Hey there, I’m Ernie Edmonds, Advisor here at Planet Security Inc. Let’s cut to the chase. If you’re a defense contractor, you’ve probably seen the price tags for CMMC 2.0 Level 2 compliance and felt your stomach drop. Most "experts" will tell you that you need to overhaul your entire corporate network, buy new laptops for everyone, and spend six figures on consultants before you even see an auditor.
They’re wrong.
There is a way to handle this that is faster, cheaper, and objectively more secure. It’s called scoping, and if you do it right, you can shrink your audit surface area to a fraction of its original size. We call this the "Scoping Hack," and it’s centered around our CPE Level 2 solution.
What is Scoping (And Why Should You Care)?
In the world of CMMC, "scope" refers to every person, every computer, and every piece of software that touches Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
If you store CUI on your general office server, guess what? Your whole server is in scope. If your employees access that data from their home laptops, those laptops are in scope. If your office printer sits on the same network as that data, even the printer is in scope.
The bigger your scope, the bigger your audit bill. You are paying the auditor to verify every single one of those devices. When you try to audit an entire company, you are looking at a mountain of paperwork, hundreds of hours of interviews, and a massive risk of a single "fail" on one random device taking down your whole certification.
We don’t do that here.
The Secret: The Protected Enclave
Instead of trying to secure your entire messy office network, the "hack" is to build a high-walled garden inside your company. This is a protected enclave.
By using CPE Level 2, you isolate all your CUI into one single, hardened environment. Your daily office tasks, checking sports scores, ordering pizza, or emailing grandma, happen on your "dirty" network. Your defense contract work happens exclusively inside the CPE Level 2.
Because the enclave is strictly isolated, the auditor’s job becomes incredibly simple. They don't need to look at your secretary's computer or the smart fridge in the breakroom. They only look at the enclave.
This shrinks the "audit surface area" by up to 90%. You aren't just saving time; you are effectively cutting your compliance costs in half because you have fewer devices to manage and a significantly smaller environment to defend.
Why CPE Level 2 is the Gold Standard
We didn't just build a folder on a server; we built a turnkey solution that addresses all 110 CMMC requirements and 320 objectives.
When you implement CPE Level 2, you are getting:
- 100% coverage of CMMC 2.0 Level 2 controls.
- A scientific compliance methodology that leaves zero room for auditor interpretation.
- More than 900 hardening steps applied to the environment before it even reaches your door.
- Total isolation of CUI, ensuring your corporate network stays out of the auditor’s crosshairs.
There is simply not a more comprehensive offering on the market today. While other companies want to sell you "consulting hours," we sell you a finished product that is audit-ready in weeks, not years.
Stop Trusting Generic AI with Your Data
One of the biggest risks we see today is contractors using generic, Big-Tech AI tools to help with their documentation or workflows. Generic AI tools cannot be trusted with client data. They are data hoovers that feed your sensitive information back into their models.
At Planet Security Inc., we take a different path. We utilize AI-obfuscated data for our workflows. This ensures that while we leverage the power of advanced technology to streamline your compliance, your actual CUI and sensitive contract details are never exposed to the public cloud or generic AI engines. We offer unparalleled security posture that keeps your data where it belongs: under your control.
Real Numbers: The Cost of Doing It Right
We believe in being direct and no-nonsense about pricing. Most companies hide their fees until they’ve got you in a three-hour sales call. We don't.
Our CPE Level 2 is designed for small to medium defense suppliers who need to get compliant without going bankrupt.
- Standard Pricing: Starting at $1,299/month for up to 20 users.
- Turnkey Implementation: This price includes the hardware, the software, the policies, the procedures, and the training.
- Deployment Speed: We can have you up and running in a 4-week expedited deployment.
- The Flexibility Discount: If you aren't in a massive rush and choose an 8-week deployment instead of 4 weeks, we reduce your pricing by $100/month.
When you compare this to the traditional cost of hiring a full-time CISO and rebuilding your network from scratch (which can cost $20,000+ per month), the value is obvious.
The 4-Week Roadmap to Compliance
We have refined our process to be as painless as possible. We know you have a business to run, and you can’t spend all day worrying about NIST SP 800-171 requirements.
- Onboarding: We get the specs of your team and your data needs.
- Configuration: We apply over 900 hardening steps to your CPE Level 2 environment.
- Delivery & Training: We install the hardware and train your staff on how to use the enclave properly.
- Verification: We provide the documentation for all 320 objectives, making you instantly audit-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to replace my current computers?
A: No. Your team continues to use their current computers for everyday tasks. They simply log into the CPE Level 2 environment when they need to handle CUI. This is the beauty of the enclave: it keeps your existing hardware out of scope.
Q: Is this a cloud solution?
A: We offer both, but our local resilience models are superior to cloud-based solutions in terms of wartime readiness and resilience against nation-state cyberattacks. When the internet goes down, your compliance shouldn't.
Q: Will this guarantee I pass my audit?
A: CPE Level 2 is built to provide 100% coverage of the required controls. Because we provide the policies and the evidence, you are walking into your audit with a winning hand. We have effectively changed the entire industry by making compliance a product rather than a never-ending project.
Why Wait? The Deadlines are Real.
The Department of Defense isn't waiting, and neither should you. Every day you operate without a hardened environment for your CUI, you are at risk: both from cybercriminals and from losing your contracts.
There is no substitute for a dedicated, hardened enclave. Stop trying to secure the unsecurable and start using the Scoping Hack.
Get started today and see how simple compliance can actually be. We have the technical authority and the proven track record to ensure your business thrives in the new era of cybersecurity.
We welcome a discussion on how we may assist in your CMMC success story!
planetsecurity.net