Where most small DIB contractors get stuck on CMMC Level 2 (and how to avoid it)

1️⃣ Scoping and boundaries:

Many teams never clearly define their CUI environment or enclave, so everything feels “in scope,” driving cost and complexity through the roof. Summit Cyber helps you right-size scope up front so you are only securing what actually needs to be protected.

2️⃣ Turning policies into practice:

Policies get written, but MFA, logging, backups, and access control are not fully implemented or monitored day to day. The gap between “what’s on paper” and “what’s in production” is where assessments fall apart.

3️⃣ Evidence and objective artifacts:

Contractors underestimate the need for documented procedures, screenshots, configurations, and logs tied to each NIST 800-171 control. They are doing some of the right things, but cannot prove it in a repeatable way.

4️⃣ Resource constraints and competing priorities

Small teams are already overloaded just keeping systems running, so CMMC work keeps slipping to “after hours” and never really finishes. Without a structured plan and outside help, the project stalls somewhere between gap assessment and implementation.

5️⃣ Reliance on non-compliant vendors

MSPs, cloud providers, and key tools are not aligned with NIST 800-171 and CMMC requirements, which quietly blows up the whole posture. Many small DIBs do not realize that their providers are now part of their compliance story.

Summit Cyber works with small and mid-sized DIB contractors to:

• Clarify scope and CUI boundaries

• Build a practical, prioritized implementation roadmap

• Close the “policy vs. reality” gap with real controls, not shelfware

• Prepare evidence so you can face C3PAOs and primes with confidence

For small teams facing these challenges, structured outside support can be the difference between ‘perpetually in progress’ and ‘audit-ready’.

That’s the space Summit Cyber operates in.