Most defense contractors do not need to secure their entire IT environment to meet CMMC Level 2 requirements. Instead, many organizations use a CMMC enclave to isolate only the systems that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). If your team has 5–150 users, handles CUI in specific workflows, and wants to reduce compliance scope by 50–80%, an enclave is often the most practical and cost-effective approach. However, it’s not the right fit for every organization.
If you’re asking this question, you’re already in the right place.
Most defense contractors don’t need to secure their entire business to meet CMMC Level 2 requirements—but you doneed a clear strategy.
For most organizations, that comes down to one decision:
👉 Do we isolate CUI into a CMMC enclave, or secure everything?
A CMMC enclave lets you isolate only the systems that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which typically reduces compliance scope by 50–80%. For companies with 5–150 users, it’s usually the fastest and most practical path to compliance, with deployments taking around 30–90 days.
But it’s not the right answer for everyone.
Let’s walk through how to think about it.
What a CMMC Enclave Actually Means (Without the Jargon)
At a high level, a CMMC enclave is just a line you draw around your business.
Inside that line:
- Systems that handle CUI
- Users who need access
- Security controls and monitoring
Outside that line:
- The rest of your business (not subject to full CMMC controls)
Instead of trying to make everything compliant, you focus only on what matters.
That’s why most contractors don’t try to secure their entire environment anymore—it’s expensive, slow, and usually unnecessary.
What This Looks Like in the Real World
This isn’t theoretical. A typical enclave setup looks like this:
- A dedicated Microsoft 365 GCC High environment for CUI
- Controlled access (only specific users can get in)
- Approved devices only
- Everything logged, monitored, and documented
The important part isn’t the technology—it’s the boundary.
You can clearly say:
- “This is in scope”
- “This is not”
That clarity is what makes audits, documentation, and ongoing compliance manageable.
When an Enclave Is the Right Move
Most of the time, if you’re a defense contractor pursuing CMMC Level 2, an enclave is the right approach.
Here’s how to tell.
You Only Have a Few People Handling CUI
This is the most common scenario.
If:
- A handful of users touch CUI
- It’s tied to specific contracts
- It lives in defined workflows
Then isolating it makes a lot more sense than rebuilding your entire IT environment.
You Want to Keep This Manageable
Most companies reduce their compliance scope by 50–80% with an enclave.
That usually means:
- Less to secure
- Less to document
- Less to maintain
And that translates directly into cost and time savings.
You Don’t Want This to Drag On for a Year
A full environment compliance project can take a long time.
Most enclaves are deployed in 30–90 days, especially if your environment is relatively clean.
You’re Already Looking at GCC High
If you’re moving toward Microsoft 365 GCC High, you’re already halfway into an enclave strategy—whether you realize it or not.
When an Enclave Might NOT Be the Right Fit
There are definitely cases where this isn’t the right move.
Everything You Do Touches CUI
If your entire business operates on CUI, there’s nothing to isolate.
In that case, you’re essentially already “in scope” everywhere—so a full environment approach may make more sense.
Your Systems Are Too Tightly Connected
If your workflows are deeply integrated and can’t be separated cleanly, trying to force an enclave can create more problems than it solves.
You’re Extremely Small
For very small teams, the structure of an enclave may feel like overhead without enough benefit.
Not All Enclaves Are the Same (This Matters More Than People Think)
One thing that gets overlooked a lot:
👉 There isn’t just one type of enclave.
Most organizations end up in one of three models:
AVD-Only (Most Controlled)
Everything happens inside a locked-down virtual desktop.
- Cleanest compliance boundary
- Lowest risk
- Least flexibility
Local + Controlled Devices (More Flexible)
Users work on managed laptops/desktops with strict controls.
- More natural workflow
- More complexity
- More documentation required
Mixed Approach
A combination of both.
- Works for complex teams
- Requires more oversight
The right choice here has a real impact on cost, complexity, and audit readiness.
Quick Way to Decide (Without Overthinking It)
If you want a simple way to think about this:
Step 1: Where is your CUI?
- A few users → enclave
- Everywhere → full environment
Step 2: Can you isolate it?
- Yes → enclave
- No → full environment
Step 3: What’s your priority?
- Speed + cost control → enclave
- Full rebuild → full environment
Real Example (What This Actually Looks Like)
We worked with a 25-user defense contractor supporting DoD contracts.
Only 8 users actually handled CUI.
Instead of securing everything, we built a GCC High enclave around those users and workflows.
- Scope reduced by 65%
- Deployment completed in 75 days
- 17 users stayed completely out of scope
The result:
👉 Faster readiness
👉 Lower cost
👉 Way less disruption to the business
Where People Get This Wrong
A few common mistakes we see:
- Thinking GCC High = compliance (it’s not)
- Trying to secure everything “just to be safe”
- Not clearly defining what’s in scope
- Letting CUI leak into normal business workflows
These are the things that usually slow projects down—or cause problems later during assessments.
Do You Need GCC High for This?
In most cases, yes.
GCC High gives you the right foundation:
- Data residency
- Security controls
- Compliance alignment
But it’s just the starting point.
You still need:
- Structure
- Configuration
- Ongoing management
- Documentation
What This Typically Costs
At a high level:
- $150–$300 per user/month
- 30–90 day deployment timeline
- Usually 40–60% less than securing everything
If you want the full breakdown:
👉 See our CMMC enclave cost guide
Why We Push Enclaves First
We don’t recommend enclaves because they’re trendy.
We recommend them because they work.
When done correctly, they give you:
- A clear compliance boundary
- A manageable operating model
- A realistic path to passing an assessment
Not just “configured systems”—but something you can actually defend during an audit.
If You’re Not Sure Yet, That’s Normal
Most organizations don’t know which path is right at the start.
The biggest mistake is committing to a direction before you understand your scope.
That’s why we start with a structured working session to help you figure out:
- Where your CUI actually lives
- What needs to be in scope
- What approach makes sense
👉 Book a Compliance Readiness Baseline