CMMC Gap Assessment: What to Expect
January 30, 2026
A step by step walkthrough of the CMMC Gap Assessment process. Understand what assessors look for, how to prepare, and how to use the results to achieve certification.
A CMMC Gap Assessment is the essential first step for any defense contractor pursuing CMMC certification. This comprehensive evaluation compares your current cybersecurity practices against CMMC requirements and identifies what needs to be fixed before your formal assessment.
What Happens During a Gap Assessment
A qualified CMMC consultant will review your organization across multiple domains:
- Access Control
- Awareness and Training
- Audit and Accountability
- Configuration Management
- Identification and Authentication
- Incident Response
- Maintenance
- Media Protection
- Personnel Security
- Physical Protection
- Risk Assessment
- Security Assessment
- System and Communications Protection
- System and Information Integrity
Preparing for Your Assessment
Before the assessment begins, gather the following documentation:
- Network diagrams and system inventories
- Existing security policies and procedures
- Previous audit reports or assessments
- System Security Plan (SSP) if available
- List of all systems that process CUI
Understanding Your Gap Report
After the assessment, you will receive a detailed gap report that scores your compliance across all CMMC practices. The report will identify:
Compliant practices: Areas where you already meet requirements
Partially compliant practices: Areas needing improvement
Non compliant practices: Areas requiring significant remediation
Using the Results
Your gap report becomes the foundation for your Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) — a roadmap for achieving full CMMC compliance. Work with your cybersecurity provider to prioritize remediation efforts based on risk and timeline.