Interview: How This MSP Helped Clients Achieve CMMC Level 2

TeamLogic IT of Melbourne and Vero Beach: Among the First to Guide Clients to CMMC Level 2

For many Managed Service Providers (MSPs), the rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) brought more questions than answers: Do MSPs need to get certified if their clients do? How can MSPs support compliance without overextending their team or budget? And will the investment in CMMC actually pay off?

Some MSPs, like Scott Wiles, President of TeamLogic IT of Melbourne and Vero Beach, chose to lean in and are already seeing long-term strategic benefits.

In this interview, Wiles shares how his team helped multiple Department of Defense (DoD) clients achieve CMMC Level 2 certification. He breaks down what worked, what caught him off guard, and what every MSP should consider before deciding whether to pursue certification or stay out of scope.

How CMMC Landed on This MSP’s Radar

Wiles first heard about CMMC five years ago during a training session for his new TeamLogic IT franchise. Even in the franchise’s earliest days, clients were already talking about CMMC. The timing was chaotic:

“We were opening a new business, negotiating a lease, and navigating COVID,” Wiles recalls. “But CMMC started appearing in mailers, and I soon got a call from Alluvionic to discuss what CMMC support could look like.”

With a background in compliance and a strategic mindset, Wiles jumped in. What began as a technical consulting discussion grew into a long-term partnership focused on helping clients navigate CMMC requirements.

Do MSPs Need CMMC Certification?

This is one of the most frequent and complicated questions MSPs face.

The short answer? No, not necessarily. If you don’t process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), you might not need to get certified. But that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.

Wiles’ team successfully supported clients through certification while remaining outside the scope of the clients’ CUI environments. They achieved this by using strategies like network segmentation and secure communications platforms such as PreVeil. But even staying out of scope requires detailed intention and planning.

MSPs must consider:

CUI Access: Are your systems ever used to access, transmit, or store CUI directly or indirectly?
Client Dependencies: Are your tools, platforms, or practices part of your client’s compliance evidence?
Documentation Burden: Can you clearly demonstrate what’s in scope and what’s not?
Responsibility Clarity: Do you have a Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM) in place?

For any MSP, this is a critical mindset shift. Even if you’re not processing CUI, your systems and processes can still make or break your client’s certification.

What Surprised Them About the CMMC Assessment

Wiles expected a more black-and-white verdict during CMMC assessments. Instead, “The assessor wasn’t telling us if settings were right or wrong,” he says. “It was more about: ‘Does it match your System Security Plan (SSP)?’”

Except for certain technical standards like FIPS encryption which are pass/fail, many requirements allow for flexibility, as long as you can back it up with documentation.

What It Takes to Support a CMMC Client

Supporting CMMC clients required a serious commitment. “Just because you’re out of scope for the CUI environment doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” Wiles explains. “You still play an active role in the assessment and are accountable for things like logging, traceability, and following documented procedures.”

To meet that responsibility, TeamLogic IT doubled down on foundational security. They adhered to background check requirements, enforced strict access controls, and ensured consistent adherence to documented protocols. They also invested in advanced scanning tools, enhanced logging infrastructure, and brought on team members with specialized cybersecurity expertise.

These upgrades strengthened their support model and positioned them to serve high-stakes, compliance-driven clients with confidence.

How They Handled the Cost of Compliance

Supporting compliance efforts isn’t free, and Wiles was transparent with clients about how those efforts affected pricing.

Initial remediation tasks were handled under a billable hours model. As new processes were implemented, they scoped additional costs into project estimates. “Automation and controls help make it sustainable for us and affordable for the client,” he adds.

Wiles credits this cost-conscious, client-first approach as key to keeping the partnership strong.

The Strategic Payoff of Supporting CMMC Clients

As one of the few TeamLogic IT franchises among its 300 locations to successfully lead clients through CMMC Level 2 certification, Wiles’ team has gained a distinct competitive edge. Their proven track record has not only validated their capabilities, it’s also sparked increased demand from prospective DoD clients seeking experienced, compliance-ready MSP support.

Advice to MSPs: Don’t Wing CMMC Compliance

When asked what he’d tell other MSPs serving DoD clients, Wiles doesn’t hesitate:

“Find an RPO. A good one. This isn’t something you wing.”

He’s clear about the effort required: “Level 1 with the right documents? You can probably do that. But Level 2? That’s a significant investment.”

He also stressed the ethical side:

“Your clients are investing $50K to $100K into the certification assessment alone. You don’t want to be the reason they fail. There’s a responsibility there.”

Conclusion: Why Expert Support Makes All the Difference

TeamLogic IT’s experience shows that MSPs can effectively support CMMC efforts even without undergoing certification themselves. But it takes careful planning, clear boundaries, and expert help.

Alluvionic, a Cyber-AB Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO), played a critical role in ensuring TeamLogic IT’s clients were ready.

If you’re an MSP looking to support DoD contractors, or a contractor looking for a trusted tech partner, it’s time to take CMMC seriously and get help from those who’ve done it before.

Need help navigating CMMC compliance? Contact Alluvionic to get expert support from a Cyber-AB Registered Practitioner Organization.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

Go behind the scenes of TLIT’s successful CMMC Level 2 audit with The RUSH Family of Companies.
Uncover real trends in our survey of small DIB contractors and their CMMC readiness.
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