An independent organization accredited by the Cyber AB and authorized by the Department of Defense (DoD) to conduct official CMMC assessments. C3PAOs evaluate whether defense contractors and subcontractors have implemented the required practices and processes at the appropriate certification level, most commonly CMMC Level 2 for organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

To maintain impartiality and quality, C3PAOs must meet rigorous requirements, including employing Certified CMMC Assessors (CCAs), undergoing background checks, and maintaining secure environments for handling assessment data. Once an assessment is completed, the results are submitted to the DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) as formal proof of compliance.

C3PAOs play a critical role in the CMMC ecosystem, providing trusted, third-party validation that contractors meet the cybersecurity standards necessary to participate in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).