Smart Budgeting for CMMC 2.0 | MAD Security Town Hall Webinar Recap – April 2025

Aligning Contract Commitments with CMMC 2

One of the biggest myths around CMMC compliance is that it’s a single project with a clear start and end. In truth, CMMC 2.0 is an ongoing lifecycle that requires consistent investments in people, processes, and technology.

Contractors must plan for:

• Annual assessments
• Continuous monitoring 
• Updated tools and documentation 
• Team training and third-party support 

Six Cost Categories That Define Your CMMC Budget

MAD Security outlined six budget pillars every defense contractor should understand: 

• Gap Assessment: Establish your starting point with a full compliance snapshot. 
• Strategic Planning: Create a POA&M and a remediation roadmap tied to business goals.
• Tools and Technologies: Include essentials like EDR, secure backups, MFA, and SIEM. 
• Documentation: Build and maintain your SSP, IRP, policies, and procedures.
• Implementation: Factor in internal labor or partner support to close gaps. 
• Continuous Monitoring: Sustain compliance with 24/7 SOC support or MDR services. 

Real Cost Ranges by Organization Size

Budgeting depends heavily on company size, existing security posture, and tool maturity: 

• Micro (<10 employees): $30K–$60K/year 
• Small (10–50 employees): $50K–$150K/year 
• Mid-size (50–250+ employees): $150K+ depending on scope
• C3PAO Assessment Cost: Typically ranges from $50K–$80K

Don’t forget that evidence of maturity is required, typically 90–180 days of historical data before your C3PAO assessment. 

Save by Scoping Smarter

Avoid costly missteps by reducing the assessment scope early. The team discussed: 

• CUI Enclaving: Segment only the systems handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
• Shared Responsibility Models: Use external MSSP support for functions like logging, SOC, and EDR. 
• Strategic Planning: Begin with a gap assessment and roadmap to prevent rework.