---
title: "Defense Subcontractor: CMMC Level 2 in 90 Days | EFROS"
description: "Defense subcontractor CMMC Level 2 on first C3PAO attempt. OT segmentation, NIST 800-171 gap closure, zero production downtime — engagement pattern."
canonical: https://efros.com/case-studies/manufacturing-cmmc-level2/
---

- [Home](https://efros.com/)
- /[Case Studies](https://efros.com/case-studies/)
- /Manufacturing CMMC Level 2

Manufacturing / CMMC Level 2 + OT

# CMMC Level 2 in 90 days.

A precision-machining subcontractor supplying components for major defense primes. 180 employees, two plants, ITAR-controlled production. A prime customer required CMMC Level 2 certification within 120 days or risk losing the contract. No CMMC experience in-house, active CNC production that couldn't stop.

By [Stefan Efros](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanefros-cyberdefense/), CEO & Founder, EFROS

Updated · June 4, 2026

90 days

To C3PAO ready

110/110

NIST 800-171 controls

0

Production hours lost

Level 2

CMMC achieved

## The problem

Two plants running flat networks: CNC machines, engineering workstations, ERP, and general office all sharing the same broadcast domain. [CUI](https://www.archives.gov/cui) was mixed with non-controlled data across the file shares. No logging retention, no SSP, no POA&M, no documented incident response runbook. The prime customer's [CMMC 2.0](https://dodcio.defense.gov/CMMC/) deadline was hard. Another supplier was already queued up to take the contract if certification missed the date.

## The engagement
- Week 1-2: CMMC Level 2 gap assessment against all 110 [NIST SP 800-171](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/171/r3/final) controls. CUI data-flow mapping. SSP and POA&M drafted. [C3PAO](https://cyberab.org/Catalog) engaged for assessment slot.
- Week 3-5: Network segmentation following the Purdue model. CUI enclave carved out with dedicated ingress and egress. OT zone isolated using passive monitoring only; nothing injected into CNC control loops. All network changes staged during planned non-production windows.
- Week 6-8: MFA universal for CUI access. PAM deployed for admin accounts. Logging aggregated into SIEM with 90-day active retention, 1-year cold storage. DLP tuned for CUI markings.
- Week 9-11: Security awareness training for all CUI-handling personnel. Incident response runbook documented and tabletop-tested. Supply-chain security controls for subcontractors. Evidence collection for all 110 controls.
- Week 12: Pre-assessment dry run with EFROS compliance team. Gaps closed. Ready for C3PAO.
- Week 13: C3PAO assessment conducted. Certification issued, inside the 90-day target and well ahead of the prime's 120-day deadline.

## The outcome

Zero CMMC readiness to Level 2 certified in 90 days, with no CNC downtime. The prime-customer contract was retained and two additional DoD-tier contracts followed.
- ✓CMMC Level 2 certification achieved on first C3PAO attempt
- ✓110/110 NIST 800-171 controls operational with documented evidence
- ✓Zero production hours lost during segmentation and deployment
- ✓Prime-customer contract retained; two additional DoD-tier contracts won post-certification
- ✓Controls operate continuously, so the next recertification is steady-state instead of a scramble.

## Voices from the engagement

Additional perspectives from the same engagement across different roles.

[Get Free Assessment](https://efros.com/contact/) [Manufacturing Services](https://efros.com/industries/manufacturing/)

Related work

## More CMMC + manufacturing engagements

[### Free CMMC L2 Readiness Quiz 20-question self-assessment across NIST SP 800-171 R2 control families. Score + gap list + next-step.Open→](https://efros.com/tools/cmmc-readiness/) [### Manufacturing program OT/IT convergence, ISA/IEC 62443, CMMC 2.0, shop-floor segmentation under one accountable plan.Open→](https://efros.com/industries/manufacturing/) [### Vendor consolidation case study Three vendors → one accountable partner across IT, security, and compliance.Open→](https://efros.com/case-studies/manufacturer-vendor-consolidation/) [### Incident Response Retainer Pre-engaged commander for DoD supplier breach notification + supply-chain coordination.Open→](https://efros.com/security/incident-response/) [### Managed SIEM Compliance-ready log retention and detection content for CMMC audit evidence.Open→](https://efros.com/security/managed-siem/) [### All case studies Browse engagements across finserv, healthcare, retail, manufacturing.Open→](https://efros.com/case-studies/)

Related EFROS resources

## Apply this to your environment

[### EFROS for manufacturing Full DIB service stack — CMMC, NIST 800-171, ITAR.Open→](https://efros.com/industries/manufacturing/) [### CMMC L2 readiness scorecard Free 110-control evaluation aligned to NIST SP 800-171.Open→](https://efros.com/resources/cmmc-level-2-scorecard/) [### CMMC readiness quiz 10-minute SPRS-equivalent score estimate.Open→](https://efros.com/tools/cmmc-readiness/) [### vCISO for CMMC Named executive owns SSP, POA&M, C3PAO coordination.Open→](https://efros.com/security/vciso/) [### Zero Trust for 3.13.3 Architecture answer to separation-of-planes requirement.Open→](https://efros.com/security/zero-trust/) [### Discuss your CMMC path Book a 20-minute call to scope your engagement.Open→](https://efros.com/contact/)