We guide small defense contractors through every step toward compliance and help you implement the technical controls the standard requires.
Not just advice. Actual work. Need ongoing support after you’re compliant? We also offer CMMC managed IT services for businesses in our service area.
Our CMMC add-on integrates compliance requirements into every operational and support task — so you’re audit-ready every day, not just at assessment time
Our team can handle the remediation tasks with our managed IT services to resolve vulnerabilities and keep your systems compliant.
Your SSP is detailed documentation on how cybersecurity is practiced in your organization. This document is critical during your assessment. We will collaborate with you to make sure that the document is complete, accurate, and a useful reference tool.
Your IRP identifies the team responsible for handling cybersecurity incidents; describes how you prevent, detect, and respond to incidents; and details how you determine the severity of an event.
Our incident response planning services
We help you identify and prioritize security weaknesses, define corrective actions, establish milestones, and monitor progress. If an assessment turns up items that need further attention, we’ll use the POA&M to work through them within the remediation window.
We’ll help you determine whether you need GCC High and make sure that your Microsoft 365 tenant is properly configured for the type of data you handle.
Governance, risk, and compliance tools for CMMC compliance simplify inventory, documentation, planning, CUI marking, and budgeting. We’ll help you get comfortable with and make the best use of your GRC tool.
Registered Practitioners
Consultants on Team
Years in Business
U.S.-Based Staff
Certified by Cyber AB
CMMC consulting is the right fit if you have internal IT or an existing MSP handling your day-to-day tech — and you need a compliance expert working alongside them.
✓ Your company handles FCI or CUI as part of a defense contract
✓ You need expert guidance on requirements, documentation, and assessment prep — not someone to run your IT
✓ You have internal IT staff or a current MSP who will implement the changes
✓ You want a right-sized compliance plan, not an enterprise solution designed for a 500-person contractor
Most consultants hand you a report. We do the technical work behind it.
See what our Registered Practitioner Organization does differently — and how one contractor went from a negative SPRS score to 110, without breaking the bank.
We offer both. The right choice depends on one question: does your organization have the internal capacity to implement what a consultant recommends?
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You have internal IT staff — or another MSP managing your infrastructure — and you need a CMMC Registered Practitioner to guide your compliance program. We advise and document; your team implements.
Best if you…
An honest note: Consulting-only works well when you have internal capacity to act on our recommendations. If your team is already stretched thin, a gap analysis without implementation support often creates more stress, not less.
or project-based · no managed IT plan required
SEPARATE SERVICE
We manage your IT and your compliance. Every daily IT decision — patching, monitoring, documentation, incident response — is made with your CMMC requirements in mind. You don’t need to become a CMMC expert. We handle the implementation, not just the advice.
If getting a gap analysis report with a list of 80 things to fix — and no one to fix them — sounds like your worst nightmare, this is the right path.
+ compliance tooling · requires base managed IT plan
Not sure which fits? That’s the most common situation. Our free 30-minute consultation will tell you exactly which path makes sense — and we’ll be straight with you if consulting-only isn’t the right call for where you are right now. Schedule a free consultation →
Nine steps from where you are to compliance. Most clients engage us at step one — but it’s never too late to start.
01
Form an implementation team
Identify key stakeholders and partners. This is a good time to bring on a Registered Practitioner.
02
Identify the CMMC level you need
Do you need CMMC Level 1 or Level 2? Most small businesses with defense contracts need Level 2.
03
Define compliance scope
Identify all systems that touch or protect FCI or CUI.
04
Run a gap analysis
Analyze your current security controls and itemize all deficiencies.
05
Gap remediation
Implement the policies, procedures, and systems required to meet the standard – the longest step.
06
Score and post to SPRS
Submit your self-assessment score to the Supplier Performance Risk System and affirm it. This is the step in force today. DoD estimates about $34,000 for a small contractor to complete a Level 2 self-assessment and initial affirmation.
07
Select an assessor (paused)
The Department of Defense (DoD) suspended third-party assessments on July 13, 2026, pending a reform task force review. Your obligations under DFARS 252.204-7012 did not change, and neither did the self-assessment.
08
Get assessed (paused)
DoD’s rulemaking puts the assessor’s fee at about $31,000 for a small entity. Assessors in practice quote $35,000 to $75,000 depending on scope, and the assessment is roughly a third of total first-cycle cost.
09
Become certified (paused)
You’ll have 180 days to correct any issues, then submit your results to the DoD. Once approved, your three-year certification is issued.
A small Virginia defense contractor went from a below-zero SPRS score to a perfect 110 — and won contracts before they were certified. Here’s how we got them there.
They run an engineering firm — CAD systems, controlled data, and, when we took over, a server room full of one-off setups. Instead of treating compliance as a project to finish and check off, it was built into how the company ran its IT. We completed about one major project a year: a phone system, a server and computer refresh, multi-factor authentication, and a Microsoft GCC High migration.
Running their IT and compliance under one team saved them about $1,500 a month versus hiring separate vendors — and when a contract demanded a higher score, no handoff slowed things down. They scheduled their third-party assessment on their own timeline, with a perfect score already in hand.
Talk with an experienced engineer who is also a CMMC Registered Practitioner. We offer a complimentary initial consultation — no pitch, just an honest look at where you are and what it’ll take to get certified.
You’ll work directly with our Registered Practitioners and senior consultants — not a salesperson.
