Let's be real for a second. The CMMC compliance space has become a bit of a circus. Every IT shop and their cousin is suddenly claiming they can get you "CMMC compliant" overnight. They slap a few security tools together, hand you a stack of policy templates, and call it a day.
That's not compliance. That's snake oil.
If you're a defense supplier trying to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and keep your DoD contracts, you can't afford to gamble on empty promises. So let's break down what separates the real deal: CPE Level 2: from the "trust us, we've got you covered" crowd.
What Exactly Is a "Snake Oil" MSP?
You've probably encountered them. These are the Managed Service Providers who:
- Make vague compliance promises without showing you exactly how they meet the 110 security requirements of NIST SP 800-171r2
- Lack any real cybersecurity pedigree: they were fixing printers and setting up email accounts last year, and now they're suddenly CMMC experts
- Nickel-and-dime you with hidden fees for hardware, licensing, monitoring, and every add-on imaginable
- Leave you holding the bag when the C3PAO shows up for your assessment
The term "snake oil" comes from the old-timey salesmen who peddled miracle cures that didn't actually cure anything. In the CMMC world, snake oil MSPs are peddling "compliance" that won't actually pass an audit.
The DIY Disaster: Why Piecing Together Compliance Doesn't Work
Here's a scenario we see all the time. A defense supplier hires a local MSP who promises to "handle CMMC." That MSP then:
- Installs a firewall and antivirus
- Sends over some generic policy documents
- Sets up Microsoft 365 with "some security settings"
- Tells you you're good to go
Spoiler alert: You're not good to go.
CMMC 2.0 Level 2 isn't just about having security tools. It requires 110 specific practices across 14 security domains. It demands proper documentation, evidence collection, continuous monitoring, and a comprehensive System Security Plan (SSP). You need to demonstrate that your environment actually enforces these controls: not just that you have a tool installed somewhere.
When your C3PAO assessor starts asking questions, "My MSP said we're compliant" isn't going to cut it. You're responsible for proving compliance, not your vendor.
This DIY approach creates a patchwork mess that's:
- Expensive (you're paying for a bunch of disconnected tools and services)
- Incomplete (critical gaps go unaddressed)
- Risky (you might lose your contracts or face security incidents)
- Stressful (you're scrambling to figure out what's missing right before an assessment)
Enter CPE Level 2: The Turnkey Solution That Actually Works
At Planet Security, we've spent decades in real-world cybersecurity. We're not a printer repair shop that pivoted to CMMC last Tuesday. We built CPE Level 2 from the ground up specifically to address the challenges small-to-medium defense suppliers face.
What makes CPE Level 2 different?
- 100% coverage of CMMC 2.0 Level 2 requirements and objectives: every single one
- Turnkey deployment in as little as 4 weeks: not months of painful implementation
- All-inclusive pricing starting at $1099/month for up to 20 users: no surprise fees for hardware, licensing, or managed services
- Over 900 CPE-specific hardening steps baked into the infrastructure
- Continuous monitoring and compliance verification built in from day one
This isn't a collection of random tools duct-taped together. CPE Level 2 is a purpose-built enclave designed to keep your CUI safe and keep you audit-ready at all times.
Real Experience vs. Overnight "Experts"
Here's a question worth asking any vendor who claims they can get you CMMC compliant:
"How long have you been doing real cybersecurity work?"
If the answer involves phrases like "we recently expanded into compliance" or "we partnered with a security vendor," that's a red flag. CMMC isn't something you can learn from a weekend webinar.
Planet Security has been protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data for decades. We understand the threat landscape because we've been operating in it: defending against nation-state actors, sophisticated cybercriminals, and insider threats long before CMMC was even a concept.
Our team doesn't just understand the checkboxes. We understand why those checkboxes exist and how attackers exploit environments that don't properly implement them.
The True Cost of "Cheap" Compliance
Snake oil MSPs often win on price: at least upfront. They'll quote you a low monthly fee that sounds attractive compared to a comprehensive solution.
But here's what they're not telling you:
| Hidden Cost | What It Really Means |
|---|---|
| Hardware fees | You'll need to buy compliant servers, firewalls, and endpoints separately |
| Licensing costs | SIEM, EDR, backup, and other tools are billed on top |
| Remediation charges | When gaps are found, you pay extra to fix them |
| Failed assessment costs | A failed C3PAO assessment means re-assessment fees and lost time |
| Lost contracts | If you can't prove compliance, you lose DoD work |
With CPE Level 2, what you see is what you get. No hidden fees. No surprise invoices. Everything you need for CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance is included.
Why a Turnkey Enclave Is Safer Than DIY
Beyond cost, there's a fundamental safety advantage to a turnkey enclave approach.
When you piece together compliance yourself (or let a generalist MSP do it), you're creating integration gaps. Different tools from different vendors don't always play nicely together. Logs might not flow properly to your SIEM. Access controls might conflict. Backup systems might not encrypt data correctly.
These gaps are exactly what attackers exploit.
CPE Level 2 is engineered as a unified, integrated system. Every component is designed to work together. Every configuration is hardened according to a scientific methodology. Every control is implemented consistently across the environment.
Key advantages include:
- Network segmentation that properly isolates CUI
- Zero-trust architecture that assumes breach and limits lateral movement
- Integrated backup with proper encryption and retention
- Global dynamic threat blacklisting powered by real-time intelligence
- EMP-hardened options for organizations with extreme resilience requirements
You don't get this from a checklist MSP installing off-the-shelf products.
Audit Readiness: The Ultimate Test
At the end of the day, compliance isn't about what your vendor tells you. It's about what you can prove to an assessor.
With CPE Level 2, audit readiness is built in. We provide:
- Complete System Security Plans (SSP) tailored to your enclave
- Evidence packages demonstrating control implementation
- vCISO sessions to prepare your team for assessment questions
- Audit support when the C3PAO comes knocking
We don't disappear when it's time to prove compliance. We stand behind our solution because it actually works.
The Bottom Line: Don't Bet Your Business on Snake Oil
If you're a small-to-medium defense supplier, you've worked hard to earn your DoD contracts. You can't afford to trust that work to a vendor making empty promises.
CPE Level 2 is the real deal. Decades of cybersecurity experience. Purpose-built infrastructure. 100% coverage of CMMC 2.0 Level 2 requirements. All-inclusive pricing. Audit-ready from day one.
There is simply not a more comprehensive, more affordable, or safer path to compliance for organizations protecting CUI.
Stop gambling on snake oil. Get the turnkey enclave that actually delivers.
Template provided by Planet Security. While our infrastructure is built to these standards, each organization is responsible for its own final audit success.
planetsecurity.net | QR Code: CPE Level 2 Solution