Init Cyber has achieved full authorization as a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). That means we are now authorized to conduct and certify official CMMC Level 2 assessments for organizations across the Defense Industrial Base — assessments that produce binding results the DoD accepts.

This is a significant milestone, and one we want to be straightforward about: not every firm offering CMMC services holds this designation. C3PAO authorization is granted only after the Cyber Accreditation Body (Cyber-AB) completes a rigorous review of the organization, including a Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) assessment of the C3PAO’s own cybersecurity posture and internal practices. We went through the same process we run our clients through — and then some.

What C3PAO Authorization Actually Means

Under 32 CFR Part 170 and DFARS clause 252.204-7021, CMMC Level 2 certification requires an assessment conducted by a C3PAO listed on the Cyber-AB Marketplace. Self-attestation is no longer sufficient for Level 2. If a defense contractor processes, stores, or transmits Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on behalf of the DoD, they need an official third-party assessment — and that assessment must come from an authorized C3PAO.

Only organizations on the Cyber-AB Marketplace are eligible to conduct assessments that satisfy DoD contract requirements. Init Cyber is on that list.

Who Is Behind Init Cyber

Init Cyber is led by Justin Johnson, who holds the Lead Certified CMMC Assessor (LCCA) credential — the highest assessor designation issued by Cyber-AB — alongside CISSP and PMP certifications and an MBA in IT Management. The firm was built exclusively to serve the Defense Industrial Base and those who sell to the Government.

Our portfolio covers the full range of what DIB contractors need: gap assessments, System Security Plan (SSP) development, Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) remediation support, and official CMMC Level 2 certification assessments. We work across the technology stacks common in the DIB — GCC High, Azure Virtual Desktop, Google Cloud, AWS, on-premises, cloud-native, and hybrid environments — and we have direct experience in DoD acquisition environments.

New Website

Alongside this announcement, we have launched a new website at initcyber.com. The site reflects where Init Cyber stands today as an authorized C3PAO, with clear information about our assessment process, consulting and readiness services, credentials, and how to get in touch. If you have been to the old site, this is a significant upgrade.

Why This Matters Now

CMMC requirements are being enforced across DoD contracts and the window for self-attested compliance is narrowing. Prime contractors and their subcontractors alike face compliance obligations that run through the entire supply chain. Contractors that cannot demonstrate compliance through a certified C3PAO assessment risk contract ineligibility and disqualification from future DoD opportunities.

Selecting the right C3PAO matters. Init Cyber was built specifically for this — not as an afterthought to a generalist consulting practice, but as the entire firm.

If you are working toward CMMC Level 2 certification or want to understand where your organization stands, reach out. We are accepting new engagements now.

Init Cyber, LLC is a Canton, Georgia-based C3PAO and CMMC advisory firm serving the Defense Industrial Base. We are fully authorized C3PAO and are currently in the accreditation process for ISO/IEC 17020:2012.