CMMCDocs.comHome / Glossary / Compliance vs Certification
Compliance vs Certification
Also known as: CMMC compliance vs certification
Compliance with NIST SP 800-171 is the underlying obligation under DFARS 252.204-7012. CMMC certification is the verification mechanism.
These two terms get used interchangeably, but they mean different things in the CMMC context.
**Compliance with NIST SP 800-171** is the underlying obligation: any defense contractor handling CUI is required by DFARS 252.204-7012 to implement the 110 NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 security requirements.
**CMMC certification** is the verification mechanism: it confirms (through self-assessment, C3PAO assessment, or DIBCAC assessment) that the contractor actually meets the NIST SP 800-171 requirements they have been claiming to meet.
A contractor can be 'compliant' without being 'certified' — that's the gap CMMC closes.
Stop Googling. Start working.
CMMCDocs has all 110 NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 requirements built in — with the language, the templates, and the evidence vault you need. Spin up a free demo workspace and click around the way an assessor would.
Get my demo account