CMMC Compliance Guide
Our experiences inspired the creation of The CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast and its accompanying resources. The podcast began as a way to share what we learned through real-world challenges—like helping that aerospace machine shop—and to provide accessible education for businesses navigating DoD cybersecurity requirements.
The CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast breaks down complex topics like NIST 800-171 and CMMC into actionable, easy-to-understand steps. Whether you’re a subcontractor struggling to meet compliance deadlines or a business owner looking to secure your supply chain, the guide offers practical advice to help you take control of your cybersecurity journey.
CMMC Reassessments Explained: What Changes Trigger a New Assessment
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, we break down one of the most overlooked risks in CMMC compliance. What actually happens when your environment changes after an assessment? Many contractors assume that once they pass a...
How Prime Contractors Evaluate Supplier Cybersecurity and CMMC Compliance
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! What are prime contractors actually expecting from suppliers when it comes to CMMC and cybersecurity? In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Austin and Brooke sit down with Bo Birdwell from Elbit Systems of America to get th...
CMMC Supplier Questions Answered: Level 1 vs Level 2, Costs, Scope, and Flowdown for DoW Contractors
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! What do small machine shops, aerospace suppliers, and defense manufacturers really need to know about CMMC right now? In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Austin and Brooke answer some of the most common supplier questions...
CMMC Level 1 Self-Attestation Explained: Requirements, Evidence, and Risk
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! lot of contractors assume CMMC Level 1 is just a simple checkbox. It is not. In this episode, Austin and Brooke break down what CMMC Level 1 actually requires, what a self-assessment really looks like, and why self-attestation without docu...
CMMC Scoping 101: The Most Expensive Mistake Contractors Make (And How to Fix It)
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Scope is the foundation of your CMMC compliance program and getting it wrong is one of the most expensive mistakes a DoD contractor can make. In this episode, Austin and Brooke break down what “scope” actually means in plain English, why c...
Key Takeaways from the January 2026 CMMC Town Hall: Hard Copy CUI, Scope, and Program Changes
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! The January 2026 CMMC Town Hall brought several important clarifications and program updates that directly impact Department of War (DoD) contractors. In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, we break down what changed, what w...
Why Feeling “CMMC Ready” Isn’t the Same as Passing a Level 2 Assessment
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Many DoW contractors feel confident they’re ready for a CMMC Level 2 assessment until assessors get involved. That’s when gaps in documentation, scope, and operational maturity start to surface. In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide...
CMMC FAQ Update: Timeline, Subcontractor Flowdowns, Enclaves, Cloud Rules, and VDI Scope Explained
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! The DoW just released updated CMMC FAQs that clarify the rules contractors keep getting wrong. In this episode, Austin and Brooke break down what the new guidance actually says, what it means for your scope, and where vendor and architectu...
How to Triage CMMC Compliance When You’re Overwhelmed and Short on Time
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! When CMMC compliance starts to feel overwhelming, most companies don’t fail because they lack effort, they fail because they don’t know where to start. In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Brooke and Stacey break down why ...
CMMC Evidence 101: How to Prove NIST 800-171 Compliance in a Level 2 Assessment
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Get your free SPRS Roadmap here: https://cmmccomplianceguide.com/free-sprs-roadmap In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Austin and Brooke break down the #1 thing that trips companies up before a CMMC Level 2 assessment: ev...
What CMMC Assessors Notice First: Early Red Flags That Fail Level 2 Assessments
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! What do CMMC Level 2 assessors notice first, sometimes within the first day, before they ever dig into your firewall configs or deep technical testing? In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Austin and Brooke break down the ...
CMMC Paperwork Without the Pain: How to Simplify Policies, SSP, and Evidence (Level 1 vs Level 2)
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Most small and mid-sized manufacturers do not fail CMMC because of “tech.” They fail because their documentation does not match how the shop actually runs. In this episode, Austin and Brooke break down how to build CMMC documentation that ...
How CMMC Became a Competitive Advantage for DoD Contractors
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! CMMC is no longer just a compliance requirement. It is now a competitive advantage that directly impacts who wins and who loses DoD contracts. In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Stacey and Brooke break down how the final...
NIST 800-171 and CMMC 2.0: How Assessors Actually Score You
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Are assessors judging you on CMMC or NIST 800 171 when audit day arrives? In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Stacey and Brooke break down the real relationship between CMMC 2.0 and NIST 800 171 so you are not guessing wh...
Top CMMC Myths Debunked: Cloud, Vendors, Firewalls, and MFA Mistakes Explained
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Today’s episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast dives into the biggest myths that machine shops, fabricators, CNC shops, and mid-sized defense contractors still believe about CMMC. From cloud misconceptions to vendor promises that fal...
Plain English Guide to CMMC Level 1: Basic Cybersecurity Without the Headache
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! CMMC Level 1 Self- Assessment Guide: https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/CMMC/AG_Level1_V2.0_FinalDraft_20211210_508.pdf In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Stacey and Austin from Justice IT Consulting break do...
Top 12 CMMC Level 2 Requirements Explained: Gap Assessments, Scope, SSP, and POA&M
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Stacey and Austin from Justice IT Consulting walk through the top 12 essentials every contractor needs to achieve CMMC Level 2 compliance especially small and mid-sized defense manufact...
Cyber AB Town Hall Breakdown: Legal Lessons, Ecosystem Growth, and CMMC Phase 2 Progress
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! In this episode of the CMMC Compliance Guide Podcast, Brooke and Stacey from Justice IT Consulting unpack the biggest updates from the Cyber AB’s October 2025 Town Hall and what they mean for defense contractors preparing for CMMC certific...
Highlights from CS5 East 2025: Operation Midnight Hammer, CMMC Updates, and AI Insights
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! Get the inside scoop from CS5 East 2025, the largest cybersecurity and compliance event for the Defense Industrial Base. In this episode, Brooke and Stacey from Justice IT Consulting breaks down the biggest CMMC updates, Operation Midnight...
How to Prove CMMC Compliance to Prime Contractors (Before You Lose Contracts)
Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast! 🎯 Get your Free SPRS Roadmap Session: https://cmmccomplianceguide.com/free-sprs-roadmap Our experts will review your SPRS score, documentation, and setup to help you hit 110 with a clear action plan at no cost. Prime contractors like Lock...