SolvereOne

What’s Included in Managed IT Services? What You Actually Get

solvereone — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:23 +0000

MANAGED IT SERVICES

What's Included in Managed IT Services? What You Actually Get

A clear breakdown of what an MSP actually delivers — from help desk and monitoring to security, backup, and vCIO strategy.

⏱ 7 min read

“Managed IT services” sounds clear until you try to pin down what you are actually buying. Every managed service provider (MSP) describes its offering a little differently, so what is really included in managed IT services? This guide walks through the core components you should expect, the benefits behind each, and how to tell a complete offering from a thin one.

What Is Included in Managed IT Services?

At its simplest, managed IT services means outsourcing the day-to-day management of your technology to a specialized provider for a predictable monthly fee. Instead of calling someone only when something breaks, you get a team proactively keeping your systems secure, updated, and running. Think of it as trading a reactive, break-fix relationship for a proactive partnership that owns the health of your technology every day of the month. A complete managed IT offering typically includes the following building blocks.

1Help Desk & Support

A help desk your employees can reach across phone, email, and chat, with response times set in an SLA.

2Monitoring & Maintenance

Around-the-clock monitoring of servers, networks, and devices, plus patch management that quietly closes security holes so small issues are fixed before they become outages.

3Cybersecurity

Endpoint and network security, email filtering, MFA, and awareness training, with compliance support for HIPAA, PCI, or CMMC.

4Backup & Disaster Recovery

Automatic backups and fast restores after hardware failure, ransomware, or human error, plus continuity planning.

5Strategic Guidance (vCIO)

Virtual CIO services: budgeting, technology roadmaps, and guidance on how IT should support your business goals, so technology decisions line up with budget and growth.

6Vendor & Asset Management

Coordination with your other technology vendors and tracking of assets and licenses so nothing slips through the cracks.

What Are the Benefits of Managed IT Services?

Understanding what is included naturally leads to why it matters. The benefits of managed IT services come down to a few high-impact outcomes:

Predictable costs — a flat monthly fee replaces surprise repair bills.
Less downtime — proactive monitoring prevents many problems before they interrupt you.
Stronger security — layered protection and expert oversight reduce breach risk.
Access to expertise — a full team for less than one senior in-house hire.
Room to focus — your staff gets back to work that grows the business.

Why You Need Managed IT Services

For most small and midsize organizations, technology has become too complex — and cyber threats too serious — to manage reactively or with a single overloaded employee. Managed IT services give you enterprise-grade capability without an enterprise-sized team. Even companies with in-house IT often adopt a co-managed model, where an MSP handles security, monitoring, and after-hours coverage so the internal team can focus on strategic projects. The result is fewer surprises, lower risk, and technology that finally works for the business instead of against it.

Not everything labeled ‘managed IT’ includes everything above - confirm what is truly bundled versus billed separately before you sign.

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What to Confirm Before You Sign

Before choosing a provider, confirm what is bundled versus billed separately, review the SLA response times, and ask how security and backup are handled specifically. It also helps to ask for references from clients of a similar size and industry, so you know the provider can support your specific environment. A clear, comprehensive scope up front prevents disappointment — and unexpected invoices — later.

See What a Complete Managed IT Partnership Looks Like

The best way to understand what’s included in managed IT services is to see it mapped to your actual environment. If your business is in the DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia region, Solvere One can walk you through exactly what we cover — help desk, monitoring, security, backup, and strategy — and tailor a plan to your needs.

What Are the CMMC Levels? Level 1 vs Level 2 vs Level 3 Explained

solvereone — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:21 +0000

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE

What Are the CMMC Levels? Level 1 vs Level 2 vs Level 3 Explained

The three CMMC levels, in plain English — what each requires, who needs it, and how to know which applies to your DoD contracts.

⏱ 6 min read

If your company works with the DoD, you have probably been told you need to meet CMMC — but not which of the CMMC levels applies to you. Most of that confusion comes from the CMMC levels themselves. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has three tiers, and your tier determines how many security controls you must implement, how you demonstrate it, and the overall cost. Get this right at the outset and the path to certification is smooth; get it wrong and months of spend can be wasted.

Below, we break down all three CMMC levels in plain English, who needs each one, and how to determine where your organization falls.

What Are the CMMC Levels?

CMMC 2.0 consists of three levels that build on each other. The more sensitive the information you handle for the DoD, the higher your required level. Your company size is not what dictates the level — the type of data moving through your contracts is.

1Level 1: Foundational

Protects Federal Contract Information (FCI) with 15 basic safeguards.

2Level 2: Advanced

Protects Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) using NIST 800-171.

3Level 3: Expert

Protects CUI against the highest-level, advanced threats.

CMMC Level 1: Foundational

Level 1 applies to contractors that handle only Federal Contract Information (FCI) — basic information provided by or generated for the government but not intended for public release. It aligns with the 15 basic safeguarding requirements in FAR 52.204-21, covering fundamentals such as access control, strong passwords, anti-virus, and physical security.

The burden of proof is light. Level 1 involves an annual self-assessment and an executive affirmation in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) — no third-party assessment required. For many contractors, Level 1 is attainable with disciplined IT hygiene rather than a major security overhaul.

What Is CMMC Level 2? (Advanced)

Most defense contractors fall into CMMC Level 2, because most handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) at some point. So what does CMMC Level 2 look like? It aligns directly with the 110 security controls of NIST SP 800-171 across 14 control families — access control, incident response, configuration management, encryption, and more.

