What This Means for Your Organization:
- CMMC compliance is achievable and scalable for small businesses, especially with the right strategy and support.
- The cost of non-compliance is often far greater than the cost of preparing now.
- Total Assure helps small- to medium-sized businesses get the compliance support they need, without the heavy price tag.
If you're a small- to medium-sized business working with the Department of Defense (DoD), you’ve probably heard that preparing for CMMC compliance is expensive, complicated, and time consuming. And while there’s some truth to that (achieving compliance does require an investment) many businesses are misled into thinking the cost is out of reach.
The reality? With the right guidance and a focused strategy, CMMC compliance is absolutely attainable, without draining your resources or your team’s time.
What Drives the Cost of CMMC?
Understanding what impacts your overall compliance costs can help you make smarter decisions early on. Here are the biggest factors:
Your Current Cyber Posture
The more security you already have in place, the less remediation you'll need. If you’re starting from scratch, without policies, technical controls, or security tools, costs will be higher. But if you’ve already implemented essentials like multi-factor authentication, encryption, or access controls, you may be closer than you think.
In-House vs. Outsourced Support
Some organizations try to DIY their way to compliance using free resources and templates. While this might seem cheaper up front, it often leads to confusion, missteps, and expensive rework. Partnering with a knowledgeable compliance provider like Total Assure can streamline the process, reduce errors, and ultimately save time and money.
Documentation Depth
A secure tech stack alone won’t pass a CMMC assessment. You need detailed, accurate documentation that reflects your real-world environment. This may include a System Security Plan or Plans of Action and Milestones.
What You Shouldn't Be Paying for
Not all expenses are necessary or helpful. Here’s where you can confidently say no to:
Overengineered Tools
You don’t need enterprise-grade security solutions to meet CMMC Level 2. Many affordable or built-in solutions are sufficient when properly configured.
Boilerplate Templates
Generic documentation rarely matches your actual environment. Avoid spending on bulk policy templates that won’t hold up during a real assessment.
Long-Term Consulting Contracts
Be cautious of vendors pushing costly retainers. You may only need targeted help for remediation and documentation, and not a full-time consultant. Look for the partner that fits your needs.
The Hidden Cost: What Happens if You Don’t Get CMMC Certified?
While many small businesses focus on the cost of becoming compliant, few account for the cost of not complying, which can be far more damaging in the long run. Here is what could happen if you don’t get CMMC certified. You could:
Lose Contracts and Bid Restrictions
Without CMMC certification, you risk losing access to existing DoD contracts or becoming ineligible to bid on new ones. For many businesses, this could mean a significant and sudden loss of revenue.
Be Dropped by Other Contractors
showing progress toward certification, you could be replaced by a competitor that is.
Damage Your Reputational and Relationship Risks
Failing to meet expected cybersecurity standards can erode trust with contracting officers, partners, and primes. Non-compliance may damage relationships you’ve spent years building.
Spend More Money by Being Reactive Instead of Propactive
Waiting until the last minute can lead to rushed remediation, inflated consultant fees, and delays in scheduling an assessment. Proactive compliance not only saves you money, it also positions you to win contracts faster.
CMMC compliance doesn’t have to break your budget, but ignoring it could break your business. With smart planning, scoped-down security, and experienced guidance, small businesses can meet DoD requirements and stay competitive in the defense space.
At Total Assure, we help growing contractors build affordable cybersecurity programs that hold up under assessment and support long-term growth. Don’t let confusion or inflated estimates slow you down. Instead, get a solution that’s sized for your business and built for success.
To get your free consultation, fill out our form today.
About Total Assure
Total Assure, a spin-off from IBSS, provides uninterrupted business operations with our dedicated 24/7/365 in-house SOC, robust managed security solutions, and expert consulting services. Total Assure provides cost-efficient, comprehensive, and scalable cybersecurity solutions that leverage 30 years of experience and expertise from IBSS. Total Assure partners with its customers to identify security gaps, develop attainable cybersecurity objectives, and deliver comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that protect their businesses from modern cybersecurity threats.
Check out our blog series on NIST SP 800-171.
For more information on how Total Assure can assist your organization in achieving NIST SP 800-171 compliance, please contact our team directly.
