August 26, 2025 Cherry Bekaert Collaborates With Lifeline Data Centers

Cherry Bekaert collaborates with lifeline data centers for streamlined CMMC compliance.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – Cherry Bekaert (the Firm) is pleased to announce its strategic alliance with Lifeline Data Centers, a collaboration that further enhances the Firm’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) services.

As the Department of Defense (DoD) moves toward an October 1, 2025 effective date for its CMMC acquisition rule, certain contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must meet certification requirements.

“Lifeline’s secure, CMMC-compliant data storage environments allow contractors to inherit a significant portion of the required infrastructure controls,” said Jim Kramer, Digital Advisory Partner at Cherry Bekaert. “This approach will significantly streamline the certification process.”

Comprehensive Support for Government Contractors

Cherry Bekaert, an authorized CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO), offers end-to-end support through comprehensive certification assessments, managed IT services and integrated cybersecurity solutions. These solutions include threat detection, strategic IT planning, and infrastructure and operations management.

The Firm’s CMMC-certified professionals combine deep regulatory knowledge with modern IT capabilities to help contractors meet compliance requirements confidently and efficiently.

“Together, Cherry Bekaert and Lifeline offer a streamlined path to CMMC certification, helping contractors protect sensitive data, maintain eligibility for DoD contracts and strengthen national cybersecurity resilience,” said Roy Nicholson, Partner and Business Optimization Leader at the Firm.

Fast-tracking Compliance for Small and Mid-sized Businesses

Lifeline’s “CMMC Fasttrack Implementation” model enables small and medium-sized businesses to achieve Level 2—and even Level 3—compliance by leveraging Lifeline’s existing cybersecurity framework, significantly reducing the time and complexity typically associated with building compliant infrastructure. Cherry Bekaert complements this model with readiness assessments, gap analyses and formal certification services, enabling contractors to be prepared for DoD audits.

“Pairing the Firm’s experience as a CMMC C3PAO with a compliant data center elevates our comprehensive cybersecurity compliance advisory services and managed IT offerings, helping our client organizations maintain a secure position over time—not just pass the initial CMMC assessment,” said Kurt Manske, Partner and Information Cybersecurity Leader at the Firm.

This strategic alliance also addresses common barriers to compliance, such as high-capital expenditures for new IT infrastructure and operational burdens associated with transitioning to secure environments. By combining technical infrastructure with regulatory knowledge, Cherry Bekaert and Lifeline offer a scalable, cost-effective path to CMMC certification.

With readiness assessments often taking up to six months, DoD contractors are encouraged to begin preparing now to ensure they are audit-ready by their contractual deadlines—which could be as early as October 1, 2026, when Phase 2 of the planned rollout is expected to begin. For more information on CMMC compliance, visit Cherry Bekaert’s CMMC Consulting page.

About Lifeline Data Centers
Lifeline Data Centers is a leader in data center compliance, uptime, and innovation. Since 2001, Lifeline has provided data center and office real estate to companies who require uptime, connectivity, and room for growth.

About Cherry Bekaert
Cherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax, and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in the U.S. and internationally. “Cherry Bekaert” is the brand name under which Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards. Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC is not a licensed CPA firm. Cherry Bekaert LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services, and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC and its subsidiary entities provide business advisory and non-attest services spanning the areas of transaction advisory, risk and accounting advisory, digital solutions, cybersecurity, and tax. We exercise a deliberate curiosity to know our clients’ industries and work collaboratively to create shared success. For more details, visit cbh.com/disclosure.

Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association. Visit us at cbh.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X or Instagram.

© 2025 Cherry Bekaert. All Rights Reserved.

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