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Elevate

18+

Years advising

500+

Clients served

100%

Audit pass rate

500+

Penetration tests

CMMC Level 2 / C3PAO Advisory

Not every C3PAO fits every contractor. We know which one fits yours.

C3PAOs are not interchangeable. They specialize by sector, by assessment scope, and by the kind of CUI environment they know best. We work with multiple authorized C3PAOs, match you to the one built for your niche, confirm you are ready before you book, and get you in the queue before Phase 2 demand peaks on November 10, 2026.

18+

Years advising

500+

Clients served

100%

Audit pass rate

500%

Penetration tests

The real bottleneck

Choosing a C3PAO is harder than it looks

Most contractors discover the same thing too late: the bottleneck is not which C3PAO is best. It is getting a qualified slot, with the right scope, before the assessment is required.

Capacity is the real constraint

With fewer than 100 authorized C3PAOs for roughly 80,000 organizations, waiting means waiting in line.

Scope mismatch costs money

The wrong assessment boundary means a longer, more expensive assessment, or a failed one.

Readiness gaps surface mid-assessment

Booking a slot before you are ready burns the slot and the budget.

 

Experience and price vary widely

Not every C3PAO has assessed an organization like yours, and rates are not standardized.

What we do

Independent C3PAO matching and readiness, in one place

We are an independent advisory firm, not a C3PAO, so we are never selling you our own assessment. We work with multiple authorized C3PAOs and we know their differences: who specializes in defense manufacturing versus aerospace versus IT and managed services, who handles large multi site scopes well, who has capacity in your timeline, and who fits your budget.


We match you to the one built for your niche, confirm you are ready before you book, and if we find gaps, we help you close them so the assessment slot is not wasted.

How We Match

       Sector fit                                                 mfg / aero / IT

      Scope size                                          single to multi site

      Timeline capacity                              single to multi site

      Budget band                                            right sized cost

Track Record

Why defense contractors trust Elevate

Certified assessors lead the work. Our CMMC practice is led by a Certified CMMC Assessor (CCA) and Certified CMMC Professional (CCP) with deep CMMC and FedRAMP expertise.

A 100% audit pass rate across more than 500 clients, earned over 18+ years.

Readiness grounded in real testing, informed by more than 500 penetration tests, not checklist theater.

100%

Audit pass rate

85%

Client retention

CMMC

FedRAMP

ISO 27001

ISO 42001

SOC 2

SWIFT CSP

Three steps

How it works

Most contractors discover the same thing too late: the bottleneck is not which C3PAO is best. It is getting a qualified slot, with the right scope, before the assessment is required.

Book a 20 minute consult

Tell us your scope, your timeline, and where you are today.

We pressure test your readiness

We confirm your assessment boundary and flag gaps that would put a certification at risk.

We match you to the right C3PAO

We introduce you to an authorized assessor that fits, and help you get on the calendar before Phase 2 demand peaks.

Get matched

Find your C3PAO

Answer five quick questions. We will follow up within one business day.

Independent advice, not our own assessment

Matched by sector, scope, timeline, and budget

No charge for the consult

GET MATCHED

Before you book

Is Elevate a C3PAO?

No, and that is the advantage. Because we do not perform the assessment ourselves, our recommendation is based on fit, not on selling you our own service. We work with several authorized C3PAOs and match you to the one that fits your sector, scope, and timeline.

Do I need a C3PAO, or can I self-assess?

Level 1 (Federal Contract Information) and a small share of Level 2 are self-assessed. Most contractors that handle Controlled Unclassified Information need a Level 2 third-party assessment by a C3PAO. We confirm which applies to you on the call.

When do I actually need certification?

Phase 2 begins November 10, 2026, when Level 2 certification assessments are required in applicable contracts. Readiness typically takes 6 to 12 months, so the time to start is now.

What does it cost?

The consult is free. We give you a clear picture of likely assessment cost and timeline for your specific scope, with no surprises.

Can you also help us get ready?

Yes. If the consult surfaces gaps, we can guide remediation so your assessment slot is not wasted.

Phase 2 is coming. Your C3PAO slot should already be booked

Twenty minutes now can save you months in the queue.