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Your biggest champion - now a C3PAO.
Hive Systems Defense Solutions is officially a C3PAO. Why work with us?
Approachable audit methodology for experts and newcomers alike
Powered by decades of cybersecurity and federal compliance expertise
Heavy focus on scoping so your business can not only be certified, but thrive
Why choose Hive Systems as your C3PAO?
At Hive Systems Defense Solutions, our CMMC focused division of Hive Systems, our expert team of Certified CMMC Assessors (CCAs) and Certified CMMC Professionals (CCPs) are dedicated to ensuring an approachable and collaborative approach to your certification assessment to provide a better overall assessment experience.
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What is a C3PAO?
All CMMC certification assessments must be performed by a C3PAO that has been authorized by the Cyber-AB, a not-for-profit organization serving as the DoD’s certification partner. Authorized C3PAOs can be found on the Cyber-AB Marketplace. CMMC assessments performed by any other third party are considered self-assessments for the purposes of CMMC.
With the CMMC Program officially in effect as of December 2024, defense contractors are now able to begin scheduling and participating in Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 assessments with a Certified Third Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). If you’ve been following along with CMMC, you know that these assessments will become mandatory to prove compliance with mandatory Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity standards some time in 2026. Your C3PAO will become a lifelong partner on your CMMC journey, so it’s important to find a C3PAO that’s the right fit for your organization.
Here’s what sets Hive Systems apart.
Beginning with the Pre-Assessment Phase, we get to know your unique environment and processes to better understand your approach to CMMC compliance. Over our six+ week engagement*, we thoroughly assess the evidence you provide while remaining in constant communication with your team to ensure you have all the necessary opportunities to demonstrate your compliance with the CMMC controls.
*Initial scoping call completed six weeks before the assessment; documentation reviews and interviews typically completed within two weeks depending on complexity of the environment and preparedness of your company’s assessment participants.
Succeed with our Peace of Mind Assessment
Think you’re ready to pass a C3PAO assessment but want the added security of making sure that you’re not missing anything? Take advantage of our peace of mind assessment option, which adds a Mock Assessment to be completed at least two weeks before your official assessment. While we cannot provide any guidance on how to remediate any NOT MET controls identified in the Mock Assessment, you buy yourself extra time to close any gaps before you official assessment. If you complete the Mock Assessment with a passing score, we consider it your official assessment and you’re done!
Why Hive Systems Defense Solutions?
Collaborative Approach
We know that control implementations aren’t always black and white, and there are many ways to meet the spirit of the control without implementing expensive tools. We work closely with your team to understand your unique scope, business processes, and security mechanisms to ensure a smooth assessment that factors in all possible solutions to meet compliance obligations.
History in Cyber and Defense
Our CCAs and CCPs have more than twenty-five years of combined experience supporting defense industrial base and public sector clients. By offering cybersecurity compliance, risk, and strategy solutions to clients, as well as threat intelligence and analysis work for the DoD, our experts bring a unique understanding of the threats to Controlled Unclassified Information in defense contractor networks.
Approachable CMMC
Our CMMC presentations have been described as some of the clearest and most comprehensive guidance on the CMMC Program available to date. At Hive Systems Defense Solutions, we acknowledge the challenges of both understanding and implementing government compliance regulations like CMMC, and provide a number of free resources to help make CMMC more approachable for our clients - ensuring they are truly ready for an assessment by the time we kick off.
Your CMMC advocate.
Our assessors advocate for you while maintaining impartiality, ensuring a thorough yet supportive assessment process. With Hive Systems Defense Solutions, you’re not just getting an assessment; you’re gaining a committed ally in your CMMC journey.
Discover more about CMMC with our free materials.
CMMC SSP Template
Our comprehensive templates to help you build your CMMC-compliant System Security Plan (SSP) using NIST 800-171 Rev. 2, or prepare for the future with NIST 800-171 Rev. 3.
CMMC Level 2 Self Assessment Tool
Access our FREE CMMC Level 2 Assessment Tool to complete your CMMC Level 2 self assessment. Our free tool will walk you through all the criteria for your assessment to obtain your CMMC-required SPRS score and identify gaps and areas for improvement prior to engaging a C3PAO.
Why a C3PAO Assessment?
Strengthen your competitive edge with our executive guide to C3PAO assessments—unlocking new DoD contract opportunities, reducing compliance burdens, and ensuring expert-validated cybersecurity readiness.
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Talk to an expert about CMMC, our services, pricing, or anything else.
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