Secureframe unveils AI platform to fast-track CMMC

Secureframe has launched Secureframe Defence, a platform for defence contractors and agencies pursuing Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance across the US Defence Industrial Base (DIB).

The service combines secure environment deployment, documentation workflows and monitoring. It is aimed at organisations that must meet CMMC requirements to handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) under Department of Defence contracts.

CMMC enforcement has begun, but certification levels remain low across the supply chain. The Department of Defence estimates nearly 80,000 organisations will ultimately need CMMC Level 2 certification. Fewer than 800 had achieved certification as of January 2026, according to figures cited by Secureframe.

For many organisations, preparing for an assessment can take more than a year. Research cited by Secureframe puts typical spend at USD $100,000 to USD $300,000 or more for readiness work ahead of a review by a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organisation (C3PAO). The company also cited pressure from prime contractors, saying 47% of contractors have received flow-down requests for proof of certification.

Secureframe Defence is structured around three stages, starting with setting up CUI environments. Secureframe positions it as an alternative to traditional enclave deployments, which can take eight to 10 weeks and rely heavily on in-house IT teams or external consultants.

Environment Build

The first stage focuses on deploying what Secureframe calls a CMMC-compliant enclave in under 30 minutes. The platform can configure Google Workspace or Microsoft GCC High to meet required CMMC controls, including access control, logging and monitoring, and security event notifications. Secureframe says the configuration is designed to isolate CUI.

Organisations can also provision Azure virtual desktops for CUI access. Another option uses a FedRAMP Moderate-authorised, pre-configured device management service to enforce CMMC baselines across laptops and workstations.

Documentation Flow

The second stage covers documentation and programme management. Secureframe Defence includes a guided workflow tool called Defence Navigator, which maps CMMC requirements into implementation steps after users configure scope, integrations and the enclave.

Secureframe says its AI system generates System Security Plans and policies tailored to the customer's environment. The platform also includes modules for risk assessments, vendor reviews, policy assignments and security awareness training. Continuous monitoring flags controls when they fall out of compliance.

Audit Support

The third stage focuses on assessment preparation and ongoing compliance. Secureframe says its audit module packages documentation and evidence artefacts for review by a C3PAO, aiming to reduce manual evidence collection and shorten assessment timelines.

Customers also get access to a network of CMMC Registered Practitioners and C3PAO partners that work with the platform, according to Secureframe.

Shrav Mehta, Secureframe's founder and CEO, said the product draws on the company's experience with CMMC assessment and feedback from assessment organisations.

"Secureframe Defence reflects everything we learned going through our own CMMC Level 2 assessment and the feedback we received from our partner C3PAOs about the real problems organizations face," Mehta said. "Our AI-powered platform can take organizations with zero infrastructure to assessment-ready in less than 8 weeks."

Secureframe also claims time savings, saying Secureframe Defence can reduce certification timelines from 12 to 18 months to four to eight weeks, compared with manual processes or point solutions.

Some customers reported lower internal effort. Manufacturing Consulting Company, described as a defence contractor supporting US Air Force programmes, used Secureframe for documentation and monitoring and passed its CMMC Level 2 assessment months before the Phase 1 deadline, according to Secureframe.

"Using Secureframe to get NIST 800-171 and CMMC compliant saved us at least 500 hours," said David Hoenisch, lead cybersecurity engineer at Manufacturing Consulting Company. "Having a tool that can come alongside and augment your personnel force is a huge blessing. It was a weight off our shoulders."

Another customer, Adyton, said it prioritised monitoring and repeatability over manual compliance processes.

"Everyone in the defense tech space has to be compliant, but many are relying on manual processes. It's the peace of mind that Secureframe provides, the continuous monitoring, the fact that we have a system as opposed to a person trying to manage and ensure all of this - that's the value add for us," said Stephanie Castro, Adyton's director of operations.

Secureframe is CMMC Level 2 certified and among the first 0.5% of the roughly 80,000 expected Level 2 organisations to achieve certification. It is also FedRAMP 20x Low authorised and was selected for a Phase 2 pilot in January 2026. Secureframe has more than 25 CMMC Registered Practitioners and is listed as a Registered Practitioner Organisation in the CyberAB Marketplace.

Organisations at any stage of the CMMC certification process can use Secureframe Defence and work with its C3PAO partners for assessments.