The requirements take on a more serious tone at Level 2. Most companies processing CUI will need an assessment from a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) every three years, plus an annual affirmation. Some contracts may allow self-assessment, but assume a C3PAO assessment unless your contract explicitly states otherwise.

Level 2 often includes writing a System Security Plan (SSP), documenting a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for any gaps, implementing controls such as multifactor authentication and logging, and maintaining evidence that controls are operational day to day.

Assume a C3PAO assessment at Level 2 unless your contract explicitly says otherwise.

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CMMC Level 3: Expert

Level 3 is reserved for contractors on the DoD’s most critical programs and most sensitive CUI. It covers all 110 Level 2 controls plus a subset of the enhanced requirements from NIST SP 800-172 that are designed to protect against advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Level 3 assessments are performed by the government itself, via the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC), rather than a commercial C3PAO. Relatively few contractors need Level 3 — but those who do require a mature, well-resourced security program.

Which CMMC Level Do You Need?

Start with one question: what type of government data do you interact with? If you only handle FCI, you are likely Level 1. If any contract involves CUI, plan for Level 2. If you support flagship programs handling the most sensitive CUI, you may be pushed to Level 3.

The fastest way to be sure is to examine your contract language — specifically DFARS 252.204-7012 and 252.204-7021 — and trace where CUI actually flows in your environment. A structured CMMC compliance checklist makes this far easier.

Get Your CMMC Level Confirmed

Guessing your CMMC level is expensive in both directions. If you are a DoD contractor in the DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia region, our CMMC consultants can review your contracts, map where your CUI lives, and confirm exactly which level you need — before you spend a dollar on the wrong controls.

What Is DFARS Compliance? DFARS 252.204-7012 in Plain English

solvereone — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:19 +0000

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE

What Is DFARS Compliance? DFARS 252.204-7012 in Plain English

What DFARS stands for, what the key clause requires, and how DFARS compliance connects to NIST 800-171 and CMMC.

⏱ 6 min read

If you have won or bid on a DoD contract, you have seen DFARS in the fine print — and wondered what DFARS compliance actually requires. It is one of the most misunderstood obligations in the defense supply chain, largely because the acronym gets used without explanation. This guide explains, in plain English, what DFARS is, the key clause, and how it relates to NIST 800-171 and CMMC.

What Does DFARS Stand For?

DFARS stands for the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. It is the set of rules the DoD layers on top of the broader Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) that governs all federal purchasing. Think of the FAR as the baseline rulebook for doing business with the U.S. government, and DFARS as the defense-specific supplement that adds extra requirements — including cybersecurity — for contractors working with the DoD.

So when someone asks what DFARS means, the short answer is: it is the contract language that dictates how defense contractors must operate, including how they protect sensitive government information.

What Is DFARS Compliance?

DFARS compliance means meeting the cybersecurity and safeguarding requirements written into your DoD contracts through DFARS clauses. The most important for cybersecurity is DFARS 252.204-7012. Being “DFARS compliant” generally comes down to three obligations:

1Implement NIST 800-171

Protect Covered Defense Information (CDI) using the security controls in NIST SP 800-171.

2Report in 72 Hours

Report any cyber incident to the DoD within 72 hours of discovery.

3Flow Down to Subs

Pass the same requirements down to subcontractors who handle the same information.

If your contract includes 252.204-7012 and you are not meeting these requirements, you are out of compliance - even if no one has audited you yet.

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What Does DFARS 252.204-7012 Actually Require?

At the heart of the clause is a mandate to implement NIST SP 800-171, a standard containing 110 security controls across 14 families — access control, authentication, encryption, incident response, media protection, and more. In other words, DFARS 252.204-7012 does not invent a brand-new framework; it points to NIST 800-171 and says, “do this.”

The clause also requires “adequate security,” rapid incident reporting through the DoD’s reporting portal, and cooperation with any resulting damage assessment. Crucially, it requires you to flow these obligations down to subcontractors — so a prime contractor’s DFARS obligation quickly becomes an obligation for smaller suppliers deeper in the supply chain.

Who Needs to Be DFARS Compliant?

Any organization in the Defense Industrial Base whose contracts contain DFARS 252.204-7012 must comply — and that includes far more than large primes. Manufacturers, engineering firms, IT providers, and professional-services companies that handle Covered Defense Information are all in scope. If a prime flows the clause down to you, you inherit the requirement regardless of your size.

A common and costly misconception is that small businesses are exempt. They are not. If Covered Defense Information touches your systems, DFARS applies.

How DFARS Connects to NIST 800-171 and CMMC

It helps to see these three as one connected chain rather than separate programs:

1DFARS 252.204-7012

The contract clause that creates the legal obligation.

2NIST SP 800-171

The security standard the clause requires you to implement.

3CMMC

The mechanism the DoD is rolling out to verify you actually implemented it.

For years, DFARS relied on self-attestation — contractors affirmed they met NIST 800-171 and reported a score in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS). CMMC adds independent verification through assessments. So DFARS compliance is not being replaced by CMMC; CMMC is how the DoD confirms the DFARS obligation you already have.

Get DFARS Compliant With Confidence

DFARS compliance is not optional, and inaccurate SPRS scores can carry serious consequences, including False Claims Act exposure. If you are a defense contractor in the DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia region and unsure whether you meet DFARS 252.204-7012, our compliance consultants can run a gap assessment, calculate an accurate SPRS score, and build a realistic roadmap to full compliance.

