The C3 Suite
C3 Catalyst
Eliminate barriers to CMMC compliance with an environment architected to simplify Level 2 achievement and the flexibility to meet your business requirements.
Designed for compliance. Built for assessment confidence.
Achieving CMMC Level 2 compliance isn’t just about checking off 110 controls and meeting 320 assessment objectives—it’s about understanding how data flows through your organization, identifying the right systems, and defining clear compliance boundaries. Without a strategic approach, the process can be overwhelming.
C3 Catalyst makes Level 2 compliance easier.
Backed by deep expertise in CMMC assessments and years of experience building DFARS 7012-compliant environments, our team of compliance, cybersecurity, and IT specialists has developed a proven, repeatable blueprint for success. With C3 Catalyst, you don’t have to navigate compliance alone—we help you move from uncertainty to audit-ready with confidence.
C3 Catalyst for CMMC Support
Backed by years of experience building for DFARS 7012, our team of compliance, cybersecurity, and IT specialists has developed a prescriptive approach to CMMC success.
C3 Catalyst for CMMC Support
Backed by years of experience building for DFARS 7012, our team of compliance, cybersecurity, and IT specialists has developed a prescriptive approach to CMMC success.
CMMC Reference Architecture
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Managed IT Services
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Managed Security Services
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Support for your Customer Responsibility Matrix
Compliance Concierge
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Compliance Support Services (Optional)
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CMMC Reference Architecture
Planning & Architecture
We'll help you define your system boundary and scope, including whether an enclave approach makes sense for you, and map your needs to C3's CMMC Reference Architecture, our proven CMMC system design.
Implementation
During implementation, we'll make sure everything is configured to CMMC specifications (our architecture has been vetted for CMMC compliance) in a way that doesn't impede business operations.
Managed IT Services
Management
Any system needs management, and a CMMC-compliant one more than most. Our expert Managed IT Services will keep your business running smoothly, and in a way that aligns with CMMC requirements.
Maintenance
Compliance isn't a one-and-done activity. We'll identify improvement areas and manage configuration updates to keep you compliant and secure without impacting your business.
Managed Security Services
Monitoring
Cybersecurity best practices demand constant vigilance monitoring against threats and managing logs and vulnerabilities. Our dedicated security team will have eyes on your environment so can sleep easy.
Response
Threat actors are evolving faster than tools can keep up. Through incident response preparedness, you'll be ready to mitigate the impact of a threat if the worst happens—stopping criminals before they can do much damage.
The C3 difference
A smarter approach to compliance
C3 Catalyst isn’t just a blueprint—it’s a fully managed solution designed to achieve and sustain CMMC Level 2 compliance with confidence. Our architecture has been meticulously designed and tested to meet every technical assessment objective while eliminating gaps and conflicts that introduce risk.
With C3 Catalyst, you get more than just a framework—you get a best-practice-driven technology stack with preconfigured tools and settings that align with CMMC requirements. Our team doesn’t just implement the environment; we continuously manage and monitor it using processes that ensure ongoing compliance, so you can focus on your business instead of compliance headaches.
FAQs
What is C3 Catalyst?
C3 Catalyst is a fully managed CMMC-compliant technical environment. In addition to configuring and implementing C3’s proven CMMC Reference Architecture, C3 Catalyst includes the comprehensive managed IT and security services needed to meet and maintain CMMC Level 2 technical assessment objectives.
For organizations that do not already have a compliance resource, C3 Catalyst can also include Compliance Support Services to support clients through the non-technical aspects of CMMC Level 2 compliance and to serve as a resource throughout the assessment process.
For organizations that already have a compliance partner or consultant, C3 Catalyst includes our Compliance Concierge services, C3 Catalyst focuses on delivering and managing the technology infrastructure while supporting your existing third-party compliance relationship.
Who is C3 Catalyst designed for?
