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C3PAO + SOC 2
Best for defense contractors needing both
Schellman is an authorized C3PAO that also issues SOC 2 from about $20,000 in three to twelve weeks, fitting defense-supply-chain SaaS that needs CMMC and commercial trust from one firm.
CMMC C3PAO Firms That Also Issue SOC 2: 13 firms compared
13 attestation-capable firms in this directory match this combined SOC 2 scope. Use this page to find one assessor for overlapping control work instead of running separate engagements with separate evidence requests.
Last updated / Combined scope
Matching firms
13attestation-capable
Type 2 fee range
$10K-$150K
Fastest listed timeline
2 wk
Editorial brief
What this page covers.
Defense contractors and the SaaS vendors that serve them increasingly face two demands at once: a CMMC assessment to keep handling controlled unclassified information for the Department of Defense, and a SOC 2 report to win commercial customers. A CMMC assessment must be performed by an authorized Certified Third Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO); a SOC 2 report must be issued by a licensed CPA firm. The firms on this page hold both capabilities, so a single assessor can carry your DoD-side authorization and your commercial trust report instead of you managing two unrelated engagements.
This is a focused specialist list, separate from our general SOC 2 ranking, and it exists because the intersection is genuinely small. C3PAO authorization is granted through the Cyber AB under the CMMC ecosystem; it is not a label a firm can claim on its own. The CMMC-focused registries do not tell you which assessors also run a SOC 2 practice, and the SOC 2 directories do not track C3PAO status. For a defense-supply-chain software company, that overlap is exactly the useful cut, because the alternative — one firm for CMMC and a separate firm for SOC 2 — means paying twice to have your environment learned and scoped.
The CMMC and SOC 2 control sets share real ground in access control, configuration management, and incident response, so a firm doing both can reuse parts of the evidence base even though the deliverables and governing programs differ. Across the firms here, first-year SOC 2 Type 2 fees typically start around $25,000 and run to roughly $35,000 for standard scope; the CMMC assessment is priced and scheduled separately under the DoD program and should be budgeted on its own. Timing is the practical reason to use one firm: CMMC assessment slots are constrained and scheduled well in advance, so an assessor that already holds your SOC 2 scope can line up the federal work against a known baseline rather than starting discovery from zero when a contract deadline appears.
For how the frameworks differ and which applies to you, read our SOC 2 vs CMMC explainer and the CMMC framework page, linked below; if you are a broader government contractor still deciding which framework you actually need, start with our government-contractor guidance. This page is the “which firm does both” answer. Listings follow our published methodology, paid Featured placement labeled as such. Use the quote button to be matched to C3PAO firms that also issue SOC 2.
Best by use case
CMMC C3PAO Firms That Also Issue SOC 2, by use case
Three picks from the 13 matching firms, each tied to a specific buying scenario rather than a generic best-list rank.
Mid-market
Best for mid-market defense and commercial
Frazier & Deeter pairs C3PAO authorization with SOC 2 from about $25,000 in four to fourteen weeks, suited to mid-market contractors balancing DoD and commercial demands.
Enterprise
Best for enterprise federal and defense scope
Coalfire runs CMMC and SOC 2 under one roof, with SOC 2 from about $40,000, for enterprises with substantial defense and federal cloud-security scope.
All firms
13 matching SOC 2 firms.
Featured firms are paid placements and appear with a left rule. Remaining firms are sorted by verification status and Type 2 entry price. Every row shows the SOC 2 fee range, timeline, and framework credentials relevant to this combined scope.
Prescient Security
Verified
- Type 1
- $10K-$35K
- Type 2
- $10K-$75K
- Timeline
- 2–6 wk
Best for · B2B SaaS startups (Series A through growth stage) using Drata, Vanta, or Secureframe and prioritizing speed without sacrificing thoroughness. AI/ML and LLM companies needing SOC 2 + ISO 42001 together — Prescient audits leading AI and large language model providers. Fintech, healthtech, and security vendors at scale. CSPs pursuing FedRAMP authorization. DoD contractors needing a full C3PAO (newly authorized March 2026). Teams already using Slack who want same-day audit communication.
