CMMC vs SOC 2
CMMC vs SOC 2: which compliance does your business need?
One is required to win DoD work; the other reassures commercial customers. Here is the difference — and when you might need both.
Comparison
CMMC and SOC 2 are both ways to demonstrate strong cybersecurity — but they serve different audiences. CMMC is a mandatory U.S. Department of Defense certification for contractors handling FCI and CUI, built on NIST SP 800-171. SOC 2 is a voluntary, CPA-audited attestation that reassures commercial customers and partners. Which you need depends on who you sell to.
CMMC vs SOC 2 at a glance
| Topic | CMMC 2.0 | SOC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Required by | U.S. DoD / defense supply chain | Commercial customers (often SaaS) |
| Mandatory? | Yes, for FCI/CUI contracts | Voluntary, market-driven |
| Based on | NIST SP 800-171 | AICPA Trust Services Criteria |
| Assessed by | Self or C3PAO (by level) | Independent CPA firm |
| Result | Certification / SPRS score | Attestation report |
Who needs CMMC
Any company that handles Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for the Department of Defense, whether as a prime contractor or a subcontractor. The level depends on the data:
- Level 1 covers FCI. 15 basic practices and an annual self-assessment.
- Level 2 covers CUI. The 110 requirements of NIST SP 800-171, assessed either by self-assessment or by a certified third-party assessor (C3PAO), depending on the contract.
- Level 3 covers the most sensitive programs. It adds requirements from NIST SP 800-172 and is assessed by the government.
If the contract has the clause, CMMC is a condition of award. A customer cannot waive it.
Who needs SOC 2
Software and service companies whose commercial customers ask for proof of security before they sign. A CPA firm audits your controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security is always in scope. Availability, confidentiality, processing integrity and privacy are added when they apply.
- Type 1 reports on whether the controls are designed properly at a point in time.
- Type 2 reports on whether they worked over a period, usually several months.
No law requires SOC 2. Customers and procurement teams do.
Where CMMC and SOC 2 overlap
Both expect access control, logging and monitoring, incident response, risk assessment, configuration management and staff training. One set of policies and evidence can be mapped to both, which saves real effort if you need the two.
They are not interchangeable. A SOC 2 report does not satisfy CMMC, and a CMMC certification does not replace a SOC 2 report.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CMMC and SOC 2?
CMMC is a mandatory U.S. Department of Defense certification for contractors handling FCI/CUI, built on NIST SP 800-171. SOC 2 is a voluntary attestation, audited by a CPA firm, that demonstrates strong security controls to customers and partners — common for SaaS and service providers.
Do I need both CMMC and SOC 2?
If you sell to the DoD supply chain you need CMMC. If you sell software or services to commercial customers who ask for security assurance, SOC 2 is often expected. Some organizations pursue both; Intuitus can map controls so the work overlaps efficiently.
Is CMMC harder than SOC 2?
They differ. CMMC has a fixed control set (NIST SP 800-171) and defined levels; SOC 2 is scoped to the trust criteria you choose and your own control descriptions. Intuitus helps you scope either one to avoid wasted effort.
Does a SOC 2 report count toward CMMC?
No. The DoD does not accept SOC 2 in place of a CMMC assessment. The work behind a SOC 2 report, such as policies, logging and incident response, can be reused as evidence for the matching NIST SP 800-171 requirements.
Does CMMC require a security operations center (SOC)?
CMMC does not name a SOC. Level 2 does require you to log and review activity, monitor your systems, and detect, report and respond to incidents. Most contractors meet those requirements with a 24/7 SOC or a managed detection and response service instead of building one. See CMMC compliance for defense contractors and MDR vs MSSP.
Which should we do first, CMMC or SOC 2?
Start with the one tied to revenue you could lose. If a DoD contract depends on it, CMMC comes first, since it is mandatory and has the fixed control set. SOC 2 can then reuse much of that work.
Related: CMMC compliance for defense · Compliance & readiness · MDR vs MSSP · Security assessment
Sources: CMMC Program rule, 32 CFR Part 170 · DFARS CMMC acquisition rule (Federal Register, 2025) · NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 · DoD CIO: CMMC · AICPA: SOC reports
Not sure which fits your organization?
Talk to a cybersecurity engineer — no sales script, just a straight answer about what your environment actually needs.