How Much Do Managed IT Services Cost? (2026 Pricing Guide)

solvereone — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:18 +0000

MANAGED IT SERVICES

How Much Do Managed IT Services Cost? (2026 Pricing Guide)

Per-user and per-device pricing, what drives the price up or down, and how to compare MSP quotes fairly.

⏱ 7 min read

“How much do managed IT services cost?” is usually the first question business owners ask when they start shopping for an IT partner — and the most frustrating one to get answered. Quotes range widely, pricing models differ from provider to provider, and it is hard to tell whether you are comparing apples to apples. This guide clears up the pricing models, realistic ranges, what drives the price, and how to compare managed IT services quotes without getting burned.

How Much Do Managed IT Services Cost?

For most small and midsize businesses, managed IT services cost between $100 and $250 per user per month — roughly $2,000 to $10,000+ per month depending on company size, complexity, and depth of service. A 25-person company on a comprehensive plan often lands in the $3,000 to $6,000 per month range.

Those numbers are a starting point, not a quote. The real figure depends on how your provider prices its service and what is actually included — which is why understanding the model behind the number matters.

$100–$250

per user, per month

$2K–$10K+

typical monthly range

$3K–$6K

for a 25-person team

Common Managed IT Services Pricing Models

Most managed service providers (MSPs) use one of a few pricing structures:

1Per User, Per Month

A flat fee per employee covering all of their devices — predictable and easy to scale as you hire.

2Per Device, Per Month

A set price per workstation, server, or network device managed, useful when device counts do not match headcount.

3Tiered or Bundled

Good/better/best packages that group services together at fixed monthly prices.

4A La Carte / Co-Managed

You pay for specific services that supplement your internal team — the basis of co-managed IT.

What Drives the Cost Up or Down

Two companies of the same size can receive very different quotes. It usually comes down to a handful of factors:

1Users & Devices

More endpoints mean more to monitor, patch, and support.

2Environment Complexity

Multiple locations, servers, specialized software, and legacy systems all add effort.

3Security & Compliance

Advanced protection or requirements like HIPAA, PCI, or CMMC raise the bar — and the price.

4Service Level & Response

Faster guaranteed response and 24/7 coverage cost more than business-hours support.

5Onboarding & Remediation

If your environment needs cleanup before it can be efficiently managed, expect a one-time onboarding cost.

The cheapest quote is rarely the best value - a low price often signals thin coverage, slow response, or security gaps you will pay for later.

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What Should Be Included in the Price

Before comparing quotes, make sure each one covers the essentials: 24/7 monitoring, help desk support, patch management, endpoint security, backup and disaster recovery, and vCIO or strategic guidance. If one quote looks dramatically cheaper, it is often because one or more of these is missing or billed separately.

Ask specifically what falls outside the monthly fee. Project work, hardware, major migrations, and after-hours emergencies are sometimes billed on top of the base price.

How to Compare Managed IT Quotes Fairly

To make an honest comparison, normalize everything to the same basis — ideally per user, per month — and confirm each provider covers the same scope. Then look beyond price: response-time commitments in the service level agreement (SLA), security posture, and whether strategic planning is included. A slightly higher monthly fee that prevents one day of downtime or one ransomware incident pays for itself many times over.

Also weigh predictability. A true all-inclusive managed model turns unpredictable break/fix bills into a stable monthly cost you can budget around — often worth as much as the raw dollar figure.

Get an Honest Managed IT Quote

The best way to answer “how much do managed IT services cost?” for your business is a short conversation about your users, systems, and goals. If you are a business in the DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia region, Solvere One can assess your environment and give you a clear, itemized quote — no surprises and no padded line items.

What Is NIST 800-171? A Plain-English Guide for Defense Contractors

solvereone — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:15:16 +0000

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE

What Is NIST 800-171? A Plain-English Guide for Defense Contractors

The federal security standard behind CUI and CMMC, explained without the jargon — the 110 controls, who must comply, and how it connects to CMMC.

⏱ 7 min read

If you do business with the Department of Defense, you’ve undoubtedly been asked about it — so what is NIST 800-171, and why has it suddenly become such a big deal? Plainly speaking, NIST 800-171 is the federal standard for securing sensitive government information that lives on the computers and networks of private companies. This guide describes what it contains, who has to comply, and how it relates to CMMC.

What Is NIST 800-171, Exactly?

NIST 800-171 (formally NIST Special Publication 800-171) is a document by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that outlines how non-federal organizations should protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CUI is government information that is not classified but must be safeguarded — think technical drawings, specifications, logistics data, and other sensitive information shared with contractors.

The standard exists because the federal government depends on a vast network of privately owned companies. Those firms handle and store sensitive data on their own systems, and NIST 800-171 is the minimum security all of them should have.

In its simplest terms, NIST 800-171 is a list of 110 security requirements divided into 14 families. Together they form a practical, defense-in-depth outline — not a list of products to buy.

110

Security requirements in Revision 2

Control families covering every area of cybersecurity

Standard that CMMC Level 2 is built directly on

The 14 Control Families at a Glance

Each family covers a different area of cybersecurity. The six below drive most of the remediation effort for contractors new to the standard:

Access Control — who can reach CUI and when.
Identification & Authentication — verifying users, with multi-factor authentication.
Audit & Accountability — recording activity to investigate incidents.
Configuration Management — keeping systems hardened and consistent.
Incident Response — detecting, reporting, and recovering from breaches.
System & Communications Protection — network segmentation and encryption.

The remaining families cover awareness training, maintenance, media protection, personnel security, physical protection, risk assessment, security assessment, and system integrity.

