If you are a small defense contractor, you’ve probably had "the talk" with your current Managed Service Provider (MSP). You know the one. You ask them about CMMC Level 2 compliance, and they give you a reassuring nod, a vague promise about "best practices," and maybe a quote for some new firewalls.
Here is the cold, hard truth: Most traditional MSPs are simply not equipped to get you through a CMMC Level 2 audit.
They are built to keep your printers running and your email flowing. They are the "handymen" of the IT world. But CMMC Level 2 isn’t a leaky faucet; it’s a high-security vault construction project. If you are banking on your current provider to secure your future in the defense industrial base, you are taking a massive risk with your contracts.
At Planet Security Inc., we see this every day. Small contractors are overwhelmed, over-quoted, and underserved. That’s why we do things differently.
The MSP Gap: Why "Good Enough" IT is a Compliance Nightmare
Traditional MSPs operate on a volume model. They need hundreds of clients to make their margins work. Because of this, their response times are often abysmal. Most MSPs take days to respond to a ticket. When you are dealing with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), "three to five business days" isn't just an inconvenience, it’s a security failure.
At Planet Security, we don’t believe in the "waiting room" approach. We respond in seconds-to-minutes. We understand that compliance is a living, breathing requirement that doesn't take days off.
Beyond speed, there is the issue of expertise. CMMC Level 2 requires meeting 110 CMMC requirements and 320 objectives derived from NIST SP 800-171. Most MSPs lack a turnkey "Enclave" approach. They try to "bolt-on" security to your existing, messy network. This leads to endless "Plan of Action and Milestones" (POA&M) lists that never actually get cleared.
Introducing the CPE Level 2: The Enclave Advantage
The solution isn't to try and fix your entire office network. The solution is to move your sensitive work into a CPE Level 2.
Instead of spending six figures trying to secure every personal laptop and smart toaster in your building, we create a Cybersecurity Protected Enclave. This is a segregated, highly secure environment designed specifically to house CUI and meet every single one of the 110 CMMC requirements and 320 objectives.
Why the "Enclave" Approach Wins:
- Scope Reduction: You only have to worry about the data inside the enclave, not your entire building's Wi-Fi.
- Scientific Compliance: We use a scientific methodology with over 900 hardening steps to ensure nothing is left to chance.
- Audit Readiness: Our system is built to be "audit-ready" from day one. We provide the System Security Plan (SSP) and the evidence needed for a C3PAO assessment.
- Speed of Deployment: While a traditional MSP might spend 18 months "getting ready," we can have your CPE Level 2 operational in as little as 4 weeks.
Speed Costs Less Than You Think
A major pain point for small defense contractors is the astronomical cost of compliance. Traditional consultants will charge you $50,000 just for an "assessment" that tells you everything you already know is wrong.
We’ve flipped the script. We offer the "Planetary Option" for small offices at just $1,999/month. This is a one-stop-shop for small teams that need to stay compliant without going bankrupt.
For larger teams, our standard pricing is $1,299/month for up to 20 users. We also offer flexibility based on how fast you need to move. If you choose an 8-week deployment instead of our standard 4-week sprint, we reduce the monthly pricing by $100/month.
There is simply not a more comprehensive offering on the market that combines hardware, software, policy, and ongoing management into a single monthly fee.
The AI Problem: Why Your Data is Leaking
Everyone is talking about AI these days, including your MSP. But are they talking about where your data goes when you use those tools?
Most generic AI tools provided by "Big Tech" ingest your data to train their models. For a defense contractor, this is a nightmare. You cannot put CUI into a public LLM.
Planet Security utilizes AI-obfuscated data workflows. This means we leverage the power of AI to streamline your compliance and security, but we do it in a way that ensures your sensitive data never leaves the protected environment or gets sucked into a public database. This provides unparalleled security posture while keeping you at the cutting edge of technology.
100% Coverage, No Exceptions
When we say we cover the requirements, we mean it. Our CPE Level 2 provides 100% coverage of the technical, operational, and policy controls required by the DoD.
- Technical Controls: Multi-factor authentication, FIPS-validated encryption, and continuous monitoring.
- Operational Controls: Personnel screening, incident response drills, and physical security measures.
- Policy & Documentation: We provide the full stack of policies and procedures so you don’t have to write a single word of "compliance speak."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can’t I just use Microsoft 365 GCC High?
A: GCC High is a great tool, but it is just a tool. It’s like buying a pile of high-quality bricks. You still need to build the house, maintain the perimeter, and document every person who enters. The CPE Level 2 is the finished, fortified house.
Q: Why is my MSP so much slower than Planet Security?
A: Because they are juggling 50 different industries. We focus on Cybersecurity and IT Compliance Services for the defense sector. We speak the language of NIST and CMMC every single day. Our systems are pre-configured; we aren't "figuring it out" on your dime.
Q: Is the $1,999/month 'Planetary Option' really turnkey?
A: Yes. It includes the hardware, the security software, the policies, the training for your staff, and the ongoing monitoring. There is no substitute for a truly integrated solution when an auditor comes knocking.
Q: What happens if I fail an audit?
A: Our goal is to make sure that never happens. By using a scientific compliance methodology and a verified DOWAM/SPRS score of 110, we put you in the strongest possible position for certification.
Stop Waiting, Start Complying
The "wait and see" approach is over. The DoD is moving forward, and the contractors who aren't ready will simply stop receiving contracts.
Don't let a slow MSP or a lack of specialized knowledge hold your business back. You need a partner that acts with urgency and decisiveness. You need a partner that provides a Cybersecurity Protected Enclave that works as hard as you do.
Get Started Today. Why settle for an IT provider that takes days to answer your emails when you could have a compliance partner that responds in minutes?
Your current IT guy might be a nice person, but "nice" doesn't pass a CMMC audit. 100% coverage does.
Visit planetsecurity.net to see how we are changing the entire industry and protecting the American warfighter one enclave at a time.
Planet Security Inc.
planetsecurity.net
Protecting CUI Protects the American Warfighter.