As CMMC enforcement becomes a reality, defense contractors across the industrial base are running into an unexpected obstacle: assessment capacity.
While much of the CMMC conversation has focused on controls and documentation, industry data reveals a pressing issue, that there aren’t enough certified assessors to meet demand. Tens of thousands of contractors will soon need CMMC Level 2 certification to remain eligible for Department of War contracts. The slow pace of certifications, limited number of authorized assessors, and a growing backlog point to a bottleneck that could delay certifications for months or even years.
For contractors, this isn’t just a compliance issue. It’s a business risk.
Companies that wait too long to prepare, document, and schedule their assessments may find themselves unable to bid, renew, or win contracts while more proactive competitors move ahead.
The stats below highlight the most important data points shaping the CMMC assessment landscape today, and what contractors should be doing right now to stay ahead of the bottleneck.
There are under 600 Certified CMMC Assessors today, but estimates suggest there will need to be 2,000-3,000 to meet future certification demand (1).
What You Should Do:
Treat assessor availability as a revenue constraint, not an administrative detail. Engage an independent C3PAO early to secure your assessment window so certification does not become the reason you miss recompetes, delayed awards, or new contract opportunities.
Only ~0.5% of the Defense Industrial Base has achieved CMMC Level 2 certification so far, with hundreds of assessors and C3PAOs working through a huge queue (2).
What You Should Do:
Start scoping and remediation now so CMMC readiness supports your growth strategy. Early preparation ensures you can pursue new DoW opportunities confidently as requirements appear in solicitations.
With ~80,000 contractors expected to need Level 2 certification and only ~80 authorized C3PAOs available, many are already booked throughout 2026 (3).
What You Should Do:
Align certification timing with your business strategy. If assessment timelines slip, so does your ability to bid, win, and scale DoW work. Plan assessment bookings as you would any other critical investment tied to market access and long-term competitiveness.
At the current pace of certifications, full Level 2 compliance across the DIB could take years, currently projected into late 2029(4).
What You Should Do:
Move readiness work upstream to protect future revenue. Companies that wait will be competing for fewer assessor slots while contract requirements continue to tighten. Early action keeps your business moving forward instead of stalled in a multi-year backlog.
Recent data shows only 1% of defense contractors feel fully prepared for CMMC assessment (5).
What You Should Do:
Close readiness gaps with intent and ownership across the organization. CMMC success depends on operational discipline, documented processes, and cultural alignment. Addressing these early reduces risk to contract execution and future growth.
Even among prepared contractors, fewer than half have completed foundational CMMC documentation (6).
What You Should Do:
Treat documentation as a business enabler, not paperwork. Complete foundational artifacts early to ensure assessments move efficiently and do not delay certification timelines that directly impact contract awards and customer confidence.
Companies that booked early assessments in 2025 are gaining a strategic advantage by achieving earning certification while competitors remain in backlog (7).
What You Should Do:
Use early certification to differentiate in a crowded market. Certified companies signal maturity and reliability to contracting officers and primes. Certification isn’t just defensive; it’s a growth lever.
Certified CMMC assessors and professionals are increasing month-over-month, but growth is modest compared to demand (8).
What You Should Do:
Talk to a C3PAO About Assessment Availability.
If CMMC Level 2 certification will be required for your contracts, the next step is understanding assessment availability and timing. Speak with a certified C3PAO to discuss when assessments are booking, what timelines look like, and how capacity constraints may affect your ability to pursue upcoming DoW work.
Having this conversation early helps you plan certification around contract opportunities, avoid last-minute delays, and reduce risk to revenue as CMMC requirements take effect.
References:
1: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/it-modernization/2025/12/cyber-accreditation-bodys-matt-travis-on-scaling-the-cmmc-ecosystem
2: https://www.cmmc.com/newsroom/cmmc-enforcement-day-one-few-companies-ready
3: https://time2accelerate.com/blog/2025-lessons-for-2026-cmmc-success
4: https://isidefense.com/cmmc-bottleneck-coming
5: https://www.cmmc.com/newsroom/cmmc-enforcement-day-one-few-companies-ready
6: https://www.cmmc.com/newsroom/cmmc-enforcement-day-one-few-companies-ready
7: https://time2accelerate.com/blog/2025-lessons-for-2026-cmmc-success
8: https://www.cmmc.com/newsroom/cyber-ab-town-hall-10-2025