Top 5 CMMC Readiness Consultants for Manufacturers in Southern California

Southern California manufacturers face a new reality. If you handle Controlled Unclassified Information or touch the DoD supply chain, CMMC compliance is no longer optional. It’s a contract requirement.

But here is what we see.  Manufacturers don’t struggle because they ignore cybersecurity. They struggle because the solutions sold to them weren’t designed for production environments.

Downtime is expensive. Legacy ERP systems are common. And compliance pressure keeps increasing.

Choosing the right CMMC readiness consultant isn’t about passing an audit. It’s about protecting your operations while staying compliant.

This guide compares CMMC readiness consultants in Southern California that publicly state they support manufacturers or defense contractors. The goal here is clarity. Not hype.

Why CMMC Compliance Is Different for Manufacturers

CMMC compliance for manufacturers is operational, not theoretical.

Uptime Comes First

Security controls that interrupt production still fail the business. You can’t deploy controls that shut down ERP, MES, or plant systems without planning for continuity.

Legacy Systems Are Reality

Many manufacturers run older platforms that can’t be patched easily. A consultant must understand compensating controls, not just textbook frameworks.

Compliance Isn’t Security

Passing a CMMC Level 2 assessment doesn’t mean ransomware risk is solved. Documentation doesn’t stop an attack.

Leadership Matters

When production is at risk, someone must own the decision. People manage the risk, not just tools.

How We Evaluated CMMC Readiness Consultants in Southern California

Each provider was evaluated using consistent criteria:

• Trust signals and third-party validation
• Manufacturing cybersecurity depth
• CMMC Level 2 readiness capability
• NIST 800-171 expertise
• Executive compliance leadership
• Southern California presence

This isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a risk alignment exercise.

Consilien

Torrance, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego

Consilien is a Southern California cybersecurity and IT firm supporting manufacturers with CMMC readiness, managed security, and executive risk oversight.

Services and Expertise

• CMMC readiness assessment
• NIST 800-171 gap analysis
• vCISO leadership
• System Security Plan development
• POA&M documentation
• Ongoing managed detection and response

Strengths

• In-house CISO and compliance leadership
• Deep experience with ERP-driven manufacturing environments
• Ongoing managed cybersecurity beyond audit preparation
• Strong California footprint

Weaknesses

• Emphasizes long term governance and operational security maturity, which may not appeal to organizations seeking the fastest possible documentation only path to certification
• Does not operate as a national assessment body

Best For
Manufacturers where downtime, ransomware exposure, or compliance risk is a board-level issue.

Poor Fit
Organizations seeking low-cost, audit-only engagement without long-term security ownership.

Bottom Line
A security-led CMMC consulting partner built for uptime-sensitive manufacturers.

Cherry Bekaert

National Firm with CMMC Practice

Cherry Bekaert is a national CPA and advisory firm providing CMMC consulting and assessment services.

Services and Expertise

• CMMC Level 2 consulting
• C3PAO assessment services
• Risk advisory
• Audit preparation

Strengths

• Recognized C3PAO
• National reputation
• Strong regulatory background

Weaknesses

• Not Southern California-focused
• Less operational manufacturing depth compared to security-led MSPs

Best For
Mid-market and enterprise defense contractors seeking formal certification support.

Poor Fit
Manufacturers needing hands-on operational cybersecurity management.

Bottom Line
Strong compliance authority, but less manufacturing-operations focused.

Summit 7

Summit 7 is a national cybersecurity firm focused on DoD contractors and CMMC compliance.

Services and Expertise

• CMMC readiness consulting
• Microsoft GCC High migration
• Documentation support
• Compliance alignment

Strengths

• Strong defense contractor specialization
• Clear CMMC positioning
• Structured compliance programs

Weaknesses

• Limited Southern California local presence
• More compliance-driven than manufacturing-operations focused

Best For
Defense contractors modernizing their Microsoft environment for CMMC.

Poor Fit
Manufacturers seeking local, in-person operational support.

Bottom Line
A strong compliance-focused firm for cloud-driven defense environments.

BARR Advisory

BARR Advisory is a national cybersecurity consulting firm offering CMMC readiness and regulatory compliance services.

Services and Expertise

• CMMC readiness assessment
• Risk advisory
• Audit and certification support

Strengths

• Recognized compliance advisory firm
• Structured assessment methodology
• National footprint

Weaknesses

• Not manufacturing-specific
• Limited Southern California positioning

Best For
Organizations seeking structured audit preparation from a national advisory.

Poor Fit
Manufacturers needing ongoing operational security management.

Bottom Line
A compliance-forward firm suited for formal readiness projects.

Withum

Withum is a national advisory and accounting firm providing cybersecurity and CMMC consulting services.

Services and Expertise

• CMMC consulting
• Risk and compliance advisory
• Audit readiness

Strengths

• Established advisory reputation
• Broad regulatory expertise

Weaknesses

• Not manufacturing-specialized
• Not regionally focused in Southern California

Best For
Organizations seeking accounting-integrated compliance advisory.

Poor Fit
Manufacturers needing operational security depth.

Bottom Line
Strong advisory credibility, limited manufacturing operational emphasis.

What Is a CMMC Readiness Assessment?

A CMMC readiness assessment evaluates your current cybersecurity controls against CMMC Level 2 requirements and NIST 800-171 practices.
A structured assessment typically includes:

• Control gap analysis
• Documentation review
• SSP and POA&M development
• Evidence preparation
• Remediation roadmap
• Mock audit validation

For manufacturers, the assessment must account for:

• ERP systems
• Production network segmentation
• CUI handling
• Legacy infrastructure

Without that context, the assessment is incomplete.

Step-by-Step: How Manufacturers Should Prepare for CMMC

1. Identify where CUI lives in your environment
2. Conduct a formal CMMC readiness assessment
3. Prioritize high-risk remediation first
4. Develop complete documentation
5. Validate controls before formal assessment
6. Establish ongoing managed security oversight

CMMC compliance isn’t a one-time project. It’s an operational discipline.

Final Guidance for Southern California Manufacturers

There is no single best CMMC readiness consultant.
But there are meaningful differences.
Some firms focus on audit preparation.
Some focus on cloud modernization.
Others focus on operational cybersecurity ownership.
If your manufacturing environment is uptime-sensitive and legacy-driven, prioritize consultants who understand production realities.
Compliance should protect the business. Not disrupt it.