Preparing for a CMMC Level 2 certification assessment isn’t just about having cybersecurity controls in place; it is about proving those controls are implemented, effective, and well understood. For defense contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), conducting a CMMC dry run is the most effective way to reduce risk and ensure success.
This structured rehearsal allows your organization to walk through each assessment objective, assign ownership, and validate supporting evidence well before formal assessors arrive.
In this article, we will explore what a dry run involves, how it differs from other readiness efforts, and why it’s a strategic necessity for contractors navigating today’s compliance landscape.
When your internal team and External Service Providers (ESPs) understand what to expect, the formal assessment becomes a coordinated effort, not a fire drill. A dry run eliminates surprises, boosts confidence, and ensures every stakeholder, including leadership, SMEs, and service providers, knows their role.
With this proactive step, your organization moves from a reactive to a ready state, transforming uncertainty into actionable confidence.
A CMMC dry run is a formal rehearsal. Unlike a gap assessment, which identifies where controls are missing or incomplete, a dry run assumes remediation has been done and shifts the focus to readiness under assessment conditions.
MAD Security’s dry runs offer a risk-free environment to discover issues in documentation, coordination, or execution before assessors do.
A dry run offers significant advantages for defense contractors preparing for CMMC Level 2 certification:
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Clarifies Control OwnershipIdentifies who is responsible for each control, whether it's internal staff or an ESP. |
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Identifies the Right PresentersNot everyone communicates effectively under pressure. Dry runs allow leaders to assign the best communicators to represent controls and practices during assessor interviews. |
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Validates Type of EvidenceEvidence must be current, aligned with the control, and in the correct format. Dry runs verify that the right type of evidence is ready to present. |
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Reduces Assessment-Day StressAvoid confusion or conflicting answers by preparing stakeholders in advance. The more confident and coordinated your team is, the more likely you are to inspire assessor confidence. |
One of the most impactful deliverables from a MAD Security dry run is the customized CMMC Assessment Playbook, a detailed roadmap your team can use during the formal assessment.
For each control, the Playbook answers:
| WHO | Who is responsible (internal staff or ESP)? |
| WHAT | What evidence is planned to be shown? |
| HOW | How will it be presented (document, screen share, live demo)? |
This structured resource eliminates ambiguity and supports consistency across the entire assessment. It also includes notes on weak areas flagged during the dry run, along with recommendations for streamlining interviews and reducing assessment friction.
Not all dry runs are created equally. MAD Security’s process includes:
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Control-by-Control SimulationsA walkthrough of all 320 Level 2 objectives. |
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Identifies the Right Presenters Evidence WalkthroughsValidation of the type of evidence that is expected. |
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ESP ParticipationInclusion of all external service providers responsible for inherited or shared controls. |
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Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM) ValidationEnsures accountability and documentation of shared responsibilities. |
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Hashing ReadinessVerifies that artifacts are hashed using NIST-approved algorithms, in line with CMMC guidance. |
Each of these elements helps surface operational or communication breakdowns before they impact your assessment.
Dry runs are successful when supported by strong internal coordination. That’s why MAD Security requires a designated Point of Contact (POC) who is empowered to:
| Coordinate stakeholder schedules | |
| Facilitate ESP participation | |
| Communicate updates to leadership | |
| Consolidate feedback and approve deliverables |
This centralized coordination ensures efficiency, accountability, and consistency throughout the engagement.
CMMC certification can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Organizations that conduct a dry run are significantly more confident, organized, and successful during formal assessments.
At MAD Security, we’ve helped hundreds of contractors prepare for assessments through our proven dry run methodology. With our team’s support, you will gain clarity on roles, evidence, presentation strategies, and assessment flow ensuring that nothing is left to chance.
Originally Published: December 9, 2025
By: MAD Security