Let's be real for a second. If you're a small defense supplier looking at CMMC Level 2 compliance, you've probably had a mild panic attack at some point. Maybe it was when you saw the price tags. Maybe it was when someone casually mentioned "gap assessments" and "remediation costs" in the same sentence. Either way, you're not alone.

The compliance world has historically felt like a game rigged for the big players. The ones with dedicated IT teams, six-figure security budgets, and in-house compliance officers who actually know what NIST SP 800-171 means without Googling it.

But here's the thing: you don't need to be a Fortune 500 company to achieve CMMC Level 2 compliance. You just need the right approach. And that's exactly what we're going to talk about today.

The Real Cost of CMMC Level 2 (And Why It Scares Everyone)

Before we get into the good stuff, let's acknowledge the elephant in the room. CMMC Level 2 compliance is expensive. Like, really expensive if you're doing it the traditional way.

Here's what small businesses typically face:

  • Gap assessments: $5,000–$20,000
  • Compliance documentation: $4,000–$70,000
  • Implementation and remediation: $10,000–$50,000
  • Formal assessment and certification: $15,000–$60,000
  • Annual maintenance: $5,000–$30,000

Add it all up, and you're looking at first-year costs ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 depending on how mature your existing security posture is. And that doesn't even include the audit itself, which can run another $35,000–$75,000.

For a small supplier with 10 or 15 employees? That's not a budget line item. That's a make-or-break decision.

Planet Security's Cybersecurity Protected Enclave

Why Traditional Compliance Paths Don't Work for Small Businesses

Here's where things get frustrating. The traditional approach to CMMC compliance assumes you have resources you probably don't have.

It assumes you can:

  • Hire a full-time CISO or security team
  • Build out your own compliant IT infrastructure
  • Spend months (or years) documenting policies and procedures
  • Dedicate staff to ongoing compliance monitoring

For larger defense contractors, that's doable. For a small machine shop in Ohio or an engineering firm in Texas with a handful of employees? It's simply not realistic.

And yet, without CMMC Level 2 compliance, you're locked out of DoD contracts that require handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). You're watching bigger competitors scoop up work you're perfectly qualified to do: just because you can't check the compliance box.

That's not fair. And frankly, it's not good for the defense industrial base either.

Enter the Small Business Protected Enclave

This is where CPE Level 2 changes everything.

We designed our Cybersecurity Protected Enclave specifically for small and medium defense suppliers who need full CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance without the massive price tag.

Here's the deal: CPE Level 2 is a turnkey solution. That means you're not piecing together consultants, software vendors, hardware providers, and managed security services from five different companies. You're getting everything in one package.

What's included:

  • Complete hardware and software infrastructure
  • Managed Security Provider (MSP/MSSP) services
  • Security patching and updates
  • Data backup and recovery
  • Network segmentation
  • Virtual CISO (vCISO) support
  • Full audit support
  • CMMC training for your team

Starting at $1,299/month for up to 20 users with no up-front cost.

Read that again. No up-front cost. No $50,000 check to write before you've even started. No gambling on whether your investment will actually get you certified.

Planet Security's Cybersecurity Protected Enclave Level 2

How CPE Level 2 Makes Compliance Actually Achievable

Let's break down why CPE Level 2 is the most affordable path to compliance for small suppliers.

1. We've Already Done the Hard Work

Over 900 hardening steps are already built into the enclave. That's 900 security configurations, controls, and measures that you don't have to figure out, implement, or document yourself.

Our team has spent years developing a scientific compliance methodology that covers 100% of CMMC 2.0 Level 2 requirements. Every control. Every safeguard. Every documentation requirement.

2. Audit-Ready in 4 Weeks

Traditional compliance timelines? We're talking 12–18 months minimum. Sometimes longer.

With CPE Level 2, you can be audit-ready in just 4 weeks.

Here's how our expedited deployment works:

  • Week 1: Client onboarding and initial assessment
  • Week 2: CMMC training for your team
  • Week 3: Operational security rollout
  • Week 4: CPE server installation and verification

By the end of the month, you're not just "working toward compliance." You're ready for your assessment.

Planet Security's CPE Expedited Deployment Roadmap

3. No POA&M Headaches

If you've done any compliance work before, you know about Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms). They're basically a list of things you haven't fixed yet: gaps that assessors found during your audit.

With CPE Level 2, there's no POA&M tracking required. Why? Because the enclave is designed to meet requirements from day one. You're not explaining what you'll fix later. You're demonstrating what's already in place.

4. Verified SPRS Score of 110

Your Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score matters. It's how the DoD evaluates your cybersecurity posture, and it directly impacts your ability to win contracts.

CPE Level 2 delivers a verified DODAM/DOWAM SPRS score of 110. That's the maximum score possible. That's not "pretty good" compliance. That's complete compliance.

The Bottom Line: Stay in the Game

Look, we get it. You started your business because you're great at what you do: whether that's precision manufacturing, engineering services, logistics, or any of the hundreds of specialties the defense industrial base depends on.

You didn't start your business to become a cybersecurity expert. And you shouldn't have to become one just to keep working with the DoD.

CPE Level 2 exists because small suppliers matter. The defense supply chain depends on companies like yours. And compliance requirements: however necessary: shouldn't be a barrier that only the "big guys" can clear.

Here's what you can expect with the Small Business Protected Enclave:

  • Full CMMC 2.0 Level 2 coverage without the six-figure price tag
  • Predictable monthly costs instead of massive up-front investments
  • Expert support from people who live and breathe CMMC compliance
  • Ongoing protection against global cyber threats
  • Peace of mind knowing you're audit-ready at all times

Ready to Win Big?

Compliance doesn't have to be the thing that keeps you up at night. It doesn't have to be the reason you lose contracts to bigger competitors. And it definitely doesn't have to bankrupt your business before you even get certified.

CPE Level 2 is the most affordable turnkey CMMC Level 2 solution in the industry. We built it for small businesses. We priced it for small businesses. And we're here to help small businesses win.

Because at the end of the day, compliance should be a competitive advantage: not a competitive barrier.

Ready to learn more? Visit our CPE Level 2 page and see how we can get you audit-ready in just 4 weeks.

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