CMMC is a cybersecurity compliance certification used in government contracting. It has become mandatory for Department of Defense-related work — and it applies regardless of what you sell, even if you never touch classified information. A marketing agency bidding on a DoD-related contract needs it just as a defense supplier does, and other agencies are expected to follow in the coming years.
Whether you need it depends on your positioning: members targeting DoD opportunities are told to complete it early — ahead of items like optional business certifications — while other paths may not require it at all. Beyond the requirement, holding a higher CMMC level is a significant competitive differentiator: an officer may prefer a certified vendor even over one with a stronger capability statement.
CMMC is one of the few things nobody can do entirely for you, since you must complete the self-assessment yourself. The program provides the training and resources, and once you have completed your assessment the team helps submit it and finalize the certification.