Ian MacRae
FOUNDER · CMMC REGISTERED PRACTITIONER
Ian built E-N Computers from a repair shop into a regional MSP. As a CMMC Registered Practitioner, he leads the CMMC consulting practice — and because his background covers both business operations and technical implementation, he approaches compliance as something that has to work inside a real business, not just pass an audit. He’s worked with hundreds of small businesses on cybersecurity and compliance.
Donald Holland
IT CONSULTANT
Donald brings 20+ years of DoD cybersecurity experience — including RMF lifecycle management, system accreditation, and secure infrastructure design — and has been through DoD-conducted audits firsthand. He holds CompTIA Security+ CE, CASP+, and AWS Cloud Practitioner certifications, and is currently pursuing CISSP, CMMC Certified Professional, and RP.
If you handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) as part of a defense contract, you need to reach CMMC compliance. The Cyber AB strongly recommends working with a Registered Practitioner as you get there.
Registered Practitioners are IT and cybersecurity professionals specially trained to help defense contractors prepare for CMMC assessments.
E-N Computers is an RPO with two Registered Practitioners on staff. Ian MacRae leads our CMMC consulting practice. Our team also includes Donald Holland, who bring specialized DoD cybersecurity and compliance program management expertise.
“Navigating the CMMC certification process can be complex and time-consuming, especially for organizations that are new to the requirements and standards. That’s why it’s crucial to leverage the expertise of a trusted third-party organization that has been authorized by the Cyber AB to assist you on this journey.”
The Cyber AB
What’s the difference between CMMC consulting and managed IT services?
What’s the difference between CMMC consulting and managed IT services?
CMMC consulting guides you while your internal IT staff or current MSP does the technical work. CMMC managed IT services means we’re doing the IT work for you — implementing controls, maintaining systems, and keeping you compliant on an ongoing basis.
For clients who want both, we can bundle consulting into a managed services engagement. It’s usually the most cost-effective path.
How much does CMMC consulting cost?
Our CMMC consulting costs about $800 to $1,500 per month for a small defense contractor, depending on your company size, current IT setup, and whether you need CMMC Level 1 or Level 2. Most clients reach compliance in 12 to 18 months.
For comparison, independent CMMC consultants typically charge $250–$400 per hour, with total project costs often reaching $50,000 or more. Our monthly retainer model is designed to make CMMC compliance affordable for small defense contractors — without compromising on what’s required to pass.
How long does an engagement take?
CMMC compliance itself typically takes up to two years from start to compliance — which is why starting now matters. The remediation phase (step 5 in the process) is typically the longest, often taking one to two years depending on your current security setup.
What is a CMMC consultant?
CMMC consultants are IT professionals who specialize in cybersecurity and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. Registered Practitioners (RP/RPA) are recognized by The Cyber AB as having the training and experience to help defense contractors identify gaps and prepare for assessment. Registered Practitioner Organizations (RPO) are companies with at least one RP on staff.
Does my company need to be CMMC certified?
If your company handles FCI or CUI as part of a federal defense contract, yes. Most defense contractors that work directly or indirectly with the Department of Defense are subject to CMMC requirements. Certification itself is paused as of July 13, 2026, but the underlying requirements are not — you still self-assess, post a score to SPRS, and affirm it each year.
What are the CMMC levels?
Level 1 covers 15 basic security requirements and can be completed through annual self-assessment. Level 2 requires meeting 110 controls aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and must be assessed by a C3PAO every three years — most small businesses with defense contracts need Level 2. Level 3 applies to a small number of prime contractors and is government-led.
Third-party assessment has been suspended since July 13, 2026. The Level 2 self-assessment and the annual affirmation in SPRS still apply.
Who performs CMMC assessments?
DoD suspended third-party assessments on July 13, 2026. When the program resumes: assessments are performed by Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs). The RPO you work with for consulting cannot also be your C3PAO — they’re separate roles by design. Only US citizens can be on the assessor team.
Do we need a Registered Practitioner Organization?
You’re not required to use an RPO, but it helps considerably. The Cyber AB recommends working with a trusted third-party organization authorized to assist you — particularly for Level 2, where the documentation and technical requirements are substantial. An RPO has at least one Registered Practitioner on staff and is accountable to The Cyber AB’s code of professional conduct.
What happens after we’re CMMC certified?
CMMC certification is valid for three years, but compliance is a continuous program. You’ll need to maintain controls, document changes, file annual affirmations in SPRS, and prepare for recertification before your certificate expires. Annual SPRS affirmations apply whether or not you hold a certificate, so this work continues through the current suspension. For small defense contractors without internal capacity to manage this, our CMMC managed IT services handle ongoing compliance so nothing slips between assessments.
Guides, case studies, and tools for defense contractors navigating compliance
CMMC Managed IT
Finding help
Best CMMC RPOs near Washington, DC
Best Virginia Registered Practitioner Organizations
Case Study: Virginia Government Contractor Nears CMMC Compliance
Best CMMC assessors near Washington, DC
CMMC consulting services for small and medium-sized businesses
Virginia CMMC consulting services
Understanding CMMC
Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Registered Practitioner. We’ll give you an honest read on where you stand and what it’ll take to get certified.
LOCALLY OWNED • FOUNDER LED • NO VENTURE CAPITAL • CMMC RPO • U.S. STAFF
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