CMMC Assessment Checklist
If you think you are ready for a CMMC assessment, use this resource to test where you actually are before contacting a professional.
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CMMC Deep Dive: Controls vs. Assessment Objectives
If you are a defense contractor working toward Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) or aligning with NIST SP 800-171r2, you’ve likely spent plenty of time staring at spreadsheets full of cybersecurity requirements. Sometimes, organizations feel that because they can check off all the controls, they are ready for their assessment. However, these companies may be missing the critical assessment objectives, which comprise the true core of the compliance journey.
What is a security control, what is an assessment objective, and how do they differ?
The Core Difference: What vs. How
To successfully navigate a CMMC assessment, organizations must understand that controls are the "what," while assessment objectives are the "how."
1. The Security Control (The "What")A security control is a high-level requirement that defines the security state your organization must achieve. Found in NIST SP 800-171r2, these are the 110 requirements spread across 14 families.
Example (Control 3.1.1): "Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, or devices (including other systems)."
The control establishes the goal, but it leaves the specific implementation details open to an organization’s unique IT environment.
2. The Assessment Objective (The "How")
An assessment objective is a granular, broken-down component of that control that auditors use to determine if the organization has met the requirement. If a control is a single exam question, the assessment objectives are the rubric elements you must satisfy to get full credit.
Assessment objectives use specific lettered determinations (e.g., [a], [b], [c]) to pinpoint exact evidence. For Control 3.1.1, the assessment objectives require an auditor to verify that:
- [a] Authorized users are identified.
- [b] Processes acting on behalf of authorized users are identified.
- [c] Devices (including other systems) authorized to access the system are identified.
- [d] System access is limited to authorized users, processes, and devices.
NIST published a dedicated document entirely for auditors called NIST SP 800-171Ar3 (Assessing Security Requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information). This serves as a comprehensive guide. It takes all 110 controls and explicitly lists the lettered assessment objectives, alongside the potential methods (examine, interview, test) an auditor will use to verify them.
The Department of Defense (DoD) also provides the CMMC Assessment Guide for Level 2. This document maps directly to NIST SP 800-171A but adds critical context, clarification, and examples specifically tailored to defense contractors.
Why Understanding Controls Versus Assessment Objectives Is Critical
If an organization implements the high-level security control but fails to document or satisfy even one of the lettered assessment objectives, the entire control is marked "Not Met."
We have encountered a few organizations who feel they are ready for their C3PAO assessment because they have implemented the 110 controls. However, as soon as the first assessment objective is evaluated, it often becomes clear they have not developed the supporting documentation and policies that allow a company to achieve certification.
By designing a System Security Plan (SSP) around the assessment objectives rather than just the core controls, companies can minimize blind spots in their compliance strategy.
Are You Ready for Your CMMC Assessment?
To ensure your organization is ready for a CMMC assessment, download the assessment guides today. Build your policies, gather your evidence, and write your SSP to answer every single lettered objective. Use our CMMC assessment checklist to evaluate where you are in the compliance process. By the time you call us to schedule your final assessment, you will already have confidence in your preparations. Please to contact us with any questions you have about the differences between security controls and assessment objectives.