Define the challenge, scope, objectives, desired outcomes, and decision criteria before technology choices are made.
Know what to build before you buy it.
If your company has DoD work—or expects to pursue it—don’t start by buying technology. In 48 hours, we help you determine your likely CMMC path, map FCI/CUI flow, define a preliminary boundary, compare architecture options, and build a practical 30/60/90-day roadmap.
Have questions? Book a call — 15 minutes, no obligation.
- In scope (CUI assets)0
- Protection assets (SPA)0
- Out of scope0
- External CUI sources0
Illustrative map. In the engagement, every system, user, and location is classified and the boundary is drawn around your actual CUI flow, not your seat count.
CMMC Jumpstart in two minutes.
Why the first CMMC decision is architecture and scope—not software—and how the 48-hour Jumpstart gets you there.
Before implementation. Before assessment.
CMMC Jumpstart fits before implementation and assessment, when the most important decisions about applicability, FCI/CUI flow, scope, and architecture still need to be made.
It gives your organization a clear starting point and roadmap so implementation, GRC tools, self-assessment, and SPRS readiness can proceed on the right foundation.
Get this foundational step wrong, and your CMMC journey can start on the wrong footing—leading to the wrong technology, architecture, or service provider, while creating delays, wasted effort, unnecessary cost, and a slower path to compliance.
Thousands of Department of War contractors—many of them small businesses—could find themselves sidelined from future defense opportunities because they are not prepared to complete their required CMMC self-assessment.
Right now, there is an important distinction.
The Department of War has suspended Phase II CMMC third-party assessment requirements.
But CMMC has not gone away.
For applicable contractors, Phase I self-assessment requirements remain firmly in place. Level 2 self-assessments require organizations to evaluate themselves against the 110 requirements of NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2 and submit the required results through SPRS.
And that leaves many small businesses asking the same questions:
- Where do we start?
- How much will this cost?
- How many people and resources will we need?
- What infrastructure should we deploy?
- Do we need GCC High? An enclave? An MSP? An MSSP? Or something else?
The uncertainty can cause companies to freeze—or spend significant money before they understand what they actually need.
CLEAR™ turns CMMC uncertainty into an informed decision.
CMMC Jumpstart is delivered through the CLEAR™ framework—a structured method for moving from an undefined compliance challenge to a practical, management-approved path forward.
Discover the facts, environment, contracts, information flows, evidence, requirements, constraints, and current capabilities.
Analyze CMMC applicability, risks, gaps, architecture alternatives, tradeoffs, costs, dependencies, and opportunities.
Present findings, architecture options, implications, recommendations, responsibilities, and a 30/60/90-day roadmap.
Management makes the informed decision, selects the path forward, and determines what should be built, funded, and implemented next.
Built for organizations that need a credible starting point.
Especially small and mid-sized defense contractors that need management clarity before committing to technology, migrations, vendors, or long-term services.
You need to understand what CMMC path may apply before investing.
Applicability and information flow should be clarified first.
You need an architecture and implementation sequence—not a full assessment.
You want to understand the tradeoffs before selecting a path.
You need to define likely scope before implementation begins.
You need clearer responsibilities before work is assigned.
What we do—and what you walk away with.
Not a generic checklist. A focused decision engagement that answers the questions that are stalling you, and hands you the artifacts to act on them.
What the Jumpstart does
The analysis that resolves the pain points above.
- Determine whether CMMC Level 1, Level 2, or further analysis is required
- Determine access scope based on organizational needs
- Define likely in‑scope and out‑of‑scope boundaries
- Define and compare architecture options before purchasing
- Evaluate cost, complexity, operational tradeoffs, and risk
- Recommend a target CMMC architecture and ownership model
- Provide executive and detailed technical reports
- Provide a roadmap that any service provider can use to continue the CMMC journey
What you receive
Delivered within 48 hours of discovery.*
- A preliminary CMMC Level 1 vs. Level 2 applicability determination
- A CUI flow map showing where controlled information enters, resides, and exits
- A defensible preliminary compliance boundary
- A current‑state technology review (what can remain vs. what must change)
- A vendor‑neutral comparison of GCC, GCC High, enclave, and managed options
- A recommended target architecture with rationale
- A roles & responsibilities map (you, IT, MSP, MSSP, advisor)
- A capability requirements list (MFA, EDR, logging, encryption, etc.)
