SECURITY STARTS AT HOME – MAKING SURE YOU’RE CYBER SAFE WHEN OFFERING CYBER SOLUTIONS

Cyber security isn’t just something contractors sell to the government, it’s something every contractor has to have itself.  Your federal customers, especially those in DOD, are increasingly demanding evidence that your firm practices what it preaches in terms of cyber due diligence.  The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued 5 broad elements they expect every contractor to have as part of their cyber security program.  Your company must be able to DETECT cyber threats and incursions, IDENTIFY where the problems are and who might be attacking you.  A strong PROTECTION system is mandatory to safeguard critical systems as well as any government data you may be storing.  Your system must have RESILIENCY and be able to RECOVER from any attack.  These elements also apply to subcontractors you may be dealing with.  These should be considered basic features of any company’s system.  Those conducting sensitive federal work may be subject to additional requirements.  If you’ve done any business with DOD lately chances are that a new clause requiring cyber secure systems is part of the deal, as are penalties if you fail to comply.  Make sure you and your business partners have robust cyber protection programs AND understand what your federal contract requires on this front.