by Ian MacRae
President and CEO, E-N Computers
25+ years experience solving business IT problems in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Updated January 14, 2026
Finding a CMMC consultant to help you achieve compliance for CMMC 2.0 is high on the checklist for thousands of small organizations who do business with the Department of Defense.
The Cyber AB, the accrediting body for CMMC, calls the certification process “complex and time-consuming” and considers it “crucial to leverage the expertise of a trusted third-party organization that has been authorized by the Cyber AB.”
Authorized third-party organizations listed by the Cyber AB provide CMMC consulting and assessment services, so having one is a smart idea. But where to find one that is both competent and affordable for a smaller business?
We predict that the rush is soon to be on for good CMMC consultants, especially with CMMC certification requirements are now being phased into DoD contracts, with enforcement continuing through 2026. (It can take more than a year to implement CMMC requirements to even apply for certification, so now is the time to start.)
Here are some of the CMMC consultants we have encountered that we respect for various reasons. I tried to think of anything positive or negative you might experience even from the best to help you choose the right consultant for your needs.
QUICK ANSWER:
Who are the best CMMC consultants heading into 2026?
You can find a long list of CMMC consultants on the Cyber AB Marketplace. Summit7 is the behemoth (with a price to match). Kieri Solutions is a great C3PAO with a focus on practical cybersecurity. F1 Solutions is a Microsoft Partner authorized to sell GCC High to smaller organizations. CTI has a wealth of experience supporting defense contractors and hardening Microsoft 365. G2 Ops has worked with the State of Virginia to audit Registered Practitioner Organizations. And E-N Computers focuses on preparing small business defense contractors for CMMC compliance.
E-N Computers — best CMMC consultant for SMBs in Virginia & Washington, D.C.
Website: E-N Computers
Location: Virginia & D.C.
Designation: MSP, MSSP, and CMMC Consulting
Service area: Mostly small to medium-sized businesses (less than 200 employees) nonprofits, government contractors
Specialization: CMMC managed IT services and CMMC compliance consulting
Experience: Nearly 30 years
Certifications: RPO
Services offered: Full CMMC implementation, ongoing managed IT support, GCC and GCC High licensing and migration
I’m starting with us not because we’re the best fit for everyone, but so you know who’s giving you these recommendations.
We focus on smaller defense contractors—typically under 200 employees—who need CMMC compliance but aren’t a fit for enterprise consultants like Summit7. We’ve been working with government contractors and nonprofits in Virginia and Washington, D.C. for nearly 30 years, and lately we’ve focused particularly on manufacturers and design firms with compliance requirements.
Here’s what makes us different from most consultants on this list: we’re also a managed IT services provider. Most CMMC consultants hand you a gap assessment and a remediation checklist, then wish you luck. We can actually implement the fixes, document them, and keep you compliant through your three-year certification cycle.
For clients in Virginia and the DC metro area, that means your CMMC consultant and your IT provider can be the same team—no handoffs, no finger-pointing, no starting over with a new vendor when it’s time to implement what the consultant recommended.
We take consulting clients nationally, and we do offer remote managed IT services as well. That said, most companies prefer a local IT partner, so if you’re outside our region, we’re happy to help with consulting and then coordinate with your local MSP on implementation.
Kieri Solutions — best for small to mid-sized businesses
Website: Kieri Solutions
Location: National
Designation: CMMC & NIST Compliance Consultant
Service Area: Small to mid-sized businesses
Specialization: Compliance consulting and gap analysis
Experience: Supporting various business sectors
Certifications: C3PAO
Services Offered: Compliance consulting, gap analysis
Kieri Solutions is a Maryland-based CMMC consulting firm with over a decade of experience and has become a leader in CMMC compliance. As a C3PAO, they can perform official CMMC Level 2 assessments. They have a small but highly competent team that can assist you with preparation, documentation, a mock assessment, and more.
One thing we really appreciate about Kieri Solutions is their realistic approach to cybersecurity. They understand that your network needs to be both functional and secure. They focus on solutions that are appropriately sized for smaller organizations. Their audits are also on the more affordable end for small businesses seeking CMMC Level 2 certification. And they offer some interesting compliance documentation templates and reference architecture for Microsoft 365. (Kieri is not a managed IT services provider.)
Summit7 — best for government contractors
Website: Summit7
Location: National
Designation: CMMC consultant
Service Area: Large government contractors
Specialization: CMMC compliance and cybersecurity
Experience: Extensive work with defense contractors
Certifications: RPO
Services Offered: Full CMMC assessment and implementation
It’s practically impossible to talk about CMMC consultants without talking about Summit7. They’re the 800-pound gorilla in the CMMC space. Over the years, Summit7 has published useful content around CMMC and helped create Microsoft’s guide to CMMC and M365.
We had the opportunity to work with Summit7 on a project that involved helping a client recover from a security breach and implement GCC High. We were reasonably impressed with Summit7 for their knowledge about GCC High and for the way they work. As a client, you get a team that includes a project manager and specialists for various modules and tools. Their structured approach to meetings and managing expectations keeps you in the loop.
In our experience, the transition from sales to project kickoff was a bit bumpy. It took a fair bit of time for the handover to happen and for communication to pick up again. Summit7 is also expensive and their quoting isn’t always the most accurate or easy to decipher.
F1 Solutions — best for IT services and cybersecurity
Website: F1 Solutions
Location: Regional (East Coast)
Designation: IT & Cybersecurity Consultant
Service Area: Government contractors, non-profits
Specialization: IT services and cybersecurity
Experience: Extensive experience with regulated industries
Certifications: RPO
Services Offered: CMMC gap analysis, training
F1 Solutions is a Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) based in Alabama. They’re also a Microsoft Partner authorized to sell Microsoft 365 Government cloud licenses, including GCC High, to organizations under 500 seats. (We are, too.) We have had the opportunity to work with them on Microsoft 365 projects and have been impressed by their professionalism.
