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When Should You Work with a CMMC RPO vs. a C3PAO?

CMMC is a complex undertaking. Depending on where you are in your certification journey, you could require consulting, assessment, or both. Fortunately, the CMMC program includes training and authorization for two distinct types of organizations: Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs) and Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs), each offering different services. 

We’re discussing these organizations and which one you might want to engage with when preparing for CMMC certification. 

 

What Are Registered Provider Organizations (RPOs)?

A CMMC Registered Provider Organization is a consulting entity officially registered with the CMMC Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB), the authoritative body established to operationalize and manage the DoD’s CMMC program. RPOs are authorized to provide advisory and security support services to organizations preparing for their CMMC certification process. 

All RPOs will share a few common traits and requirements:

The responsibilities of an RPO include:

 

Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations

The CMMC-AB formally accredits a C3PAO to assess defense contractors’ compliance with CMMC standards. These organizations play a crucial role in the Defense Industrial Base infrastructure by certifying third-party contractors offering IT services to DoD and Executive agencies. 

In their role as an assessment organization, C3PAOs share the following responsibilities:

 

Accreditation Process for CMMC 3PAOs

To become a C3PAO, an organization must undergo a rigorous accreditation process by the CMMC-AB. This process ensures that the C3PAO has the expertise, processes, and impartiality to conduct fair assessments. 

Critical steps in this process include:

Once a C3PAO is certified, it will be listed in the CMMC marketplace. The CMMC-AB approves any organization listed here, so you won’t have to worry about verifying credentials. 

 

When Should I Work with an RPO?

It’s important to note that RPOs do not provide assessment services–this responsibility is limited to C3PAOs or government agencies, depending on the assessment level. That being said, RPOs serve an essential function based on your organization’s needs:

 

When Should I Work with a C3PAO?

Once you look at CMMC Level 2 or Level 3 certification, you will find that C3PAOs are non-negotiable. It is important to note that if you’re already working with an RPO, that same company cannot serve as your C3PAO due to conflicts of interest. 

Accordingly, you should work with a C3PAO when you’re ready for certification:

 

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Continuum GRC is a cloud platform that stays ahead of the curve, including support for CMMC certification (along with our sister company and C3PAO, Lazarus Alliance). We provide risk management and compliance support for every major regulation and compliance framework on the market, including:

We are the only FedRAMP and StateRAMP-authorized compliance and risk management solution worldwide.

Continuum GRC is a proactive cyber security® and the only FedRAMP and StateRAMP-authorized cybersecurity audit platform worldwide. Call 1-888-896-6207 to discuss your organization’s cybersecurity needs and learn how we can help protect its systems and ensure compliance.

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