C3 Catalyst is ideal for defense contractors who already have a CMMC consultant, Registered Practitioner (RP), or compliance partner but need expert implementation and management of the technical CMMC environment. It’s also suited for organizations that prefer to handle compliance strategy internally but want C3’s expertise in building and managing the underlying CMMC-compliant infrastructure. Essentially, if you have compliance guidance covered but need the technical environment and ongoing management, C3 Catalyst is the right solution.
C3 Catalyst can also be the right solution for organizations that need compliance support but want to co-manage their CMMC-compliant environment.
How is C3 Catalyst different from C3 Command?
The key difference is the division of responsibilities. C3 Command includes comprehensive compliance advisory services and takes responsibility for 80% of all CMMC assessment objectives through its shared responsibility model. C3 Catalyst focuses primarily on the technical environment—providing the CMMC Reference Architecture, managed IT services, and managed security services—while your existing compliance partner handles the compliance program, documentation, policies, and advisory aspects. Both use the same proven technical architecture, but Catalyst integrates with your chosen compliance partner rather than replacing them.
Can C3 Catalyst work with any compliance consultant or RP?
Yes, C3 Catalyst is designed to work collaboratively with your existing compliance partner, whether that’s a Registered Practitioner (RP), CMMC consultant, or internal compliance team. C3’s technical team will coordinate with your compliance partner to ensure your SSP reflects your technical environment and that all requirements have been addressed. This collaborative approach allows you to maintain your existing compliance relationship while leveraging C3’s specialized technical expertise and managed services.
Does C3 Catalyst use the same CMMC Reference Architecture as C3 Command?
Yes, both C3 Catalyst and C3 Command use the same proven CMMC Reference Architecture. This proprietary architecture has been meticulously designed, tested, and refined to meet every CMMC Level 2 technical assessment objective. It’s been vetted through actual assessments and includes best-practice-driven technology stacks with preconfigured tools and settings aligned with CMMC requirements. Regardless of which program you choose, you get the same robust, proven technical foundation.
What services are included in C3 Catalyst?
C3 Catalyst includes planning and architecture services to define your system boundary and scope, implementation of the CMMC Reference Architecture configured to CMMC specifications, comprehensive managed IT services for ongoing management and maintenance, managed security services including 24/7 monitoring and incident response, support for your Customer Responsibility Matrix, and Compliance Concierge services to coordinate with your compliance partner. Optional Compliance Support Services are available instead of Compliance Concierge if you need the flexibility of C3 Catalyst, but do not already have a compliance partner.
What is the Compliance Concierge service?
The Compliance Concierge service ensures seamless coordination between C3’s technical team and your compliance partner. This includes regular communication about technical implementation progress, providing technical documentation and evidence as needed, coordinating responses to compliance requirements, ensuring your SSP reflects the technical configurations and meet assessment objectives, and supporting assessment preparation activities. It acts as the bridge between technical implementation and compliance program management.
Does C3 Catalyst include compliance advisory services?
C3 Catalyst focuses on the technical environment and managed IT and cybersecurity services. In addition, C3 Catalyst includes compliance support through either our Compliance Support Services or Compliance Concierge. Compliance Support Services is similar to the managed compliance services offered in C3 Command and provides comprehensive compliance consultation for organizations that do not have a compliance resource to drive the assessment work. For clients working with a non-C3 compliance consultant, C3 offers Compliance Concierge to ensure alignment between the SSP and C3’s configuration and controls.
How does C3 Catalyst help with CMMC scoping?
C3 Catalyst includes planning and architecture services that help you define your CMMC system boundary and scope, properly segment your environment and determine whether an enclave or “all-in” deployment makes sense for your organization. C3 works collaboratively with your compliance partner during this process to ensure the technical scoping aligns with your overall compliance strategy.
What is included in C3 Catalyst's managed services?
