CMMC 2.0 Level 2 and GCC High Builds with Continuous Monitoring
Elite Security Solutions LLC designs and builds Microsoft 365 GCC High environments configured against the 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls that CMMC Level 2 assesses. We write the System Security Plan and policies an assessor expects to see, and after the build we keep the environment compliant through continuous monitoring.
A compliant environment on assessment day is only half the job. Configurations drift, people join and leave, and documentation falls out of date. ESS builds the environment and then stays with it.
Who this is for
- DoD prime contractors and subcontractors that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and must meet CMMC Level 2.
- Early-stage cleared contractors preparing for their first CMMC assessment.
- Private companies with CUI requirements flowed down in their contracts.
- Companies that have a GCC High tenant but are not sure it is configured or documented to the standard.
- Companies that reached compliance once and need a way to stay there.
What's included
GCC High tenant build
- Microsoft 365 GCC High tenant architecture and configuration mapped to NIST SP 800-171.
- Identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID, including conditional access and multifactor authentication.
- Endpoint management and protection with Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
- Data governance and protection with Microsoft Purview.
- Security monitoring and logging with Microsoft Sentinel.
Documentation and assessment preparation
- Gap assessment against the 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls.
- Prioritized remediation roadmap and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
- System Security Plan (SSP) written for your environment.
- Policy suite covering access control, media protection, incident response, configuration management, information flow, and related control families.
- NIST SP 800-171A assessment workbook and evidence organized the way an assessor will review it.
Continuous monitoring after the build
- Monitoring on the required daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly schedule, with tenant configuration checked against the documented baseline.
- Microsoft Sentinel alert triage.
- Updates to policies and the SSP when your configuration changes.
- Annual reviews to confirm you remain ready for assessment against NIST SP 800-171A.
- Incident response support coordination.
How it works
- Consultation and scoping. We learn what CUI you handle, what your contracts require, how many people need access, and what systems you already have.
- Gap assessment. We measure your current state against the NIST SP 800-171 controls and agree on the target environment.
- Phase 1: tenant and security build. We build and configure the GCC High tenant, identity, endpoints, data protection, and monitoring.
- Phase 2: SSP and policy documentation. We write the SSP, policy suite, and assessment workbook that match what was actually built.
- Continuous monitoring. Clients who stay with us get the required daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly monitoring and annual reviews, along with alert triage and documentation updates that keep you ready for assessment and compliant after it.
Typical timeline
Builds run in two phases: the tenant and security build, then the SSP and policy documentation. Duration depends on the number of users and the type of project: a new build, a new enclave, or a migration of an existing environment. We give you a timeline after scoping. Continuous monitoring begins once Phase 1 is complete and continues month to month.
Part of a larger security program
Many CMMC clients are also cleared contractors. ESS can run the industrial security program for the same company, and build classified systems when a contract requires them, so CUI and classified obligations are handled by one firm with one point of accountability.
Frequently asked questions
What is GCC High, and do we need it for CMMC?
GCC High is the Microsoft 365 cloud environment built for the U.S. defense industrial base and other organizations handling CUI and export-controlled data. Not every company needs it. It is commonly chosen when CUI includes export-controlled information or when a prime contractor expects it. We help you decide which environment fits your contracts before you commit to licenses or a migration.
Does ESS perform CMMC certification assessments?
No. ESS designs, builds, documents, and maintains the environment and prepares you for assessment. CMMC Level 2 certification assessments are conducted by an authorized Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO), which is independent of the firm that prepared you. ESS is not a C3PAO, but we work with a bench of authorized C3PAOs and can recommend one that fits your schedule and environment.
What documents do we receive?
You receive a System Security Plan written for your environment, a policy suite across the NIST SP 800-171 control families, a NIST SP 800-171A assessment workbook, and a Plan of Action and Milestones for any open items. Continuous monitoring keeps those documents current as your environment changes.
What does continuous monitoring include?
Each month we review your tenant configuration against the documented baseline, triage Microsoft Sentinel alerts, and update the SSP and policies when your configuration changes. Each quarter we run a readiness check against NIST SP 800-171A. We also coordinate incident response support if something happens.
How is a build structured?
Builds run in two phases. Phase 1 builds and secures the GCC High tenant. Phase 2 produces the SSP, policies, and assessment workbook that describe what was built. Continuous monitoring follows.
Talk to us about CMMC Level 2
If CMMC is in your contracts, or soon will be, start with a confidential consultation. We will tell you what your environment needs and what it will take to get there and stay there. Use the contact form or call 910-797-6345.