How a Small Business Simplified CMMC Compliance with CyberComply

For many small businesses in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), achieving cybersecurity compliance can feel like staring into a black hole. Between DFARS, CMMC Level 2, and NIST 800-171, the requirements can seem endless, especially for companies with limited IT resources.

That was the reality for Sentinel Systems Integration, a 34-person small business supporting both the U.S. Navy and the Air Force. Like many smaller defense contractors, Sentinel had to meet the same cybersecurity standards as much larger organizations while continuing to deliver on active contracts.

The Challenge: Too Many Requirements, Too Few Resources

Sentinel’s team faced an uphill battle. They needed to implement and document all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls, maintain a System Security Plan (SSP) and a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), and calculate and report their SPRS score to the government.

On top of that, they were responsible for ensuring their subcontractors also met compliance requirements under DFARS flow-down clauses. The workload was heavy, the timeline was tight, and internal cyber staff were already stretched thin.

Manual methods such as spreadsheets and shared folders were not going to cut it. Sentinel needed a centralized and structured approach to manage compliance effectively and confidently.

The Solution: CyberComply GRC as a Central Command Center

To solve these challenges, Sentinel adopted CyberComply GRC, Armada Cyber Defense’s governance, risk, and compliance platform.

CyberComply allowed them to consolidate all their cybersecurity documentation, automate key processes, and maintain complete visibility into their compliance posture across all frameworks including CMMC Level 2, DFARS, and NIST SP 800-171.

Key capabilities that made a difference:

• Comprehensive Control Mapping: Full coverage of the 110 NIST controls, expanded into over 320 sub-controls for complete clarity.

• Scoping Tool: Helped focus limited resources on what mattered most, improving efficiency.

• Automated SPRS Score: Provided real-time scoring and dashboards to track readiness progress.

• Central Evidence Repository: Created a single secure location for all proof logs, policies, and procedures, simplifying audits.

• Policy Templates: Pre-built templates across 14 policy domains accelerated policy development and implementation.

• Audit Readiness Mode: Enabled internal reviews and mock assessments to build confidence before official audits.

• Data Separation: The platform did not store Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), reducing risk and liability under DFARS 252.204-7012.

The Results: Compliance and Confidence

Within a short period of adopting CyberComply, Sentinel completed its scoping, gap assessment, and POA&M development. The team successfully calculated and submitted its SPRS self-assessment score through the government’s PIEE system, feeling confident in the accuracy of their results.

They also implemented complete policies and procedures for DFARS and CMMC preparation. More importantly, the entire organization began to show a stronger cybersecurity culture. Employees understood the importance of compliance and how their actions contributed to it.

The most impressive milestone came when Sentinel passed a Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) review of its cybersecurity posture during a pre-award audit. The review confirmed that Sentinel’s compliance strategy was not only effective but sustainable.

Their Director of Operations summarized the transformation best:

“Before CyberComply, compliance felt like a black hole. Now we have structure, automation, and visibility. It’s like having a CMMC program office in one platform.”

Today, more than 80 percent of Sentinel’s CMMC evidence is organized and maintained within CyberComply, setting them firmly on track for full Level 2 certification.

The Takeaway: A Blueprint for Small Business Success

Sentinel’s journey shows that small businesses can meet enterprise-level cybersecurity standards with the right approach and tools.

CyberComply gave Sentinel the structure, automation, and visibility needed to turn compliance from chaos into control. By eliminating manual processes, centralizing documentation, and improving team awareness, they created a repeatable model that other small defense contractors can follow.

For any small business preparing for CMMC, CyberComply makes complex compliance simple, scalable, and achievable.

Explore how CyberComply can help your business prepare for CMMC Level 2 certification:
👉 www.cybercomply.us