C3 Catalyst includes comprehensive managed IT services (infrastructure management, maintenance, configuration updates, ongoing optimization) and managed security services (24/7 monitoring, threat detection and response, vulnerability management, log management, security event analysis, and incident response preparedness). These services ensure your CMMC-compliant environment not only meets requirements initially but maintains compliance and security over time without requiring deep internal technical expertise.
How does C3 Catalyst eliminate gaps and conflicts in CMMC environments?
C3 Catalyst’s CMMC Reference Architecture has been meticulously designed to meet every technical assessment objective while eliminating the common gaps and conflicts that introduce risk. These gaps often occur when organizations try to retrofit existing systems or piece together solutions without understanding how different controls interact. C3’s architecture is purpose-built and thoroughly tested, ensuring all technical requirements work together cohesively rather than creating conflicts or coverage gaps that could cause assessment failures.
Does C3 Catalyst provide the documentation needed for CMMC assessment?
For organizations using Compliance Support services as part of C3 Catalyst, C3 provides technical documentation related to the environment, architecture, configurations, and security controls implemented. This includes system security plans (SSP) content for the technical environment, configuration documentation, security control implementation evidence, and monitoring/logging documentation. For organizations with an existing compliance partner or resource, C3 coordinates closely with your partner to ensure all technical documentation accurately reflects your environment.
What happens after implementation with C3 Catalyst?
After initial implementation, C3 Catalyst’s managed services maintain your environment over time. This includes continuous monitoring for threats and compliance drift, proactive maintenance and updates, vulnerability management and remediation, ongoing coordination with your compliance partner, and regular reporting on environment health. The goal is sustained compliance and security, not just a point-in-time implementation. As clients prepare for a scheduled assessment, C3’s separately scoped CMMC Ready Program will help with preparation support and assessment alignment.
Is C3 Catalyst more cost-effective than C3 Command?
C3 Catalyst pricing depends on a number of factors, including whether the client has an external compliance consultant. C3 Command’s comprehensive approach to CMMC typically has a lower overall cost due to pre-established processes and understandings between our compliance and managed services teams. If you already have a compliance partner you’re satisfied with, Catalyst allows you to leverage C3’s technical expertise without duplicating compliance services. However, the total cost comparison depends on what you’re paying your separate compliance partner. During consultation, C3 can help you understand the economics of different approaches based on your specific situation.
Can we switch from C3 Catalyst to C3 Command later?
Yes, if you decide you want C3 to take on broader compliance responsibilities beyond just the technical environment, you can transition from Catalyst to Command. Since both programs use the same CMMC Reference Architecture and managed services foundation, the technical environment doesn’t need to change—however, depending on timing and any changes to your specific implementation and environment, you may not be able to fully capitalize on the speed and efficiency benefits of C3 Command as you would have if you had started from the beginning.
How does C3 Catalyst support us during the CMMC assessment?
C3 Catalyst are required to engage in a separately scoped CMMC Ready Program which provides technical support during your CMMC assessment, including coordinating with your compliance partner and the C3PAO (assessor), reviewing technical documentation and evidence, supporting technical demonstrations and walkthroughs, responding to assessor questions about the technical environment, and ensuring the infrastructure is assessment-ready. While your compliance partner leads the overall assessment process, C3 ensures the technical aspects are thoroughly prepared and expertly presented.
What if we don't have a compliance partner yet?
If you don’t yet have a compliance partner, C3 recommends considering C3 Command instead of Catalyst. C3 Command provides the complete solution including both the technical environment and comprehensive compliance services, taking responsibility for 80% of assessment objectives. This integrated approach is typically faster and more cost-effective than trying to coordinate multiple vendors. However, C3 can also recommend qualified compliance partners if you prefer the Catalyst approach with a separate consultant.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a consultation with one of our experts today.
Need help preparing for the assessment?
For companies that don’t yet have a compliance partner, our full-service solution does more than just deliver a CMMC-compliant IT environment.
We also take responsibility for 80% of your assessment objectives and provide the processes, personalized guidance, and day-to-day management you need to pass the assessment.