In 2024 NIST published Revision 3, restructuring the requirements. Most DoD contracts still reference Revision 2 — confirm which version your contract requires.

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Revision numbering matters. Before you invest in remediation or documentation, verify the revision cited in your contract so your System Security Plan maps to the right control set.

Who Must Comply?

Any organization that processes, stores, or transmits CUI for the federal government is expected to comply. The obligation flows downward through the supply chain.

Defense Contractors & Subcontractors

Every tier of the supply chain that processes, stores, or transmits CUI on behalf of the federal government.

DFARS 252.204-7012 Holders

Firms carrying this clause in their contracts inherit the NIST 800-171 obligation by reference.

Civilian-Agency Vendors

Vendors working with civilian agencies that impose similar CUI safeguarding requirements.

Primes Flowing It Down

When a prime passes you CUI, you inherit the requirement — even as a small subcontractor.

NIST 800-171 vs. CMMC: Their Relationship

This is the part that confuses people most. NIST 800-171 and CMMC are not competing standards — they are layers of the same system.

The standard is NIST 800-171: the 110 requirements.
The enforcement mechanism is CMMC: it verifies that you have actually met those requirements.

Level 2 of CMMC is built on the 110 NIST 800-171 controls. The difference is accountability. Contractors were previously allowed to self-report NIST 800-171 compliance, and many overstated their readiness. CMMC introduces independent, third-party evaluation so the DoD can trust that protections are not merely on paper.

How to Begin to Comply

Compliance is a process, not a purchase. An intelligent path looks like this — and many organizations underestimate the documentation burden at steps 3 and 4.

1Identify your CUI

Know what sensitive data you process and where it lives across your environment.

2Run a gap assessment

Compare your current state against the 110 requirements to find what’s missing.

3Write your SSP

Document how every requirement is met in your System Security Plan.

4Create a POA&M

List any unmet requirements with owners and due dates in a Plan of Action & Milestones.

5Post your SPRS score

Enter your score in the Supplier Performance Risk System so the DoD can gauge supplier risk.

6Sustain and re-assess

Keep controls operating and re-baseline whenever systems, vendors, or staff change.

Getting It Right the First Time

NIST 800-171 may seem daunting, but it is manageable with the right plan and partner. Since CMMC Level 2 is built on the standard, everything you do now to meet these 110 requirements directly prepares you for certification. If you handle CUI and aren’t sure where you stand, our compliance team helps DoD contractors across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia map their gaps and build a realistic roadmap.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NIST 800-171 compliance?

It is evidence that your organization has deployed the 110 security requirements that safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information, documented them in a System Security Plan, and can prove that protection to the government.

What is the difference between NIST 800-171 and CMMC?

NIST 800-171 is the security standard (the 110 controls). CMMC is the certification program that confirms you have implemented them — Level 2 of CMMC is built on NIST 800-171.

How many controls are in NIST 800-171?

In Revision 2 there are 110 security requirements across 14 families. In 2024 they were revised and restructured as Revision 3, so confirm which version your contract references.

Who must comply with NIST 800-171?

Any organization that processes, stores, or transmits CUI for the federal government — including prime contractors, subcontractors, and vendors with DFARS 252.204-7012 in their contracts.

Get It Right the First Time

Since CMMC Level 2 is built on the standard, everything you do now to meet these 110 requirements directly prepares you for certification. If you handle CUI and aren’t sure where you stand, our compliance team helps DoD contractors across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia map their gaps and build a realistic roadmap.

Department of War Suspended CMMC Phase II Requirements: What Contractors Should Do Now

solvereone — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:31:31 +0000

CMMC PROGRAM UPDATE

Department of War Suspended CMMC Phase II Requirements

The deadline moved. The obligation didn’t.

⏱ 3 min read

Today the Department of War suspended CMMC Phase II requirements, which were set to take effect November 10, 2026, and launched a 60-day review of the program.

I’ve already heard the reaction: “Great, we can pause our compliance spend.”

Department of War Suspended CMMC Phase II Requirements: 5 Obligations That Still Apply

That would be a mistake. Here’s why:

1Phase I Self-Assessments

Phase I self-assessments remain fully in effect.

2NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2

NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 is still enforced, now including select government-led assessments.

3DFARS 252.204-7012

DFARS 252.204-7012 obligations to protect covered defense information remain contractually binding.

4Your SPRS Score

Your SPRS score still matters, and inaccurate scores still carry False Claims Act risk.

5Prime Flow-Down Clauses

Prime flow-down clauses may still require certification regardless of the federal pause.

This is a 60-day review, not a repeal. Whatever replaces Phase II will be built on the same NIST 800-171 foundation. The work transfers.

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Breathing Room, Not a Break

The contractors who treat this as breathing room, closing POA&M items on a realistic timeline and staying assessment-ready, will be positioned to win when the revised program lands.

The ones who hit pause will be restarting from behind, competing against companies that never stopped.

Source: U.S. Department of War — Forging the Arsenal of Freedom: Department of War Suspends CMMC Phase II Requirement.

Unsure What the Pause Means for Your Contracts?

If you’re in the Defense Industrial Base and unsure what this means for your contracts, now is the time to review your flow-down language, not after the Task Force reports back.

Here is What DoD Contractors Should Budget for CMMC Certification in 2026

solvereone — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:53 +0000

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE

What DoD Contractors Should Budget for CMMC Certification in 2026

The real numbers behind CMMC certification cost — assessment fees, remediation, and ongoing compliance — broken down so contractors can budget with confidence.

