CMMC C3PAO Firms That Also Issue SOC 2: 19 firms compared

Can a CMMC C3PAO also perform my SOC 2 audit?

CMMC authorization does not automatically include SOC 2 signing authority. Confirm current C3PAO status and that the provider group also has a CPA firm of record, because the two assessments remain distinct and may use different legal entities.

An authorized C3PAO conducts the CMMC assessment for organizations handling controlled unclassified information. The commercial report is still a CPA attestation, not a Cyber AB assessment result. Confirm current authorization in the official CMMC ecosystem before signing.

Program status changed on July 13, 2026: the Department suspended Phase II requirements scheduled for November 10 while keeping Phase I self-assessments. Check the current solicitation, name the C3PAO and CPA signer separately, and treat listed prices and timelines as SOC 2 planning figures only.

Official CMMC Phase II suspension notice ↗ · retrieved 2026-08-20

What is a C3PAO?

A C3PAO is a Certified Third Party Assessment Organization authorized through the Cyber AB to conduct CMMC assessments for organizations handling controlled unclassified information for the Department of Defense. Status is granted, not self-declared, and should be checked in the official ecosystem before you award work.

Authorization vocabulary is defined on CMMC framework explained.

Do CMMC and SOC 2 share controls?

CMMC and SOC 2 share controls in access control, configuration management, logging, and incident response, so a firm running both can reuse parts of the evidence base. The deliverables and governing programs still differ — CMMC is a DoD assessment, SOC 2 a CPA attestation.

A coordinated provider may align discovery, but reuse depends on your scope. Ask for an evidence map that separates shared work from CMMC-specific requirements rather than assuming environment knowledge transfers automatically.

Put the CUI assessment and the commercial Type 2 window on one calendar so evidence requests do not collide. Environment knowledge transfers; program-specific tests and adjudication paths do not. Keep both calendars in the proposal.

Shared access-control language is not a substitute; the vs-page is SOC 2 vs CMMC: how they differ.

Does C3PAO status transfer automatically to a related CPA entity?

C3PAO status does not transfer automatically to a related CPA entity. Authorization is granted to a named organization in the Cyber AB ecosystem. If a sibling CPA firm will sign the SOC 2 report, name both entities in the contract and confirm each status independently before fieldwork kickoff starts.

Should defense-supply-chain SaaS get both CMMC and SOC 2?

Get both only when your DoD contract and commercial buyers require them. One provider may reuse environment knowledge, but control and evidence reuse depends on scope. If you serve only defense customers, confirm whether a separate SOC 2 report adds buyer value.

CMMC pricing and adjudication sit under the DoD program and are not the commercial SOC 2 fees shown here. Sequence the CUI assessment so it does not collide with a Type 2 observation window.

If no C3PAO is required, the full commercial directory is Browse and filter all SOC 2 auditors.