SOC 2 vs CMMC: Which Do You Need?
SOC 2 is a voluntary security audit that proves security practices to customers. CMMC is a mandatory certification for DoD contractors handling government information. Choose based on your customers and contracts.
Quick Comparison
SOC 2
- Voluntary audit
- For customer data protection
- Required by enterprise customers
- Based on AICPA TSC criteria
- Type I or Type II reports
- Annual recertification
- $30K-$150K cost
- 4-6 month timeline
CMMC Level 2
- Mandatory certification
- For government data protection
- Required for DoD contracts
- Based on NIST SP 800-171
- Three certification levels
- Every 3 years recertification
- $100K-$500K cost
- 6-12 month timeline
Key Differences
Purpose & Audience
SOC 2: Proves to customers that you securely handle their data. Provides competitive advantage in sales process. Demonstrates security maturity to investors and partners.
CMMC: Required to bid on and maintain DoD contracts. Proves you can protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI).
Scope
SOC 2: Focuses on systems that process, store, or transmit customer data. Can scope to specific services or products. Flexible boundary definition.
CMMC: Focuses on systems that handle CUI or FCI. Stricter scope requirements. Must include all systems that process government information.
Assessment Process
SOC 2: Independent CPA firm performs audit. Type I examines controls at a point in time. Type II examines controls over 3-12 months. Report shared with customers under NDA.
CMMC: Certified Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) performs assessment. Level 2+ require third-party assessment. Certification registered in DoD Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS).
Control Overlap
SOC 2 and CMMC Level 2 have significant control overlap:
- Access Control: Both require strong authentication and authorization
- Encryption: Both require data encryption at rest and in transit
- Monitoring & Logging: Both require security event monitoring
- Incident Response: Both require documented incident procedures
- Change Management: Both require controlled system changes
- Vendor Management: Both require third-party risk assessment
Which Should You Get First?
Choose CMMC First If:
- You have active DoD contracts requiring certification
- You're bidding on DoD contracts with CMMC requirements
- Contract deadlines are approaching
- You don't sell to commercial enterprises requiring SOC 2
Choose SOC 2 First If:
- Enterprise customers require SOC 2 for sales
- You need to prove security for funding or partnerships
- No immediate DoD contract requirements
- You want foundation for future CMMC (50% overlap)
- Lower initial cost and faster timeline works better
Cost Comparison
SOC 2 Type II
- Gap Assessment: $10K-$20K
- Implementation: $20K-$80K
- Audit Fee: $15K-$50K
- Total: $45K-$150K
- Timeline: 4-6 months
- Annual re-audit: $20K-$50K
CMMC Level 2
- Gap Assessment: $15K-$30K
- Implementation: $50K-$400K
- C3PAO Assessment: $15K-$70K
- Total: $80K-$500K
- Timeline: 6-12 months
- Re-certification (3 years): Similar costs
Can You Do Both?
Yes! Many organizations pursue both certifications. Benefits of dual certification:
- Cost Savings: Meaningful combined cost savings vs. separate (due to overlap)
- Faster Timeline: Parallel implementation can reduce total time
- Shared Infrastructure: Same tools support both frameworks
- Unified Documentation: Policies satisfy both requirements
- Single Assessment Prep: Similar preparation activities
- Market Advantage: Serve both government and commercial customers
Leveraging SOC 2 for CMMC
If you already have SOC 2 Type II, your CMMC Level 2 implementation is easier:
- Faster implementation: Many controls already implemented
- Lower costs: Typically less than starting from scratch
- Mature processes: Security program already established
- Team experience: Staff familiar with compliance requirements
- Focus on gaps: Only implement CMMC-specific requirements
Additional CMMC Requirements Beyond SOC 2:
- Specific NIST SP 800-171 technical controls
- CUI marking and handling procedures
- Media protection requirements
- Physical security controls
- Specific incident reporting to DoD
Making the Decision
Consider these factors:
- Customer Requirements: What do your customers mandate?
- Contract Deadlines: When do you need certification?
- Budget: What can you invest in the next 12 months?
- Market Strategy: Commercial vs. government focus?
- Current Posture: What controls do you already have?
- Long-Term Plans: Will you need both eventually?
Get Expert Guidance
Pilotcore provides SOC 2 and CMMC compliance services. We'll assess your current state, recommend the right path, and implement both frameworks efficiently. Our dual-track approach can meaningfully reduce costs and time compared to sequential implementation.