⏱ 8 min read

When most defense contractors find out they need to do CMMC, the first question they ask is, “how much does it cost to do CMMC?” — the answer is “it depends.” The exact amount you’ll pay depends on the level required, your security program maturity, and the amount of remediation that needs to be completed to pass the assessment. The real numbers are broken down below so you can budget with confidence in 2026.

What Drives the CMMC Certification Cost

There are three levels to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, and the level required by your contracts is the biggest cost factor. Most contractors that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) fall under Level 2, which maps to the 110 security controls in NIST SP 800-171. Beyond the level, four factors drive what you’ll actually spend.

Level & Maturity

A contractor already implementing NIST 800-171 saves far more than one starting from the ground up. The required CMMC level sets the control count.

Scope

The number of people, systems, and locations involved with CUI. More assets in scope means more to assess and remediate.

Remediation

Filling the gaps a readiness assessment finds — tools, policies, and engineering hours. Usually the largest line item.

Assessment Type

Self-assessment or assessment by a certified third party (C3PAO). The C3PAO fee is real but typically the smallest cost.

The assessment fee is usually the smallest line item in the total cost of CMMC compliance.

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It helps to keep the assessment fee as a separate line item from the total cost of compliance, because the assessment fee is typically the lowest line item. Everything that comes before the assessment — controls, compliant tools, writing your System Security Plan (SSP), and remediating gaps — is the larger investment.

Total first-year compliance is often in the tens of thousands of dollars for a small-to-midsize contractor, then drops to a lower annual figure for maintenance. Here’s how the line items typically land:

Years of certification validity before reassessment

110

NIST 800-171 controls mapped to CMMC Level 2

Annual affirmation required to keep certification active

What Is the Price for a Small Company?

Small businesses fear being driven out of the market, but cost scales with scope. A 10-person shop with one CUI system and cloud email will spend vastly less than a 200-person manufacturer with on-premise systems. The best way to control cost is to reduce your CUI footprint — isolating the systems that touch CUI via enclaves so fewer assets need to be assessed.

Additional ways to reduce cost:

Deploying a CUI-ready cloud environment (for example, a GCC High tenant) rather than retrofitting legacy systems.
Running a gap assessment at the beginning — not rushing remediation planning.
Reusing existing policies and evidence instead of re-creating documentation.

Where Your CMMC Budget Actually Goes

Four cost categories make up the majority of a contractor’s first-year spend. Knowing where the money flows helps you prioritize early.

1Readiness & Gap Assessment

A scoping and gap assessment compares your environment to the 110 Level 2 controls and tells you exactly what to fix first.

2Remediation & Tooling

MFA, encryption, logging, endpoint protection, and the engineering hours to deploy them across your CUI boundary.

3SSP & Documentation

Your System Security Plan and supporting evidence — often underestimated, always scrutinized by assessors.

4C3PAO Assessment

The certified third-party assessment itself. Real, but usually the smallest line item in the total.

Be Sure to Include the Costs for Ongoing Compliance

CMMC isn’t a one-time occurrence. Certification lasts three years, but controls must be maintained at all times and annual affirmations are required. Plan for routine expenses such as managed detection and response, monitoring, security awareness training, and periodic internal audits. Many contractors roll these into a managed services agreement to keep spending predictable.

Is It Cost Effective?

The math is simple for defense contractors: without the necessary CMMC maturity level, you cannot win or retain DoD contracts that contain the clause. The expense of complying is real, but the expense of losing access to that revenue stream is far greater. It’s best to think of CMMC as an investment in your business, not just a cost.

A consultant who has been through the process many times helps you avoid the costly pitfalls: over-scoping, buying the wrong tools, or failing the assessment and paying to retest. The guidance is self-amortizing through avoided rework.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of CMMC certification?

No flat fee applies. The C3PAO assessment itself is often in the low-to-mid five figures for Level 2, while total first-year compliance (tools, remediation, documentation) commonly reaches the tens of thousands for small-to-midsize contractors.

Does CMMC Level 1 cost less than Level 2?

Yes. Unlike Level 2’s 110 controls, Level 1 is an annual self-assessment that incurs no third-party assessment fee and far less remediation.

Are there recurring CMMC expenses?

Yes. Certification is valid for three years and requires annual affirmations, plus continuing spend on monitoring, training, and maintenance to keep controls in place.

Can a small business afford CMMC certification?

Cost scales with scope. A small contractor that isolates its CUI footprint and reuses existing controls can certify for far less than a large manufacturer with sprawling on-premise systems.

Ready to Turn “It Depends” Into a Real Number?

Whether you’re a DoD contractor in the DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia region, our CMMC consultants can assess your environment and give you an honest, realistic estimate of the cost — before you spend a dollar on the wrong project.

CMMC Compliance Checklist: Your Step-by-Step Path to Certification (2026)

solvereone — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:08 +0000

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE

CMMC Compliance Checklist: Your Step-by-Step Path to Certification (2026)

A practical CMMC compliance checklist for 2026 — scope CUI, run a gap assessment, implement the 110 Level 2 controls, build your SSP and POA&M, and get assessment-ready.

⏱ 9 min read

Becoming certified can look like a mountain standing in front of you, but a concise CMMC compliance checklist turns that mountain into a sequence of steps you can actually complete. Whether you’re pursuing Level 1 or Level 2, the approach is the same: know your data, protect it, document it, and prove it. Here’s the roadmap for DoD contractors in 2026.

