Start with scope: know where CUI is stored, processed, and transmitted. Benchmark the actual environment against NIST SP 800-171, build a prioritized POA&M, and organize evidence early. Assessment preparation is an operating discipline, not a document exercise completed at the last minute.
August 19, 2026
The CMMC deadline is real—what defense contractors should do now
A plain-language view of the actions that matter before assessment.