Differentiator · One of the largest SOC 2 auditors globally for SaaS (fintech, healthtech, security) and AI companies — including major LLM providers — running 5,000+ audits a year across all standards. Cybersecurity-first DNA: founded by CREST-certified penetration testers, not traditional accountants. Run from a Nashville HQ with a distributed team of 200+ across the US, EMEA, and APAC and a same-day Slack/Teams response guarantee. SOC 2 engagements start at $10K with report delivery in 4-6 weeks once fieldwork begins. Authorized CMMC C3PAO as of March 2026 (joining FedRAMP 3PAO, PCI QSA, HITRUST, and ANAB ISO accreditation for 27001/27701/42001). The Cacilian PTaaS platform and CAIT (Continuous AI Tester) bring AI-driven offensive security into the audit workflow. A Top 20 CREST and CSA STAR organization globally, operating under Prescient Security Management LLC as an AICPA alternative practice structure.
A-LIGN
Verified
- Type 1
- $10K-$20K
- Type 2
- $15K-$50K
- Timeline
- 3–12 wk
Best for · Mid-market to enterprise companies that need multiple compliance frameworks (SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + HITRUST + FedRAMP + PCI) under one roof. CSPs pursuing FedRAMP authorization. Companies that want a top-three FedRAMP 3PAO and #1 SOC 2 issuer on the cover of the report.
Differentiator · #1 issuer of SOC 2 reports in the world with 5,700+ clients and 31,000+ audits completed. Top-three FedRAMP 3PAO; CMMC C3PAO authorized. A-SCEND platform was the first audit-management platform from a top-3 3PAO to achieve FedRAMP 20x Low authorization (Sept 2025), now augmented with EvidenceIQ AI evidence scoring and Cross-Service framework reuse. Acquired by Hg in July 2025 at a $1B+ valuation, accelerating European expansion and AI investment. CEO Scott Price (founder, 2009); Steve Simmons elevated to President in January 2026.
Schellman
Verified
- Type 1
- $15K-$30K
- Type 2
- $20K-$100K
- Timeline
- 3–12 wk
Best for · Defense contractors needing CMMC + FedRAMP, federal agencies requiring top-tier FedRAMP 3PAO, classified systems operators (ONLY auditor with DoD Facility Security Clearance), healthcare organizations needing HITRUST + SOC 2 bundles, companies wanting Top 50 CPA brand with multi-framework expertise
Differentiator · #1 FedRAMP 3PAO globally with unmatched government/defense expertise. ONLY audit firm with DoD Facility Security Clearance for classified assessments (unassailable competitive moat). Top 50 CPA firm issuing 1,000+ SOC reports annually. 'The Power of One' cross-compliance: SOC + ISO + FedRAMP + HITRUST + PCI + CMMC under single roof. Founded 2002, 20+ years compliance focus
BARR Advisory
Verified
- Type 1
- $15K-$28K
- Type 2
- $25K-$50K
- Timeline
- 4–9 wk
Best for · Cloud-native SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS companies (high-growth startups through Fortune 1000 enterprises) needing multi-framework attestation (SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + HITRUST + PCI DSS) in a single coordinated engagement. Healthcare technology pursuing HITRUST. Y Combinator-style SaaS startups already running Vanta who want a Vanta MSP partner that can attest. Companies that want boutique-feel partner attention with global-consulting-firm methodology.
Differentiator · One of a handful of US firms eligible to audit against the four highest-regarded frameworks under one roof: ISO 27001, SOC 2, HITRUST, and PCI DSS. Branded 'Coordinated Audit' approach maps evidence once across multiple frameworks. 'No surprises' promise published on the readiness-assessment page: clear scoping, no last-minute findings. Cloud-native methodology built specifically for AWS/Azure/GCP. Big 4 alumni team operating remote-first since founding (2014). Vanta Managed Service Provider; uses taskBARR audit-management platform plus Audora partnership for 30% efficiency gains. Cameron Kline elevated to VP, Attest Practice Leader (January 2026). Multiple Best Companies to Work For awards (Ingram's 2024; KCBJ Fastest-Growing Tech 2025).
