What does an assessment objective express in a CMMC context?

In the context of CMMC, an assessment objective specifically outlines the desired outcomes for evaluating an organization's compliance with security requirements. It focuses on what is to be achieved through the assessment process, guiding both the assessors and the organizations being assessed regarding the goals and expectations of the assessment.

This clarity about desired outcomes helps ensure that the assessment aligns with the overarching cybersecurity objectives, allowing assessors to properly gauge whether an organization's practices meet the specified standards. Such objectives might encompass understanding how well certain security controls are implemented, identifying potential gaps in protection, and confirming that the organization is effectively managing its cybersecurity risks.

The other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not capture the primary focus of assessment objectives in CMMC. A list of test cases pertains more to the specifics of evaluating individual controls rather than the broader assessment goals. Strategies for incident response planning and hardware requirements are essential elements in a cybersecurity framework, but they do not define what the assessment aims to achieve in terms of verifying compliance and effectiveness of security controls.