The deadline moved. Your obligations didn't.
The Pentagon paused mandatory CMMC certification in July 2026, but NIST 800-171, your SPRS score and DFARS 7012 still apply, and so does False Claims Act risk. Straight-talk CMMC, DFARS, and ITAR guidance from people who don't sell compliance software. No gated content, no 45-minute demo calls.
Key Statistics
Three frameworks your contracts depend on.
Each guide walks you through what's actually required right now, what it'll cost (no sugarcoating), and how to get from "we should probably look into this" to a score you can defend.
CMMC 2.0 Compliance
The November 2026 certification deadline is on hold while DoD reviews the program, but self-assessments and SPRS scores still count. We break down all 110 controls, what each level means for your shop, and honest cost numbers, not the lowball estimates consultants quote to get in the door.
Explore CMMC →DFARS Compliance
Clause 252.204-7012 is the legal backbone of everything CMMC-related, but most contractors have never actually read it. We did. Here's what it says, what it means for you, and how it maps to NIST 800-171.
Explore DFARS →ITAR Compliance
Export controls trip up even experienced defense contractors. We cover DDTC registration, licensing requirements, how to handle technical data without accidentally violating the Arms Export Control Act, and what the penalties look like when things go wrong.
Explore ITAR →CMMC Compliance Checklist 2026
Our most-read page. It covers all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements across 14 families. More importantly, it tells you what an assessor actually looks for, what "good enough" evidence looks like, and where most contractors get tripped up. It's updated for the Phase 2 pause.
Most of what you'll find on this topic is vendor marketing dressed up as guidance. This isn't that.
Read the checklist →Figure out where you stand in about 5 minutes.
We built these because every "free assessment" we found online was really just a lead-capture form. These actually give you answers.
CMMC Readiness Assessment
Answer 15 questions about how your company handles security today. You'll get a readiness score, a list of your biggest gaps, and a prioritized action plan — no email required, no salesperson follow-up.
Take assessment →Compliance Cost Calculator
Plug in your headcount and where you are today. You'll see a realistic cost estimate that breaks out software licenses, staffing time, consultant fees, and the C3PAO assessment — the stuff most "cost guides" conveniently leave vague. (C3PAO certification is optional for now, so you can leave it out.)
Calculate costs →We don't sell software. That's the whole point.
Every compliance vendor's website looks like a guide until the third paragraph, when it turns into a pitch for their platform. We got tired of that, so we built something different. This site exists to help defense contractors figure out what they actually need — before they talk to any vendor.
Yes, we earn affiliate commissions when you buy through our links. But we recommend the same tools whether there's a commission or not. Our reputation depends on being right, not on pushing the product with the highest payout.
About our approach →Compliance deadlines move. This one just did.
The CMMC reform task force report is due any day, and the FAR CUI rule is still pending. Get a short email when something changes that affects defense contractors. We don't sell your email and we don't pitch you on anything.
Built to help small defense contractors navigate CMMC compliance. Unsubscribe anytime.
We earn commissions through affiliate links. This never influences our recommendations. Our editorial process is independent and data-driven. Full disclosure.