Frazier & Deeter
Verified
- Type 1
- $15K-$35K
- Type 2
- $25K-$75K
- Timeline
- 4–14 wk
Best for · Middle-market companies needing consolidated compliance across multiple frameworks — SOC 2 + PCI + HIPAA + HITRUST, or CMMC + FedRAMP + ISO — under a single engagement team. Companies handling sensitive data facing multi-standard audit burdens who want one firm to streamline and de-duplicate evidence collection. Government contractors requiring CMMC/FedRAMP readiness alongside SOC 2. Healthcare and higher-education organizations pursuing HITRUST certification (FD's HITRUST practice leader has managed 300+ assessments). Companies with international operations needing dual AICPA/ISAE reporting. Growth companies that value a firm investing aggressively in scale, talent and technology.
Differentiator · FD's SOC Practice is led by competent Peer Reviewers along with a co-author of the AICPA's official SOC for Service Organizations curriculum — making FD one of the only firms where the person who literally wrote the AICPA's SOC playbook leads client engagements. FD sits on multiple HITRUST councils, giving FD arguably the deepest HITRUST bench in the country. Backed by General Atlantic (2025), FD's signature approach consolidates SOC 2, PCI, HIPAA, and HITRUST into a single evidence-collection cycle — eliminating duplicate audit burden.
ControlCase
Verified
- Type 1
- $20K-$80K
- Type 2
- $35K-$120K
- Timeline
- 4–18 wk
Best for · Enterprises needing compliance across 60+ frameworks through a single consolidated audit; organizations managing multiple annual compliance programs
Differentiator · Compliance as a Service (CaaS) pioneer; One Audit™ satisfies PCI DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and NIST 800-53 simultaneously; continuous compliance monitoring year-round; supports 60+ frameworks globally; proprietary ComplianceHub self-assessment platform
Coalfire
Verified
- Type 1
- $25K-$60K
- Type 2
- $40K-$120K
- Timeline
- 4–12 wk
Best for · Mid-market through enterprise companies needing multi-framework coverage (SOC 2 + FedRAMP, SOC 2 + PCI, SOC 2 + HITRUST). Cloud service providers pursuing FedRAMP authorization (Coalfire is a top-three 3PAO with 121+ FedRAMP assessments). Payment processors needing PCI DSS at Level 1 scale. Healthcare SaaS pursuing HITRUST + HIPAA. DoD contractors needing CMMC Level 2 via Coalfire Federal (operationally independent C3PAO entity).
Differentiator · One of the world's largest specialist compliance assessors, with 1,000+ team members, 1M+ assessment hours, and 600+ framework experts. Top-three FedRAMP 3PAO. 75% of SOC engagements serve cloud service providers (Google, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft trust Coalfire). 500+ SOC reports issued annually. Owned by Apax Partners since 2020. Coalfire Federal runs as an independent C3PAO entity (DIBCAC CMMC Level 2 re-certified with perfect score, July 2025). Brad Little became CEO January 2026 (ex-Google Cloud, ex-Capgemini), replacing 20-year CEO Tom McAndrew. Compliance Essentials platform launched MCP-compatible Audit AI in 2025-2026.
IS Partners
Verified
- Type 1
- $35K-$100K
- Type 2
- $50K-$150K
- Timeline
- 8–16 wk
Best for · Mid-market to enterprise organizations across regulated industries seeking comprehensive SOC 2, ISO 27001, HITRUST, and CMMC compliance
Differentiator · Founded in 2005 by Big 4 alumni; acquired by Axiom GRC in November 2025 and merged with AssurancePoint in 2026, expanding SOC and ISO audit capacity; integrated compliance, cybersecurity, and risk-advisory services with strong client and employee retention
- Type 1
- $15K-$30K
- Type 2
- $25K-$55K
- Timeline
- 4–10 wk
Best for · Southeast US companies and government contractors
Differentiator · Top 25 firm with Auditwerx division for SOC audits, CMMC expertise
- Type 1
- $15K-$50K
- Type 2
- $25K-$80K
- Timeline
- 4–18 wk
Best for · Cloud service providers pursuing FedRAMP combined with SOC 2; DoD contractors needing CMMC; organizations consolidating multiple annual compliance programs
Differentiator · FedRAMP 3PAO with 77+ assessments including FedRAMP High; proprietary XRAMP framework consolidates 6-11 annual authorizations into one continuous workstream; expert at combining FedRAMP + SOC 2 to reuse evidence; acquired Kovr.AI for AI-enhanced compliance; GovRAMP and StateRAMP authorized
- Type 1
- $15K-$50K
- Type 2
- $25K-$70K
- Timeline
- 4–10 wk
Best for · Government contractors and cloud service providers needing specialized FedRAMP, CMMC, and SOC 2 compliance audits with expert advisory.