CTI — best for IT security and compliance support
Website: CTI
Location: National
Designation: IT Security & CMMC Consultant
Service Area: All business sizes
Specialization: IT security and CMMC compliance
Experience: Wide-ranging expertise in cybersecurity
Certifications: RPO
Services Offered: Implementation & post-certification support
We’re reasonably impressed by CTI’s credentials and project history. Their team holds several cybersecurity certifications and has decades of combined experience meeting DoD guidelines. They focus on project work and are particularly knowledgeable about hardening the security of Microsoft 365.
G2 Ops — best for large enterprises and contractors
Website: G2 Ops
Location: National
Designation: CMMC, Cybersecurity & Risk Consultant
Service Area: Large enterprises, contractors
Specialization: Risk management and full compliance strategies
Experience: Deep experience with enterprise security
Certifications: Not listed on CyberAB
Services Offered: Full compliance management
In 2023, the State of Virginia partnered with G2 Ops and IntelliGRC to perform an audit of CMMC Registered Practitioner Organizations (RPO) including us. So, G2 is obviously trusted. Unfortunately, IntelliGRC does not produce helpful reports. Then, the policy reports we received were ultimately copies of NIST 800-53 — a very broad set of IT standards. This approach may be overly broad for organizations focused specifically on CMMC Level 2 requirements. Even a copy of NIST 800-171 would have been marginally more useful since it directly relates to CMMC. However, G2 Ops has done a lot of business in the Virginia cybersecurity market, so we’re including them here.
CMMC in 2026: what’s different
By 2026, CMMC is no longer theoretical. Many Department of Defense contracts now explicitly require CMMC Level 2 certification at the time of award, not as a future obligation.
Organizations should expect:
- Longer lead times to schedule assessments
- Increased demand for authorized C3PAOs
- More scrutiny of documentation, scoping decisions, and evidence maturity
For companies that delayed preparation, this has shifted CMMC from a planning exercise to a gating requirement for new DoD work.
When you need a CMMC consultant
The best time to hire a CMMC consultant is right now. CMMC compliance can take several months to years, and CMMC deadlines are looming.
While looking, think beyond your certification. A consultant should help improve your overall cybersecurity posture, not just get you through the audit.
Consider long-term support post-certification to maintain compliance and continually enhance your security. CMMC certification requires recertification every three years. Without ongoing support, security configurations can degrade, policies may become outdated, and new threats can emerge.
How to vet a CMMC consultant
Look for consultants who have worked with businesses that resemble yours in structure and operations. From our experience, there are three common types of companies pursuing CMMC, and a good consultant will understand the nuances of each:
- Staffing/ “Butts in Seats” Companies: These organizations provide personnel for federal contracts and often rely on a small internal operations team to support a large contractor workforce. Compliance can be challenging when contractors handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) but lack standardized secure environments or equipment.
- Manufacturers: These companies are producing goods for the federal government and tend to have more established infrastructure and networks. Their compliance work usually involves system hardening and aligning processes with production workflows.
- Traditional service providers: These are businesses like landscapers or cabling installers that offer local or physical services. While they may not seem like typical targets, they often handle federal contracts and still need to meet CMMC requirements.
Here are a few other considerations when looking for a consultant:
Proper certifications: Look for CMMC-Registered Practitioners (RP), C3PAOs, or CCPs with appropriate credentials. A consultant who prepares you for CMMC cannot be the same organization that performs your official C3PAO assessment, due to conflict-of-interest rules.
Customization: A quality consultant will tailor solutions to your business instead of providing generic templates.
Microsoft 365 expertise: If you use Microsoft cloud services, look for a consultant who can guide you through the necessary configurations for compliance, such as configuring Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to meet CMMC access control and logging requirements as one example.
How to compare CMMC consultants
Consider what services are included, how clear the pricing is and also ask for client testimonials or references, preferably from businesses similar to yours.
For scope of services, some consultants offer only assessments, while others assist with full implementation, staff training, and managed services.
For pricing, ask about the pricing model—whether hourly, per engagement, or through support packages. Hourly rates may provide flexibility but can become pricey for long engagements. Per-engagement pricing offers predictability but may have scope limitations. Support packages provide ongoing assistance but require a long-term commitment.
More CMMC Resources
If you’re looking for CMMC consulting services for your small business
- Case Study: Virginia Government Contractor Nears CMMC Compliance
- CMMC Consulting Services for SMBs
- CMMC Gap Analysis
- Best CMMC consultants
If you need to better understand CMMC requirements:
- The Ultimate Guide to CMMC
- The Ultimate Guide to DFARS and NIST 800-171 (in plain English)
- What is FCI and should I worry about it?
- What is CUI and should I worry about it?
- CMMC compliance deadlines: Key dates and what they mean
If you’re looking for CMMC tools and training:
- We found the best GRC tool for CMMC
- What is Microsoft GCC High and do I need it?
- Best CMMC training resources
- CMMC Level 1 guide as audio book
- CMMC Level 2 guide as audio book
If you’re looking for a Registered Practitioner Organization:
- Best CMMC manages service providers in DC metro area
- Best CMMC RPOs near Washington, DC
- Best Virginia Registered Practitioner Organizations
- What are CMMC Registered Practitioners and do I need one?
If you’re looking for a CMMC assessor:
If you’re looking for information about CMMC that is targeted toward smaller businesses:
Complimentary review with a veteran engineer
Are you ready for CMMC?
Get a free strategic consultation to start your journey toward CMMC compliance.
