Buyers in the Department of Defense need to ensure that their acquisition systems are cyber-secure, but also able to move rapidly enough so that critical new technologies can be acquired quickly.  These are two of the main points included in DOD’s latest Better Buying Power Initiative guidance released Thursday.  The guidance, now in its third version, sends an unmistakable message:  cyber security is a pervasive issue at DOD and everyone, including contract personnel, need to take it seriously.  This not only means taking precautions to ensure that sensitive contract-related documents stay secure, but affirms that DOD no longer has the luxury of drawn out procurement processes that can result in years-long delays between concept and deployment.  Contractors should mostly welcome these parts of the Better Buying Power Initiative as they may lead to streamlined acquisition procedures and increased government care with their sensitive information.  On the flip side, though, the document suggests that DOD may have broader latitude to proceed with a mission-critical project, regardless of whether a protest has been filed.  See the entire story on BBP here:  http://bbp.dau.mil/