Differentiator · FedRAMP 3PAO and CMMC C3PAO assessor with proprietary IT Audit Machine platform and AI-enhanced Cybervisor advisory spanning 26+ years.
- Type 1
- $15K-$50K
- Type 2
- $25K-$70K
- Timeline
- 4–10 wk
Best for · Organizations prioritizing hands-on remediation support and rapid compliance certification across multiple frameworks.
Differentiator · AICPA-licensed specialist offering hands-on remediation alongside auditing, with 100% documented client retention.
- Type 1
- $25K-$80K
- Type 2
- $40K-$100K
- Timeline
- 6–14 wk
Best for · Mid-market to enterprise companies across multiple industries seeking comprehensive SOC 2 and cybersecurity compliance services.
Differentiator · Vault-ranked top-10 national firm with authorized CMMC assessment capabilities and integrated cybersecurity advisory services.
Buyer questions
What buyers ask before shortlisting.
These are the questions that usually decide whether a firm belongs on your shortlist.
Can a CMMC C3PAO also perform my SOC 2 audit?
Yes. The firms here are authorized CMMC C3PAOs that also run a CPA SOC 2 practice, so one assessor can deliver both your DoD-side CMMC assessment and your commercial SOC 2 report rather than splitting the work across two firms.
What is a C3PAO?
A Certified Third Party Assessment Organization is a firm authorized through the Cyber AB to conduct CMMC assessments for organizations handling controlled unclassified information for the Department of Defense. C3PAO status is granted, not self-declared.
Do CMMC and SOC 2 share controls?
They overlap in access control, configuration management, 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.
Should defense-supply-chain SaaS get both CMMC and SOC 2?
If you handle DoD controlled unclassified information and also sell commercially, yes — one firm doing both reuses environment knowledge. If you only serve defense, CMMC may suffice; SOC 2 matters once commercial enterprise buyers ask for it.
FAQ
Short answers before you book calls.
Use these to pressure-test scope, independence, and cost with any firm you contact from the list.
Is CMMC replacing SOC 2 for contractors?
No. CMMC governs handling of DoD controlled unclassified information; SOC 2 serves commercial buyers. Contractors selling to both need both — they are not substitutes.
Does the CMMC assessment cost the same as SOC 2?
No. CMMC assessment is priced and scheduled separately under the DoD program. The SOC 2 fees on this page are the commercial side only and do not include CMMC work.
How is this different from the FedRAMP 3PAO page?
FedRAMP 3PAOs assess cloud services for civilian and defense agencies; CMMC C3PAOs assess defense-supply-chain contractors. Some firms hold both authorizations — see the linked FedRAMP page.
Related
Next pages to compare.
Use these when you need the broader auditor list, the software angle, or the framework explainer before you choose a firm.
Important · attestation
Verify before signing.
SOC 2 reports require CPA attestation. Preparation software and readiness consultants can collect evidence and reduce audit work, but the opinion has to come from an independent, licensed CPA firm.
Confirm scope in writing. Before signing, ask the firm which report or certificate it can issue directly, which work is handled by an affiliate, and what evidence carries over between frameworks or platforms.
Disclaimer · pricing estimates and timelines are based on directory data and public information. Actual quotes vary by company size, systems, control maturity, and audit scope.
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