With the start of the new year, it’s a good time to assess the compliance landscape and figure out your organization’s current cybersecurity posture. Let’s discuss what’s happening and what you can do to move forward to better safeguard your intellectual property and be eligible to receive federal contracts.
CMMC 2.0 rule released
The CMMC 2.0 rule was released shortly after the holidays, marking a significant milestone in compliance requirements for defense contractors. After much delay, and as documented in the Federal Register, this is the year when your company could expect to see compliance with the mandate called out in contracts as a requirement ahead of new bids.
The existing DFARS clause 252.204-7012 is required today. While this clause remains a cornerstone, CMMC 2.0’s enforcement introduces new dynamics to consider. The good news around CMMC is that the requirements are not new; however, they will now be enforceable. On slide 5 of a recent Defense Contracting Management Agency (DCMA) presentation, they note existing cyber clauses already required for compliance, like NIST 800-171.
False Claims Act cases are gaining steam
It’s becoming a perfect storm environment with the convergence of existing contractual requirements, the CMMC release, and a rash of False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblower lawsuits by defense contractor employees. These cases emphasize the critical nature of adhering to stringent cybersecurity protocols.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne Agrees to Pay $9 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Cybersecurity Violations in Federal Government Contracts
- Penn State University Hit With False Claims Act Suit for Alleged Cyber Security Deficiencies
- Foosaner v. Crown Castle Fiber, LLC, No. 1:2022cv00521 – Document 24 (E.D. Va. 2023)
Our CEO, Eric Noonan, is contributing his expertise in one such case, demonstrating CyberSheath’s central role in guiding the defense industrial base through these complex landscapes.
The time for compliance is now
Given everything that’s happening, it’s time to review your specific compliance requirements and timeline to discuss the path forward. One of the options to speed up your journey to compliance is our Federal Enclave solution.
As the industry’s first CMMC enclave, this solution is designed specifically for the DIB to protect your controlled unclassified information (CUI) and DOD project data. Federal Enclave’s custom-built dashboard brings together world-leading technologies for compiling data and facilitating visibility into compliance, so you know if your organization is adherent and secure.
Your Path Forward
Regardless of where you are on your journey, our role is to enhance your efforts, providing solutions like the Federal Enclave to ensure you’re not just compliant but ahead of the curve. Whether you are evaluating next steps or seeking to fortify your existing compliance framework, we’re here to provide comprehensive support and solutions.
Please join us on Jan 31, 2024, at 12:00PM ET to learn how to accelerate your journey to CMMC compliance as we share from our experience the necessary steps, time and budget.