- An executive decision matrix
- A 30/60/90‑day implementation roadmap
Five free seats to attend our CUI Introduction Training online, fulfilling the CMMC requirement for foundational CUI awareness.
Start My Jumpstart →Choose the architecture class before the vendor.
We compare practical approaches against your information flow, operating model, budget, internal capability, and growth expectations.
| Decision Factor | GCC | GCC High | Isolated Enclave | Managed Enclave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| Implementation Complexity | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| FCI / CUI Containment | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| Scalability | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| Internal IT Burden | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| MSP / MSSP Dependency | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| Operational Disruption | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
| Long-Term Flexibility | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated | Evaluated |
From uncertainty to a 90-day path.
The engagement ends with a practical sequence that management, IT, and vendors can use to move forward.
Decide & Define
- Confirm applicability
- Clarify FCI/CUI flow
- Define preliminary scope
- Select architecture direction
- Establish ownership
- Determine vendor strategy
Build & Configure
- Implement target architecture
- Configure identity and endpoints
- Secure storage and transmission
- Establish logging and monitoring
- Begin operational processes
Document & Validate
- Develop policies and procedures
- Build or update the SSP
- Generate evidence
- Conduct training
- Prepare for later assessment activities
Planning first. Assessment later.
The Jumpstart is intentionally designed to help you make architecture and scope decisions before moving into control-by-control assessment and remediation.
Included in the Jumpstart
- Discovery and applicability analysis
- FCI/CUI flow mapping
- Preliminary boundary
- Current-state technology review
- Architecture comparison and recommendation
- Network/system diagram
- Responsibility mapping
- 30/60/90 roadmap
- Executive briefing
Reserved for later phases
- Full 110-requirement assessment
- SPRS scoring
- Full POA&M generation
- Assessment-objective-level evidence validation
- Final SSP production
- Formal mock assessment
- C3PAO assessment or certification
- Remediation implementation
Five disciplined moves. One informed decision.
The CLEAR™ framework organizes the 48-hour engagement from initial clarification through management decision. Delivery begins after discovery and receipt of the agreed information needed for the engagement.
Clarify
Define the business challenge, scope, objectives, and decision criteria.
Learn
Gather the facts, environment, information flows, requirements, and constraints.
Evaluate
Compare applicability, risks, gaps, architecture choices, costs, and tradeoffs.
Advise
Present findings, options, recommendations, diagrams, and the roadmap.
Resolve
Management chooses the practical path forward with clear consequences and next actions.
Know your path before you commit your budget.
One fixed-scope planning engagement designed to help management understand what CMMC environment may be needed, what should be in scope, and what to do next.
The timeline is tighter than it looks.
Start now.
CMMC self-assessment requirements are already appearing in DoD solicitations, and the architecture decisions that come before them take weeks, not days. The 48-hour Roadmap Accelerator is the fast part. The decision to begin is the part that keeps slipping.
Common questions before you start.
Is this a CMMC certification assessment?
No. This is a preliminary readiness, scope, and architecture planning engagement. It is not a C3PAO assessment or certification.
Do we need to already know whether we are Level 1 or Level 2?
No. Preliminary applicability and level determination is one of the first steps. The engagement helps determine whether Level 1, Level 2, or additional contract-specific analysis appears appropriate.
What if we have done almost nothing for CMMC?
That is exactly the type of organization this service is designed for. The objective is to create clarity before you begin making major technology and vendor decisions.
Will you recommend a specific vendor?
The analysis is vendor-neutral. We first determine the architecture class and capabilities that fit your operating model. Specific vendor selection can follow from those requirements.
Does the Jumpstart price include implementation?
No. The Jumpstart defines what should be built and what should happen next. Implementation, control assessment, remediation, SSP completion, and evidence validation are later phases.
When does the 48-hour clock begin?
After the discovery session is completed and the agreed information required for the engagement has been received.
Before you buy, migrate, or hire—know what you actually need.
Start with a CMMC Readiness & Architecture Roadmap and make your next technology decision from a clearer foundation.