You’ve spent months implementing controls, documenting policies, and preparing your systems for CMMC Level 2 compliance. But when the certified third-party assessor organization (C3PAO) shows up, what exactly happens next?
Most contractors have no idea what to expect during the actual assessment process. They know they need to be compliant, but the assessment itself remains a black box. What will assessors ask for? How do they evaluate your controls? How thin is the line between “met” and “not met?”
Fernando Machado, Managing Principal and CISO at Cybersec Investments, is pulling back the curtain at CMMC CON 2025 on Sept. 24-25, 2025. His session “Inside the C3PAO Process: Preparing for Your Assessment” will feature something no other CMMC CON presentation has offered before: a live mock assessment that shows contractors exactly what they’re in for.
Machado is a Lead Certified CMMC Assessor (CCA) with 15 years of DOD cybersecurity experience. He’s an authorized C3PAO who literally wrote the book on understanding CMMC. He’s conducted assessments across Army, Navy, and Air Force contractors. He knows what trips up organizations during assessments and what separates successful certifications from failed attempts.
“Contractors are spending enormous amounts of time and money getting ready for CMMC, but they’re flying blind when it comes to the assessment process itself,” said Eric Noonan, CEO of CyberSheath. “We’re lucky to have Fernando show them exactly what happens from the moment C3PAOs walk in the door to the moment of certification.”
Machado will demonstrate the specific documentation assessors expect to see, explain how they conduct interviews and system testing, and reveal the common mistakes that derail assessments. With CMMC implementation starting in 2025, contractors can no longer treat the assessment process as something to worry about later. The organizations that understand what assessors are looking for will move through the certification process smoothly. Those caught off-guard will face delays, additional costs, and potential contract losses.
This is your chance to see the CMMC assessment process in action before your organization goes through it for real. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what to expect, how to prepare, and what red flags to avoid. Register for CMMC CON 2025 to witness this unprecedented look inside the C3PAO assessment process. Your certification timeline and peace of mind depend on understanding what’s coming.