable monthly cost that's less than hiring a single IT security professional.
No massive upfront investment. No hiring headaches. No compliance anxiety. Just a straightforward, affordable solution that lets you focus on what you do best: delivering quality work to your DoD clients.
If you're ready to get compliant without breaking the bank, it's time to explore CPE Level 2. Because compliance shouldn't be a luxury: it should be accessible to every defense contractor who deserves to compete for government work.
planetsecurity.net | [QR Code]