Summary and dates.
What a C3PAO is
A C3PAO is an organization authorized by the Cyber-AB to conduct Level 2 CMMC assessments. C3PAO authorization is the gatekeeping mechanism that ensures the people conducting assessments have met the program's training, ethics, and quality requirements.
How to find one
The Cyber-AB Marketplace is the authoritative source for the current list of authorized C3PAOs. Contractors should engage a C3PAO only through that marketplace; DBIT Defense is not a C3PAO and does not conduct assessments.
When you actually engage one
The assessment phase comes after readiness work. Engage a C3PAO once your SSP and POA&M are stable, your evidence package is organized by control family, and your stakeholders have rehearsed the walkthroughs the assessor will request.
Sources and citations.
- Cyber-AB Marketplace (authorized C3PAOs and other ecosystem roles)
- Cyber-AB — official site
- DoD CIO — CMMC program page
DBIT Defense does not interpret control intent or republish substantive control text. All claims above link to primary sources for verification.
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