Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast!

When CMMC compliance starts to feel overwhelming, most companies don’t fail because they lack effort, they fail because they don’t know where to start.

In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Brooke and Stacey break down why CMMC feels so urgent and high-risk for small and mid-sized DoD contractors, and how to triage your compliance work so you can make real progress without burning out.

This episode covers:

• Why starting at control 3.1.1 is a mistake for most companies
• How poor scoping makes CMMC feel impossible
• What assessors actually prioritize first
• Which controls are non-POAMable and must be addressed early
• How to reduce scope without cutting corners
• When tools help and when they waste time and money
• How to approach SSPs, policies, and POAMs the right way
• Practical steps small teams can take to regain control of CMMC

If CMMC feels like everything is urgent and nothing is moving fast enough, this episode will help you slow down, focus, and build a plan that actually works.

Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast!

Get your free SPRS Roadmap here: https://cmmccomplianceguide.com/free-sprs-roadmap

In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Austin and Brooke break down the #1 thing that trips companies up before a CMMC Level 2 assessment: evidence.

Having a binder of policies (or a 300-page SSP) is not enough. Assessors want proof you are doing what you say you do consistently, over time and they want it organized so they can quickly map evidence to controls and assessment objectives.

You’ll learn:

• What assessors mean by “acceptable evidence” (and what doesn’t count)
• The “who, what, when, where” test for logs and proof
• How tickets, approvals, and checklists strengthen your evidence trail
• What to avoid putting in cloud ticketing systems (SPD risks)
• Manufacturer-specific pitfalls assessors notice on the shop floor
• Why “fresh out of the oven” evidence raises red flags
• How GRC tools can make evidence collection and linking easier

Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast!

What do CMMC Level 2 assessors notice first, sometimes within the first day, before they ever dig into your firewall configs or deep technical testing?

In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Austin and Brooke break down the early red flags that can derail your assessment fast. We cover what assessors ask for right out of the gate (and how quickly you need to respond), why generic SSPs create problems, how scoping mistakes happen in the real world (downloads folders, copiers, shop floor machines), and what it means when your policies do not match what employees actually do.

If you want to pass your CMMC Level 2 assessment, this episode will help you tighten your documentation, evidence, and scope before the assessor ever starts technical validation.