Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0)

SEI Report
This document is intended to help anyone unfamiliar with cybersecurity standards get started with the DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

Abstract

Both assessors and organizations use the CMMC Assessment Guides to conduct and prepare for, respectively, an assessment. However, non-cybersecurity professionals may understand CMMC conceptually, but might be intimidated by the sheer size and cybersecurity jargon of the guides. “Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC Assessment Guides” provides a straightforward, easily understandable, and readily accessible introduction to the CMMC Level 1 and Level 3 Assessment Guides.

Cite This SEI Report

Gardner, D. (2021, March 3). Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0). Retrieved September 17, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/overview-of-practices-and-processes-of-the-cmmc-10-assessment-guides-cmmc-10/.

@techreport{gardner_2021,
author={Gardner, Douglas},
title={Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0)},
month={Mar},
year={2021},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/overview-of-practices-and-processes-of-the-cmmc-10-assessment-guides-cmmc-10/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-17}
}

Gardner, Douglas. "Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0)." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, March 3, 2021. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/overview-of-practices-and-processes-of-the-cmmc-10-assessment-guides-cmmc-10/.

D. Gardner, "Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0)," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 3-Mar-2021 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/overview-of-practices-and-processes-of-the-cmmc-10-assessment-guides-cmmc-10/. [Accessed: 17-Sep-2026].

Gardner, Douglas. "Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0)." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 3 Mar. 2021. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/overview-of-practices-and-processes-of-the-cmmc-10-assessment-guides-cmmc-10/. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Gardner, Douglas. Overview of Practices and Processes of the CMMC 1.0 Assessment Guides (CMMC 1.0). Software Engineering Institute. 2021. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/overview-of-practices-and-processes-of-the-cmmc-10-assessment-guides-cmmc-10/