Article

CMMC Compliance: Uncovering the Quiet Cost of Waiting

June 09, 2025

Why delays in CMMC readiness could quietly sabotage your contract pipeline

On paper, delaying your CMMC Level 2 preparation might feel strategic. But behind the scenes, organizations that wait are slowly absorbing costs, risks, and missed opportunities they can’t see—until it’s too late.

At Coalfire Federal, we’ve assessed and advised hundreds of organizations across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). And we see a pattern: the organizations that wait end up paying more—not just in dollars, but in lost time, trust, and access.

 


 

1. A Longer Road Than You Think

Most organizations underestimate how long CMMC readiness really takes. From initial scoping to C3PAO assessment, the average timeline spans 12 to 24 months—and that’s for organizations actively working on it now.

Those who delay will be competing for limited assessment capacity at the same time others are rushing to meet contract deadlines. That creates an assessment bottleneck, and the line is already forming.

Waiting doesn’t shrink the timeline—it just pushes it further down the road.

 


 

2. Rising Costs, Hidden in Plain Sight

What looks like cost avoidance is often cost deferral—and it snowballs:

  • Additional months of legacy infrastructure or insecure practices
  • Compliance staffing that stretches over quarters instead of weeks
  • Duplicate work as scoping or tooling decisions change midstream

We’ve seen late-starters spend 30–50% more just trying to catch up.

 


 

3. Assessment Capacity Is Finite—and Already Constrained

As a C3PAO, Coalfire Federal has a front-row seat to growing demand. Even well-prepared organizations can wait 3 to 6 months just for assessment availability.

But the kicker? Most aren’t ready when they think they are. That means:

  • Missed target dates
  • Multiple rounds of remediation and reassessment
  • Damaged internal credibility

The “rush to assess” crowd risks stalling out entirely.

 


 

4. The Opportunity Cost No One Tracks

Every quarter you delay:

  • You may be ineligible for work that requires a certified supplier
  • Prime contractors may pass you over, even if you're technically compliant
  • You lose the ability to shape upstream security expectations with confidence

And here’s what we rarely say aloud: In this market, slow movers are future subcontractors.

 


 

5. You're Not Standing Still—You're Falling Behind

Delaying compliance doesn’t freeze risk. It extends exposure:

  • MFA remains partial or unenforced
  • System boundaries for CUI stay ambiguous
  • Critical policies exist only on paper

That’s how companies fail assessments they thought they’d pass—and it’s one reason why mock assessments are becoming a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

 


 

6. The Risk of Noncompliance Is Now Financial

The False Claims Act is no longer hypothetical. Recent enforcement actions against both large and small contractors show that misrepresenting compliance or readiness—intentionally or not—can be costly.

This isn’t just about readiness anymore. It’s about legal exposure and the growing scrutiny on defense supply chains.

 


 

The Bottom Line: Time Is a Strategic Asset

Being early means more than being ready. It means:

  • Assessment Access - Preferred scheduling with a C3PAO like Coalfire Federal
  • Better Planning - More time for internal adoption, testing, and staff readiness
  • Contract Readiness - Competitive positioning when CMMC appears in RFPs—whether officially or informally

 


 

Why Coalfire Federal

As one of the few firms operating on both sides of CMMC—as a certified assessor and a trusted advisory partner—we see the pitfalls and pathways others miss. We’ve helped countless organizations move from “mostly ready” to confidently compliant, and we know what delays really cost.

Ready doesn’t happen overnight. But it doesn’t happen at all if you don’t start. If CMMC Level 2 is in your future, now is the time to act—before the quiet cost of waiting becomes a loud regret.

Let’s Get You on Track

Whether you need a mock assessment, advisory support, or a certified C3PAO, Coalfire Federal has the experience, authority, and insight to guide you confidently through CMMC Level 2.

Start your path to compliance today, and contact us directly to discuss where you stand—and how to move forward.