Let's cut right to the chase, CMMC 2.0 Phase 1 kicked off on November 10, 2025, and if you're a defense supplier handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this isn't something you can keep putting on the back burner. The clock is ticking, and the DoD isn't playing around.

So here's the big question: Are you actually ready? Or are you still hoping this whole compliance thing will sort itself out somehow?

Spoiler alert: it won't.

What's Happening Right Now with Phase 1

If you've been following CMMC updates (or let's be honest, trying to avoid them), here's the deal. Phase 1 is all about self-assessments for CMMC Level 1 and Level 2. That means if you want to bid on new DoD contracts that require these levels, you need to:

  • Complete your self-assessment before contract award
  • Submit your scores to SPRS (Supplier Performance Risk System)
  • Maintain continuous compliance and be ready to attest to it
  • Notify contracting officials if anything changes with your CUI-handling systems

And here's a fun twist, the DoD can also require third-party C3PAO certifications during Phase 1 for certain contracts. So even though we're in the "self-assessment phase," don't assume you're automatically off the hook for a more rigorous assessment.

Planet Security's Cybersecurity Protected Enclave

The Real Deadline You Should Be Worried About

While Phase 1 runs through November 9, 2026, the real pressure point hits on November 10, 2026, that's when Phase 2 begins. And when Phase 2 starts, self-assessments are no longer accepted for contracts involving CUI.

Read that again: Self-assessments won't cut it anymore.

Starting Phase 2, you'll need a third-party C3PAO Level 2 certification to compete for those contracts. And if you think you can just scramble to get certified in a few weeks before the deadline… well, I've got some bad news for you.

The typical CMMC compliance journey takes 12 to 18 months. That's not us being dramatic, that's the reality of building out compliant infrastructure, implementing all 110 controls, training your team, documenting everything, and then actually passing an assessment.

Do the math. You've got roughly 9-10 months until Phase 2 goes live. If you haven't started, you're already behind.

Why Most Defense Suppliers Are Struggling

Here's what we see all the time with small and medium defense suppliers:

  • They underestimate the scope. CMMC Level 2 isn't just "install some antivirus and call it a day." It's 110 security controls derived from NIST SP 800-171, covering everything from access control to incident response to media protection.

  • They don't have the IT resources. Most smaller suppliers don't have dedicated cybersecurity staff. They've got an IT person who's already juggling a million things.

  • They think cloud solutions solve everything. Moving to the cloud can help, but it doesn't magically make you compliant. You still need to configure everything correctly, manage access, handle CUI properly, and prove it all during an assessment.

  • They wait too long. This is the big one. Everyone thinks they have more time than they do. Then suddenly it's crunch time and they're scrambling to find a C3PAO with availability (good luck with that as deadlines approach).

Planet Security's CPE Expedited Deployment Roadmap

There's a Faster Path: CPE Level 2

Okay, so here's where we talk about how to actually solve this problem without spending the next year and a half in compliance purgatory.

CPE Level 2 (Cybersecurity Protected Enclave) is our solution designed specifically for small and medium defense suppliers who need to achieve CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance: fast.

We're talking audit-ready in 4 weeks. Not 12 months. Not 18 months. Four weeks.

How is that even possible? Because CPE Level 2 comes pre-built with everything you need:

  • 100% coverage of all 110 NIST SP 800-171r2 controls
  • 900+ CPE-specific cybersecurity hardening steps already implemented
  • Complete infrastructure: hardware, software, network segmentation, the works
  • Managed services included: MSP/MSSP, security patching, backup, vCISO support
  • Audit support so you're not going into your assessment alone
  • A verified SPRS score of 110 (that's a perfect score, by the way)

No POA&M (Plan of Action and Milestones) tracking headaches. No scrambling to figure out which controls you're missing. No praying you pass the assessment.

What Makes CPE Level 2 Different

Let's be real: there are other compliance solutions out there. But here's why CPE Level 2 stands apart:

It's not just software: it's a complete enclave. You get a fully configured, hardened environment specifically designed for handling CUI. Everything is contained, controlled, and compliant from day one.

It's built for resilience. Unlike pure cloud solutions, CPE Level 2 gives you local resilience and operational capability even during nation-state cyberattacks or major outages. Your business keeps running when others are scrambling.

It's actually affordable. We're talking starting at $1,299/month for up to 20 users with no upfront cost. Compare that to the cost of building out your own compliant infrastructure, hiring consultants, and hoping you got everything right.

It includes everything. Seriously, everything:

  • Hardware and software
  • Network segmentation
  • Security patching and updates
  • Backup solutions
  • vCISO services
  • Full audit support
  • CMMC training for your team

Planet Security's Cybersecurity Protected Enclave Level 2

The 4-Week Deployment Timeline

Here's what the CPE Level 2 deployment actually looks like:

Week 1: Client Onboarding
We get you set up, understand your specific environment, and begin the process.

Week 2: CMMC Training
Your team gets trained on compliance requirements and operational procedures: because compliance isn't just about technology, it's about how your people handle CUI.

Week 3: Operational Security Rollout
We implement and verify all operational and physical security controls.

Week 4: CPE Server Installation
The enclave goes live, final verification happens, and you're audit-ready.

That's it. Four weeks from kickoff to compliance-ready. No 18-month odyssey. No uncertainty about whether you'll make the deadline.

What Happens If You Wait

Let's paint a picture of what happens if you keep pushing this off:

  • You miss the Phase 2 deadline and suddenly can't bid on contracts you've been winning for years
  • Your competitors who got compliant start picking up your contracts
  • You scramble to find a C3PAO but they're all booked months out because everyone else waited too
  • You rush through a DIY compliance effort and fail your assessment
  • You spend way more money trying to fix everything at the last minute than you would have spent doing it right

None of that needs to happen.

The Bottom Line

CMMC 2.0 Phase 1 is here. Phase 2 is coming fast. If you handle CUI and want to keep working with the DoD, compliance isn't optional: it's survival.

You can spend the next year trying to figure this out on your own, hiring consultants, buying tools, hoping you've got all 110 controls covered, and crossing your fingers when assessment time comes.

Or you can get audit-ready in 4 weeks with CPE Level 2 and focus on what you actually do best: running your business and supporting the defense industrial base.

The choice is yours. But the clock isn't stopping.

Ready to talk? Let's get you compliant before the deadline hits.

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