Before You Start: Know Your Level

Your required level is written into your contracts, so check there first. Level 1 protects Federal Contract Information and requires an annual self-assessment. Level 2 protects Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and equates to the 110 controls in NIST SP 800-171 — most contractors working with CUI need Level 2. This checklist focuses on the Level 2 journey, since it is the most common and the most involved.

The 7-Step CMMC Compliance Checklist

Follow these seven steps in order. Each one builds on the last, and skipping ahead is the most common reason contractors fail their assessment.

1Scope your environment

Trace where CUI is created, stored, processed, and transmitted — then shrink that footprint. Fewer systems in scope means a smaller, cheaper assessment.

2Run a gap assessment

Compare your current state to all 110 Level 2 requirements. This produces your first SPRS score, the basis the DoD uses for supplier risk.

3Implement the 110 controls

Close the gaps: MFA, encryption, centralized logging, endpoint protection, and least-privilege access across the CUI boundary.

4Build your SSP

The System Security Plan is the living document explaining how you meet every requirement. A weak SSP is a top reason assessors fail contractors.

5Develop a POA&M

Capture any unmet requirements with owners and due dates. Some controls allow POA&M items, but they must close within 180 days.

6Train your people

Deliver and document security awareness training. Human error drives most breaches, and assessors expect an active training program.

7Readiness check & assessment

Run a mock assessment to surface weak spots, then schedule your C3PAO assessment (or self-assessment where allowed).

Certification lasts three years with annual affirmations. Treat the checklist as a standing operating standard, not a one-time project — ongoing monitoring, regular internal audits, and timely patching keep you assessment-ready year-round.

Step 3 in Depth: Operating the 110 Security Controls

Sealing the holes the gap assessment reveals is where most of the effort — and budget — goes. Common priorities include:

Multi-factor authentication on all access to CUI.
Encryption of data at rest and in transit (FIPS-validated where required).
Centralized logging and monitoring to detect and investigate incidents.
Endpoint protection and prompt patch management.
Least-privilege access control.

To store email and documents, many contractors migrate to a CUI-ready cloud such as a GCC High environment, which can satisfy several controls at once.

The numbers that shape every CMMC Level 2 readiness effort — keep them front of mind as you work the checklist.

110

Level 2 controls from NIST SP 800-171

180

Days to close POA&M items after assessment

Years of certification validity before reassessment

A weak System Security Plan is one of the most common reasons contractors fail their CMMC assessment.

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Be specific and keep it current. Your SSP should describe exactly how each of the 110 requirements is met in your environment, with evidence assessors can verify. Vague or copy-pasted language is a red flag.

Don’t Treat Certification as the Finish Line

Another common mistake is exhaling the moment the certificate arrives. CMMC certification runs on a three-year cycle, but your controls must operate continuously, and you’ll provide an annual affirmation that you remain compliant. Use this checklist as a standing operating standard rather than a one-time project. Ongoing monitoring, regular internal audits, and timely patching keep you assessment-ready year-round.

Make the Checklist Work for You

The contractors who certify are the ones who start early, scope narrowly, and document thoroughly. Rushing the process almost always costs more — either in tools you didn’t really need, or in a failed assessment you have to repeat.

If you don’t want to navigate the 110 controls alone, our CMMC consulting team walks DoD contractors in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area through every step of this checklist — from scoping all the way to passing the assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Level 2 requirements for CMMC?

Level 2 requires implementing the 110 security controls of NIST SP 800-171, documenting them in a System Security Plan, and — for most contracts — a third-party C3PAO assessment every three years.

How long does CMMC compliance take?

A contractor starting from a low baseline typically needs several months to a year to reach Level 2 readiness, depending on scope, the size of the gaps, and how quickly remediation is funded.

What is the difference between an SSP and a POA&M?

The SSP describes how you meet the requirements today. The POA&M lists the requirements you have not yet met, with owners and deadlines to close them.

Can I put CMMC controls on a POA&M?

Some controls allow POA&M items, but critical requirements must be met before assessment and POA&M entries generally must be closed within 180 days.

Ready to Work the Checklist with a Partner?

Solvere One guides defense contractors across Virginia, DC, and Maryland through every step of this CMMC compliance checklist — from scoping your CUI environment to passing your C3PAO assessment. Schedule your readiness conversation today.

Managed Service Providers in Virginia: 7 Best Ways to Select the Ideal MSP for 2026

solvereone — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:50:07 +0000

VIRGINIA IT SUPPORT

Choosing a Virginia Managed Service Provider

A handy guide for Virginia businesses considering managed service providers in Virginia – what they do, what they cost, and how to select the right partner.

⏱ 7 min read

Whether it’s Northern Virginia government contractors or Richmond professional-services companies, an increasing number of businesses are passing off their technology to managed service providers in Virginia — and for good reason. It is difficult to attract, keep and afford a full in-house IT team, and downtime and cyber attacks grow ever more expensive.

But not all managed service providers in Virginia are created equal. This MSP guide explains what an MSP really is, what services you can expect, the costs involved, and the questions that help you determine if they are a good long-term partner for your business.

What Is a Managed Service Provider?

Managed service providers in Virginia take care of your IT infrastructure and end-user systems remotely for a fixed monthly cost. Your partner doesn’t just fix things when they break, rather they proactively monitor, maintain, secure and support your technology to stop issues from occurring in the first place.

That translates to a single team providing support across the board, from support desk to cyber security to long term technology planning for most businesses in Virginia.

What Services Should a Good MSP Include?

The exact service catalog will differ, but strong managed service providers in Virginia will include:

Help Desk / End User Support

Quick response for routine problems, onsite and remote.

