Stay on Track for Compliance: Start with an Accurate Self-Assessment

What’s New (Updated Self-Assessment Accuracy)

This blog reflects current CMMC enforcement following publication of the DFARS acquisition rule in September 2025. The rule took effect on November 10, 2025. DoD solicitations now evaluate NIST SP 800-171 self-assessments and SPRS score submissions. References to CMMC being “forthcoming” or “when launched” have been updated to reflect current compliance expectations.

How Does CMMC Address Cybersecurity Standards?

Cyber threats and data breaches are increasing in frequency and impact. As a result, cybersecurity has become a top priority in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). As a result, the Department of Defense (DoD) has been working to upgrade cybersecurity protocols and performance through the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

Now that CMMC 2.0 requirements are enforced through DoD solicitations, CMMC 2.0 serves as a standardized set of cybersecurity protocols and security practices designed to safeguard Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The DoD initially proposed CMMC as version 1.0. It later revised the framework to CMMC 2.0, focusing on effective implementation of the 110 controls in NIST SP 800-171.

Companies in the DIB with current cybersecurity contractual obligations defined in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) must complete an accurate self-assessment of their NIST SP 800-171 compliance and submit that score to the DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS).

Why Is the SPRS Score Important?

Your SPRS score is more than a number – it’s a crucial metric in DoD contracting. When the DoD evaluates contract bids and prime contractors build their teams of suppliers, your SPRS score stands out prominently. For this reason, maintaining a strong score is essential, with contracting officers and buyers leaning heavily on SPRS scores for risk assessment. An impressive SPRS score bolsters your organization’s standing against competitors, but neglecting its accuracy can cost you contracts and lead to penalties.

At Exostar, our trusted solutions are built to simplify and streamline compliance with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC requirements, including helping you track your status and correctly calculate your SPRS score.

Create and Uphold Strong Policies with Exostar PolicyPro™

CMMC 2.0 now dictates an accreditation process that relies on objective third-party assessments when required by solicitation to evaluate and confirm the effective implementation of NIST SP 800-171 controls for most organizations serving the defense supply chain. These controls identify policies that must be in place, accompanied by clear evidence that everyone in your organization knows and follows them.

To support this effort, Exostar PolicyPro™, part of our CMMC Ready Suite™, is an invaluable tool in this process, delivering efficient policy creation, analysis, updates, documentation, and management capabilities to help your organization build, achieve, maintain, and enforce policies required by NIST cybersecurity standards. You can construct policies from scratch, utilize templates within Exostar PolicyPro™, or leverage the tool’s artificial intelligence (AI) engine to review and update existing policies to align with requirements. With Exostar PolicyPro’s™ user-friendly Policy Builder™, you can effortlessly develop all policies identified in the 14 control families that comprise the 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls.

See how Exostar PolicyPro™ works in the video below.

Prepare for an Accurate Self-Assessment with Certification Assistant™

Compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards can be complex, resource intensive, and time-consuming. Exostar’s Certification Assistant™, part of our CMMC Ready Suite™, simplifies the cybersecurity self-assessment process. The cloud-based tool aligns assessments with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC 2.0. As you prepare for and conduct your NIST SP 800-171 compliance self-assessment and enter that score in the SPRS, you need to aim for the highest score possible. To get there, Certification Assistant™ helps you understand each control so you can accurately determine your compliance status and score, track ongoing items to closure, and create required supporting documentation.

With Exostar’s Certification Assistant™, you can:

• Get insights and guidance on each of the requirements that comprise a CMMC/NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment and monitor your progress on your compliance journey
• Calculate your SPRS score accurately
• Generate your mandated System Security Plan (SSP) on demand
• Develop your Plan of Actions and Milestones (POA&M) to address unmet requirements

See how Certification Assistant™ works in the video below.

Resources and Updates About CMMC 2.0

Certification Assistant and Exostar PolicyPro™ work together with other components of our CMMC Ready Suite™ to provide a robust solution for organizations seeking to meet NIST SP 800-171 controls and CMMC practices. Certification Assistant™ will simplify compliance, while Exostar PolicyPro™ ensures that the necessary policies are in place, tailored, and maintained.

If your organization is unsure whether its SPRS score, SSP, or self-assessment will withstand scrutiny under active CMMC enforcement, now is the time to reassess. Explore structured approaches that help defense contractors maintain accurate documentation, align controls, and prepare for Level 1 or Level 2 requirements.

To learn more about CMMC 2.0 and Exostar’s CMMC Ready Suite™, we invite you to join our online events and explore other posts. You are always welcome to schedule a conversation with a cybersecurity expert at Exostar®.

This is What You Should Do Now

Organizations should confirm whether Level 1 or Level 2 applies to their active and upcoming solicitations. They should also validate that NIST SP 800-171 self-assessments accurately reflect implemented controls. SPRS scores must remain current and supported by evidence. Review SSPs, identify any gaps requiring remediation, and confirm whether a self-assessment or C3PAO assessment is required under contract terms. Accurate self-assessment now reduces risk at contract award and during audit review.