Countdown to Compliance: The CMMC Timeline

January 13, 2026

The wait is over: The CMMC Final Rule (48 CFR), was published on Sep 10, 2025, and as of Nov 10, 2025, CMMC requirements are now live in DoD contracts, RFPs, & RFIs.

CMMC Background

Defense contractors handling controlled unclassified information (CUI) have been required to meet the 110 controls of NIST 800-171 since 2017. CMMC validates this compliance through independent assessments conducted by a C3PAO (CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization).

As Matt Travis, CEO of the CMMC Accreditation Body, warned during PreVeil’s 2025 CMMC Summit:

If there’s one message I hope you take away from today’s PreVeil Summit it’s that we’re there. CMMC is up and running.

The Latest CMMC Timeline

CMMC Compliance Deadlines

• Dec 16, 2024: CMMC Final Rule (32 CFR) became effective
• Jan 2, 2025: CMMC assessments began
• Sep 10, 2025: 48 CFR published in the Federal Register.
• Nov 10, 2025: 48 CFR became effective and Dod contracting officers can add CMMC requirements to any DoD contract, RFP or RFI.

Further, prime contractors are starting to require their subcontractors meet CMMC requirements, ahead of specific contracts. Here’s what Leidos CISO JR Williamson said on a PreVeil panel:

Compliance isn’t going away. It is going to be a requirement to be able to bid on and continue to operate on these contracts.

Defense contractors who are not yet meeting all 110 NIST 800-171 controls should prioritize this immediately if they wish to continue bidding on defense contracts.

Behind the Curve? How to Fast-Track CMMC

Given that CMMC is now in contracts, you need to get started on your compliance preparations. It takes 6-12 months for the average defense contractor to get assessment ready and doing nothing is not an option. Here’s what Matt Travis said:

If you do not get CMMC Certification, you will not be able to win DoD contracts. I cannot emphasize that enough

If you’re not sure where to start, read our CMMC Guide. For convenience, here are a few ways to expedite your compliance journey:

1. Limit your Compliance Boundary with an Enclave: You may be able to establish a secure, isolated enclave environment for CUI, which can simplify documentation, saving you time & money.
2. Use Pre-Filled, Assessment-Ready Documentation: Protecting CUI is at the core of CMMC compliance. However, you also must provide detailed documentation to your C3PAO Assessor to prove that you’re compliant. PreVeil offers pre-filled, assessment-validated documentation that covers all 110 controls, including a System Security Plan (SSP). 
3. Limit POA&MS: Plans of Actions & Milestones (POAMs) describe your plan to meet any controls that are currently unmet. Make sure you are taking steps to address any POAMs and specifying the technologies and procedures you will need to close those gaps. C3PAOs will allow for only a limited use of POAMs at the time of assessment and then only for the least critical controls. You will need a minimum score of 80% (88/110) to be eligible for a conditional certification so we do not recommend relying on POAMs to pass CMMC.
4. Leverage Partners: If you get stuck, or don’t have the time or expertise to complete the steps required, you can take advantage of PreVeil’s preferred network of Assessors, Consultants, and Service Providers. They offer a variety of services to help accelerate your compliance journey, and you can have confidence that they were vetted and recommended by the PreVeil compliance team.

According to the current letter of the law, NIST 800-171A, you are already responsible for meeting all of the security standards included in CMMC. If you are not yet fulfilling this obligation, the time to act is now.

Get Caught Up with PreVeil

If your organization wishes to stay in the Defense Industrial Base, then you will need to become CMMC compliant. PreVeil can help.

PreVeil’s proven solution is used by over 2,500 defense contractors and provides a comprehensive solution to expedite CMMC compliance. It includes:

• Technology Platform: Our Email and Drive platform protects CUI with end-to-end encryption and meets FedRAMP Moderate Equivalent, FIPS 140-2 and DFARS 7012 c-g.

• Compliance Accelerator: We provide pre-filled, assessment-ready CMMC documentation, step-by-step videos and 1×1 support from our compliance experts.

• Partner Network: We support your organization through the entire compliance journey – from prep to assessment – with our network of CMMC consultants and auditors.The goal for defense contractors is to not only remain eligible to win defense contracts, but also to minimize business risk and protect CUI from our country’s adversaries. By getting started on your organization’s compliance journey, you can achieve these objectives and ensure your company is ready for ramped-up federal enforcement of cybersecurity regulations.

The goal for defense contractors is to not only remain eligible to win defense contracts, but also to minimize business risk and protect CUI from our country’s adversaries. By getting started on your organization’s compliance journey, you can achieve these objectives and ensure your company is ready for ramped-up federal enforcement of cybersecurity regulations.

PreVeil’s proven solution has been used by 60 defense contractors and C3PAOs to achieve perfect 110 scores in CMMC assessments.

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