Network Design

Firewall, switches and Wi-Fi monitoring, maintenance and design.

Cybersecurity

Endpoint Protection, e-mail security, multifactor authentication, and threat monitoring.

Cloud and Microsoft 365

Cloud platform migration, licensing and cloud platform management.

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Automated and tested backups to help you get back up and running after an outage or attack.

Strategic guidance & Compliance

Budgeting, roadmap and technology planning aligned to goals. Compliance support (CMMC, HIPAA) built in.

Why Businesses Partner With an MSP

Government contracting, defense, healthcare, law and nonprofits are big drivers of the Virginia economy and therefore the stakes for IT are high. Let’s see why businesses make the switch:

Downtime is expensive. Each hour down means lost productivity, lost revenue – proactive management means less down time.
Security threats are on the increase. MSPs offer enterprise-level solutions and capabilities that most small businesses just cannot afford on staff.
Compliance is non-negotiable. Government contractors are facing CMMC, healthcare is facing HIPAA. The right MSP makes them a part of everyday operations.
Predictable budgeting. A fixed monthly charge is a substitute for the unpredictable bills for break-fix.
Room to grow. Good MSPs grow with you, users and locations without the pain.

Managed Service Providers in Virginia: 7 Best Ways to Select the Ideal MSP for 2026

Look for providers based on these qualities:

Presence and ability locally. When remote support isn’t sufficient, a provider with people in Northern Virginia or the DC metro can be onsite.
SLAs (sure response times). Don’t rely on vague promises, find written service level agreements.
Security-first approach. Cybersecurity needs to be embedded into every plan and not an afterthought.
Compliance experience. As a contractor or healthcare provider, require experience with CMMC or HIPAA.
Real references. Speak with existing clients in your niche, your target size.
Transparent, predictable pricing. It’s crucial to know what is included and what isn’t.
Partnering not just a help desk. Your best MSP is one that plans – not reacts.

What Do Managed Services Cost?

The majority of managed service providers in Virginia charge on a per-user or per-device basis each month. The per user pricing typically starts at about $100 per month and goes up to $200+ per month, depending on the level of services, the security stack and compliance requirements. Some vendors have multiple levels (essentials vs. full management and advanced security options), while others provide custom plans for regulated industries.

Often the lowest price is not the best value. The key is not just the cost of the plan, but the amount of downtime and risk that it will prevent. For broader small-business security guidance, CISA provides useful resources at Secure Our World.

Questions to Ask an MSP Before Signing

What is covered by the monthly bill and what is an additional service?
What are your guaranteed response and resolution times?
How do you approach cyber security and employee security training?
Have experience with our compliance needs (CMMC, HIPAA, etc.)?
Do you have references from Virginia businesses similar to ours?
Onboarding – what does it look like and how do we get out if it does not?

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a managed service provider do?

A managed service provider is a company that monitors, maintains, secures and supports a business’s IT systems, including the help desk, networks, cybersecurity, cloud, backups, and technology planning, proactively, on an agreed-upon set of terms and conditions, for a fixed monthly fee.

What is the cost of Managed Services in Virginia?

Mostly price-per-user, price-per-device, per month–typically ranging from $100-$200+ per user based on services, security, and compliance requirements. High regulated sectors such as defense and healthcare are usually towards the higher end.

What's the difference between an MSP and break-fix IT?

Break Fix IT – You pay for each thing that breaks – there’s no motivation to keep things working. The MSP knows you can count on a predictable monthly fee for proactively ensuring your uptime and security.

Do Virginia government contractors need a specialized MSP?

Often, yes. Contractors working with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) will be subject to the CMMC requirements; therefore, we recommend hiring a MSP that has experience with CMMC and NIST 800-171.

How do I switch managed service providers?

A good incoming MSP takes care of all the steps for you: they document your environment, move your credentials and licenses over and onboard in stages to minimize downtime. Always check details of offboarding from an existing contract.

Conclusion

The selection of the various managed service providers available in Virginia depends on fit: local responsiveness, a security first mentality, compliance expertise, and a partner that’s committed to your success.

Investigate, do a price-check and pose tough questions—your MSP is an extension of your team, and one of the best investments you make in your business.

Still Comparing Providers?

Solvere One provides White-Glove IT, Cyber Security and Compliance Services to businesses in Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland. Let’s discuss your business needs.

How to Choose a CMMC Compliance Consultant: A 2026 Guide for Defense Contractors

solvereone — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:02:57 +0000

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE

Choosing a CMMC Compliance Consultant

What DoD contractors need to know about hiring a CMMC compliance consultant, when you need one, and how to choose the right one.

⏱ 7 min read

If your company is part of the DoD supply chain, delaying CMMC implementation is no longer an option. Many small and midsize defense contractors are discovering that they can’t obtain certification by themselves as the requirements of CMMC 2.0 enter into contracts. This is where a CMMC compliance consultant can help you. A great consultant makes a confusing, high-stakes process a clear roadmap: he/she will clearly tell you where you are, what you need to fix, and how you can show this to an assessor. This guide will tell you what a CMMC compliance consultant really does, when you need one, and the questions that will help you determine the difference between a great partner and an expensive one.

What is a CMMC Compliance Consultant?

A CMMC compliance consultant is a cybersecurity expert who aids your company in satisfying the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements established by the DoD. CMMC is based upon NIST SP 800-171 and was created to safeguard the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) throughout the defense industrial base.

The role of the consultant is to help you get to know what you need to do to move your security program from where it is to where it needs to be to pass a formal assessment. They break down the requirements in layman’s terms, provide technical and policy specific changes and get your team and documents ready for certification.

