How to calculate the REAL cost of CMMC Level 2
July 14, 2026
When you pay for CMMC Level 2, you’re not just paying an audit fee. You’re paying for licensing, managed services, compliance work, documentation, security tooling, internal audits, mock audits and months of implementation. In this episode of Trust Issues, Brandon Lecoq walks through what defense contractors should actually expect when budgeting for CMMC Level 2, why GCC High can change the entire cost model, and why most delays come from contractor readiness, not C3PAO availability.
CMMC Level 2 is not just an audit fee. It is licensing, managed services, compliance work, documentation, security tooling, internal audits, mock audits, and months of implementation.
In this solo episode of Trust Issues, Brandon Lecoq walks through BEMO’s CMMC Level 2 cost calculator to explain what defense contractors should realistically expect when planning for certification. From GCC High vs. GCC Moderate and Microsoft licensing to managed helpdesk, RPO support, GRC platforms, Azure Virtual Desktop, and the documentation work most companies underestimate, Brandon breaks down the real decisions that shape cost and timeline.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why CMMC Level 2 costs go far beyond the external audit
- How GCC High can make services and support more expensive
- Why your CUI flow should guide the right technical setup
- Why can CMMC documentation reach around 1,500 pages
- How Microsoft's consolidation can make certification and maintenance easier
- Why most contractors should start nine to twelve months before they need certification
Episode chapters:
00:49 Walking through the CMMC level 2 cost calculator
01:15 Why BEMO specializes in Microsoft for CMMC
02:00 How CUI and ITAR decide your cloud environment
02:45 Managed services, licensing, and audit costs
04:00 Why GCC high costs more than GCC moderate
05:25 The three core services: helpdesk, compliance, and security
07:00 What RPO services actually cover
07:53 The 1,500-page documentation reality
09:00 Managed security and technical controls
10:15 Why shop floor workers change the pricing model
11:15 Real pricing for a 50-person GCC high company
12:00 GCC high vs. GCC moderate: the cost difference
12:45 Licensing, tools, and quality-of-life buys
13:30 Why GRC platforms make audits easier
14:45 Microsoft 365 G5 and the technical control stack
15:30 Why ITAR can force tool and licensing changes
17:21 Why BEMO leans into the Microsoft ecosystem
19:30 Azure virtual desktop: when it helps and when it doesn’t
22:00 Professional services in year one
23:00 Internal, mock, and external audits
25:00 Three-year cost of ownership: year one vs. maintenance
26:00 Why GCC moderate can lower ongoing costs
27:00 When to build internally vs. use outside support
28:19 Why your CUI flow determines the right solution
28:47 Why contractor readiness causes more delays than C3PAO availability
Quotes:
- “When you think about an SSP, maybe this will be 300 to 400 pages. When you think about your evidence package, you’re probably going to have 700 pages worth of evidence. Once you consider all the policies, signed policies, procedures, and configuration management documents, you’re easily looking at close to 1,500 pages worth of stuff.”
- “The more you consolidate to the Microsoft platform, the easier time you’re actually going to have with passing your CMMC Level 2 certification.”
- “The number one cause of not getting your CMMC Level 2 certification is not that C3PAOs are booked out for months. Most of it comes from contractor readiness.”
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