As the U.S. Department of Defense accelerates the rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, defense contractors are facing a growing and urgent challenge. According to the latest Cyber AB Town Hall, an estimated 118,000 companies across the defense industrial base will require CMMC Level 2 certification. However, with only 88 authorized Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) currently approved to conduct these evaluations, the gap between demand and assessment capacity is widening rapidly. This imbalance is creating what many in the industry describe as an immediate crisis for contractors seeking timely certification.
In response to this mounting pressure, CyberSheath, the largest CMMC managed service provider, has announced a strategic partnership with ControlCase, an authorized C3PAO and global cybersecurity compliance specialist. Together, the two organizations aim to help defense contractors overcome both the severe assessment bottleneck and the technical complexity associated with preparing for CMMC compliance.
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The session will focus on CMMC scoping challenges—widely recognized as one of the most common and costly mistakes organizations make when preparing for certification. Improper scoping frequently leads contractors to include more systems, users, and data than required, which in turn drives up implementation costs, extends timelines, and increases the long-term compliance burden.
“The C3PAO shortage means contractors can’t afford to fail their first assessment,” said Emil Sayegh, CEO of CyberSheath. “ControlCase is a trusted assessor that understands the technical requirements and can guide organizations through the process efficiently. This partnership ensures our clients have access to quality assessment capacity during a critical bottleneck.”
Beyond the limited number of assessors, many organizations continue to struggle with interpreting how CMMC requirements apply to their specific environments. In particular, scoping errors remain a persistent obstacle. When contractors misidentify the boundaries of their CMMC environment, they often invest time and resources securing systems that are not actually in scope. As a result, compliance programs become more expensive, more complex, and harder to sustain.
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Through this partnership, CyberSheath brings its deep expertise in managed compliance services, remediation, and ongoing security operations, while ControlCase contributes its experience as an authorized assessment body with a global compliance footprint. By aligning pre-assessment preparation, managed services, and formal certification under a coordinated approach, the two companies aim to streamline the path to certification and improve the likelihood that contractors pass on their first attempt.
“Defense contractors need partners who can help them understand not just what compliance requires, but how to achieve it sustainably,” said Mike Jenner, CEO of ControlCase. “CyberSheath’s managed services provide the ongoing support contractors need to maintain compliance long after the initial assessment.”
Looking ahead, this collaboration positions both organizations to play a critical role in supporting the defense industrial base as CMMC enforcement expands. By addressing assessor shortages, improving readiness, and reducing avoidable mistakes, CyberSheath and ControlCase seek to help contractors move from uncertainty to confidence. Ultimately, the partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward integrated compliance ecosystems—where assessment, technical implementation, and long-term security operations work together to ensure both regulatory success and stronger cyber resilience.
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