The CMMC Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) is the only authorized entity to choose third-party assessors (C3PAOs) who can give certification for CMMC.
Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs), like SysArc, can provide excellent tools and services to help the organization reach compliance standards, but they do not generally provide official assessments or certifications.
How the CMMC-AB Chooses Third-Party Assessors
The CMMC-AB is responsible for role alignment between the CMMC, the CMMC Assessment Body (CMMC-AB), and the CMMC Certification Body (CMMC-CB). The role alignment identifies which companies are performing what tasks within the CMMC process.
The assessment body evaluates all organizations that want to provide certification to ensure they are following the appropriate standards and there is no conflict of interest. The certification body then audits organizations that provide CMMC assessments and ensures they are correctly following assessment process guidelines.
Any person or organization wishing to provide CMMC certification must be approved by the CMMC-AB through this application process.
How to Schedule an Official Certification Assessment
The CMMC certification process is divided into two phases: the self-assessment or an assessment by a third-party consultant, and the official assessment. The self-assessment can be completed at any time, while organizations must wait until sometime in 2022 for their official assessment appointment since assessors are still in training.
One of the key steps in becoming a CMMC certified organization involves preparing for your official assessment during this period. Organizations Seeking Certification (OSCs) can prepare by working with a reliable CMMC Consultant to work towards compliance now.
If you are a DoD contractor and are wanting to learn more about how to prepare your organization for DFARS and CMMC, read our CMMC Compliance Guide or contact us for more information about how SysArc can help you meet DFARS requirements and prepare for CMMC.