Last updated October 5, 2026
If you want to know where your company stands on CMMC Level 1 before committing to anything, the Readiness Check is the place to start. This article explains how to take it and what to have on hand.
What the Readiness Check is
The Readiness Check is a free, 10-question questionnaire about how your company handles computers, accounts, and facilities today. Each question is written in plain language, such as who can access your systems, how you protect against viruses and malware, and how you control who can walk into your office.
It takes about five minutes. There is no cost, no credit card, and you do not need an account to take it.
Before you start
You will get the most useful results if you have a general sense of the following. You do not need exact answers.
- How employees sign in to email and company systems, and whether you use multi-factor authentication (a code or app prompt in addition to a password).
- What antivirus or endpoint protection runs on your computers, and whether updates install automatically.
- Who has administrator rights on company computers and systems.
- Whether employees use personal devices, personal email, or personal cloud storage for company work.
- How visitors are handled at your office, and who has keys or badges.
If an IT provider manages your systems, you may want to ask them a few of these questions first, or take the Readiness Check together.
How to take the Readiness Check
- Go to affirmready.com/readiness-check.
- Answer each of the 10 questions based on how your company operates today, not how you plan to operate. An honest answer gives you a more useful result.
- Review your results on screen. You will see a readiness score out of 100 and your current readiness level.
- To see your top priorities, enter your name, business email, and company name under Email my summary, complete the quick verification, and select Email my summary. Your summary arrives within a few minutes; if you don't see it, check your spam or junk folder.
What your results mean
Your score is based entirely on your own answers to 10 questions. It is a starting point, not an assessment. A high score doesn't confirm that your company meets the requirements, and a low score doesn't mean you're out of line with any contract today. It simply shows where to focus first. Many small companies start with a low score, and every one of the basic safeguards is fixable.
What to do next
From your results, you can email yourself a summary of your priorities. AffirmReady's full platform is launching soon. In the meantime, the free evidence collection guides, starting with Collecting evidence for CMMC Level 1: where to start, explain what to gather for each requirement area. See What happens after I finish the Readiness Check? for more detail.
Still need help?
If you run into a problem completing the Readiness Check or have questions about your results, email our support team at affirmready@polsia.app and include your company name. We typically respond within one business day.
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For CMMC Level 1 readiness purposes only. Not legal advice. Your company is responsible for the accuracy of its self-assessment and affirmation. Last updated October 5, 2026.