Another key distinction between the roles of a CMMC consultant and a C3PAO is that the C3PAO does not provide a rating.

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This is what causes many contractors to do wrong. A CMMC consultant helps you get ready. You are assessed at Level 2 by an official body, called a C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization). The organization that prepares you, in general, should not be the organization that certifies you, for independence and integrity. A good consultant lets you know this line and will also guide you in readying yourself for — not purchasing — a passing grade.

Need a CMMC Compliance Consultant?

Most small and mid-sized contractors have one; not all companies do. If you think you need help, consult a consultant if:

You are now dealing with CUI or FCI and your contracts (or prime contracts) now mention CMMC.
You don’t have a dedicated, in-house cybersecurity or compliance team.
You’ve read NIST 800-171 and don’t know how the 110 controls pertain to your environment.
You’ve initiated a System Security Plan (SSP) or POA&M but it is still partial or out of date.
The certification is required on a schedule that is related to a contract award or renewal.

If you have an established internal security team that already knows and understands NIST, you might just need a consultant to do a gap assessment or a second opinion. However, if you’re starting closer to zero, a consultant can save you months of trial and error – and a failed assessment.

The role of a CMMC Compliance Consultant

The top consultants take you along a well-defined journey, and avoid selling you a stack of tools. Here’s what that typically looks like.

1. Gap assessment

They take stock of your current environment and compare it with the CMMC level required — most contractors handling CUI should be at Level 2 — and provide you with a prioritized list of gaps.

2. SSP and scoping

They determine your assessment boundary – what systems, people and data are included – and detail how each control is addressed in your SSP, the foundation document that assessors review.

3. Remediation and POA&M

They assist you in closing the gap (or your IT team) by deploying multi-factor authentication, access control, logging, encryption, and other controls. Left out are placed in a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M).

4. Readiness of evidence and assessment

They gather the evidence that the assessors are looking for, conduct a mock assessment and prepare your staff to avoid any surprises on the day a C3PAO arrives.

Selecting the appropriate CMCM compliance consultant can be a challenging task.

Once you have determined that you need assistance, decision making is important. Use these criteria:

Strong background in the Deep NIST 800-171 and CMMC. Inquire about the number of assessments they have prepared for clients, and the level.
Defense-industry familiarity. CUI, DFARS 252.204-7012, and DoD contract language should be second nature.
A managed IT capability (or good partnership). Many controls are just day to day activities – monitoring, patching, backups. A consultant can also work within your environment and can close the gaps quicker as you stay compliant following certification.
Self-assessment independence from your assessor. They must be able to prepare you, not certify you.
References and outcomes. Discuss the experience with contractors who have worked with them in a real assessment.
Clear scope and pricing. Avoid ambiguous retainers that have no clear deliverables.

If you're considering hiring someone, here are questions to ask.

What is the actual CMMC level required and how did you arrive at that?
How do we scope our environment to reduce cost & complexity?
Will you present an SSP and POA&M, or will you be doing a report?
Who will put in place the technical remediation — you, us or a partner?
What do you do to keep us on course once we are certified?
If we are ready can you introduce us to a good C3PAO?

Consultant, C3PAO or Managed IT Provider — Who Does What?

Consider it to be 3 jobs. Managed IT provider manages and secures your day to day technology. CMMC consultant constructs your compliance path and paperwork. C3PAO certifies you on your own. For many small contractors, the most effective practice is having one partner that is both a managed IT and a CMMC consultant who then passes you off to an independent C3PAO for the assessment, which is reduced vendor, less finger pointing, and one team to manage security and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a CMMC compliance consultant do?

A CMMC compliance consultant can evaluate your existing cybersecurity practices to see how they align with CMMC and NIST 800-171 requirements, document your System Security Plan, assist in remediating any gaps, and train your personnel and documentation for a formal assessment by a C3PAO. In short, they get you ready to pass.

What is the cost of a CMMC compliance consultant?

Prices can range quite a bit depending on the company’s size, scope and the amount of remediation required. The cost to small contractors ranges from a few thousand dollars for a gap assessment to tens of thousands of dollars for a full readiness evaluation for SSP, remediation, and a mock assessment. The best way to control cost is to have a clear scope at the beginning.

Do I need a CMMC consultant or a C3PAO?

Both – at various stages. You are prepared for certification by a consultant and the official Level 2 assessment is carried out by a consultant C3PAO. They should be separate organizations if they are to be independent.

When should I hire a CMMC compliance consultant?

As soon as possible, preferably before a contract needs to be certified. The time to become ready may be several months depending on your starting point so you don’t want to lose or delay any awards by waiting.

Can a managed IT provider help with CMMC compliance?

Yes. Additionally, a managed IT service provider experienced in CMMC can not only enforce the necessary security measures but also help navigate the compliance documentation process, potentially saving you time and money.

Conclusion

While CMMC certification is an increasing cost of doing business with DoD, it doesn’t need to stall your mission-critical workload. The proper CMMC compliance consultant provides you with a clear path, addresses the gaps which are significant, and accompanies you into the assessment.

The ideal time to create the roadmap is when you are starting or when you’re in the middle of an SSP, before a contract makes your hand jump out.

Ready to find out where you stand?

So, if you’re ready to find out where you stand, here are a few tips. Solvere One assists defense contractors throughout Virginia, DC, and Maryland in preparing for CMMC Level 2, which is a blend of hands-on managed IT and practical compliance guidance. Set up your CMMC readiness conversation today.