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CMMC Compliance Guide

CMMC Compliance Guide

Written by: CMMC Compliance Guide
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About this listen

Our experiences inspired the creation of The CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast and its accompanying resources. The podcast began as a way to share what we learned through real-world challenges—like helping that aerospace machine shop—and to provide accessible education for businesses navigating DoD cybersecurity requirements.

The CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast breaks down complex topics like NIST 800-171 and CMMC into actionable, easy-to-understand steps. Whether you’re a subcontractor struggling to meet compliance deadlines or a business owner looking to secure your supply chain, the guide offers practical advice to help you take control of your cybersecurity journey.

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Episodes
  • How to Triage CMMC Compliance When You’re Overwhelmed and Short on Time
    Jan 23 2026

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    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.

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    28 mins
  • CMMC Evidence 101: How to Prove NIST 800-171 Compliance in a Level 2 Assessment
    Jan 16 2026

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    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
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • What CMMC Assessors Notice First: Early Red Flags That Fail Level 2 Assessments
    Jan 9 2026

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    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.

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    45 mins
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