Cherry Bekaert has entered into a strategic alliance with Lifeline Data Centers to expand its CMMC support services. The collaboration is designed to help defense contractors meet upcoming compliance Necessary more efficiently as the Department of Defense prepares to enforce its CMMC acquisition rule on October 1, 2025.

By integrating Cherry Bekaert’s compliance and assessment expertise with Lifeline’s secure, CMMC-ready infrastructure, the collaboration aims to reduce both the time and financial burden associated with certification.

“With Lifeline’s compliant data environments, contractors can adopt a significant portion of required controls without building everything from scratch,” said Jim Kramer, Digital Advisory Partner at Cherry Bekaert. “This significantly eases the certification process.”

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Strengthening Contractor Readiness

As an authorized CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO), Cherry Bekaert offers a full suite of compliance services, from gap assessments and certification audits to managed IT and cybersecurity operations. Its team combines regulatory knowledge with modern IT practices to help contractors achieve compliance while maintaining strong cyber defenses.

According to Roy Nicholson, Partner and Business Optimization Leader at Cherry Bekaert, “The partnership provides contractors with a streamlined path to CMMC readiness, ensuring they can protect sensitive data, preserve contract eligibility, and reinforce national cyber resilience.”

Fast-Track Solutions for SMBs

Lifeline Data Centers brings its “CMMC Fasttrack Implementation” framework to the alliance, enabling small and mid-sized businesses to quickly reach Level 2 or Level 3 certification. By leveraging Lifeline’s established security controls, contractors can avoid the lengthy and costly process of building compliant systems from the ground up.

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Cherry Bekaert complements this fast-track approach with advisory services, readiness reviews, and certification support—helping businesses prepare for DoD audits with greater confidence.

“Our role as a C3PAO, combined with Lifeline’s compliant infrastructure, allows us to deliver more than certification—we deliver lasting security maturity,” noted Kurt Manske, Partner and Information Cybersecurity Leader at Cherry Bekaert.

Addressing Compliance Barriers

High infrastructure costs and operational disruptions remain some of the largest obstacles for contractors pursuing CMMC certification. The Cherry Bekaert–Lifeline partnership tackles these challenges head-on by providing a scalable, cost-efficient compliance pathway that merges technical infrastructure with advisory expertise.

Together, the firms aim to empower contractors to meet CMMC obligations faster, safeguard sensitive data, and sustain long-term security resilience.

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