Multiple cloud-based services are available in the market when it comes to using Office 365 under the FedRAMP regulations.

These services also help your organization to become more tech-savvy and be ready for attaining the desired FedRAMP authorization.Such services are as follows:Security and compliance auditsThere are many certified programs and modules under DoD and FedRAMP to attain.

And to achieve them one by one, your company must be ready in terms of paperwork and timely audits.These engagements in the audit and assessment process can include:Account or system auditDevelopment of business policies and reviewing the sameBusiness impact and its risk analysisInterview of employees to know their progress and work profileVulnerability analysisPenetration testsThese are some of the everyday auditing tasks that take place before your beloved and bespoke organization is ready to apply for FedRAMP authorization.

Through these tests, analysis, reviews, and auditing tasks, the government gets a hint about the way you operate the business.In layman's terms, it’s justified to say that timely and correct auditing helps your firm to build a profile and be in the good books of the government.

This is something you must never miss if you want to become an agency or contractor for the upcoming government projects.Be technically secure firmThe cloud-based services also include compliance implementation and remediation tasks.

These services make your company self-reliant.

In October of 2016, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued the DFARS 252.204-7012.

The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, or DFARS, has been working to encourage DoD contractors to proactively comply with certain frameworks to achieve this goal.

Clause 252.204-7012, refers to Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting, is the latest mandatory addition to this clause.Under the Clause, all contractors must comply with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171), a framework that lays out how contractors must protect sensitive defense information and report cybersecurity incidents.

The DFARS consists of the requirements of the law including DoD-wide policies, delegations of FAR authorities, deviations from FAR requirements, and policies/procedures that have a significant effect on the public.The DFARS should be read in conjunction with the primary set of rules covered in the FAR.

These regulations require contractors and their suppliers to provide adequate security on all covered defense information that is processed, stored, or transmitted on the contractor’s internal information or data.DFARS Clause 252.204-7012 requires contractors/subcontractors to:1) Safeguard Covered Defense Information: that resides on or is transiting through a contractor’s internal information system or network2) Report Cyber Incidents: that affects a covered contractor data system ,the covered defense information, and the contractor’s ability to perform requirements designated as operationally critical support.3) Submit Malicious Software: discovered and isolated about a reported cyber incident to the DoD Cyber Crime Center4) Facilitate Damage Assessment: and additional information to support damage assessment if requestedAriento an ultimate option to choose to give a start.

Ariento has more than 30 years of National Security Cyber & IT expertise (Military & Federal Govt.)

Due to the increasingly sophisticated data breaches and aggressive cybersecurity threats our nation facing, it has become very important recently on reinforcing the nation’s cybersecurity.

These efforts have revolved around strengthening the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain.

The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement also is known as DFARS has been working to encourage DoD contractors to proactively comply with pattern frameworks and to achieve this goal successfully.

252.204-7012 clause safeguarding cyber incident reporting and covered defense information is the new mandatory addition.

Under the DFARS clause 252.204-7012, all the DoD contractors must comply with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Special Publication 800-171 or (NIST 800-171), a framework that layout and make sure that DoD contractors must protect sensitive defense information and also report cybersecurity incidents.As a defense contractor, NIST Framework requires you to document how you have met the following particular requirements which include,Security requirements 3.12.4 requires the defense contractor to develop, document and update system security plans (SSPs) that describe system environments of operation, and system boundaries and also how security requirements are implemented or connected to other systems.Security requirements 3.12.2 requires the defense contractor to develop and implement security plans of action designed to reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities and correct deficiencies in their systems.The main aim of DFARS clause 252.204-7012 is to encourage you as a contractor and to take the necessary proactive role in the protection of CDI.

If you want to strengthen the entire supply chain then as a contractor you need to take necessary steps to demonstrate compliance within your own business and ensure that your subcontractors comply too.

It is to be noted that DFARS or Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement regulates and then supplements the Federation Acquisition Regulation, popularly known as FAR.

The DFARS itself is under the administration of DoD, that is, the Department of Defense.In this blog, we will catch hold of the information related to the DFARS that is necessary for every contractor working under the contract or subcontracts of DoD.Companies who manage any design or product owned by DoD are subjected to cybersecurity guidelines by NISTThe National Institute of Standard and Technology or NSIT is responsible for managing the cybersecurity guidelines most of the DoD contractors and sub-contractors are now to follow.These guidelines are termed as CMMC, that is, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.

But the information is given only till level 3 as it was rolled out in January 2020.Thus, the majority of the guidelines are still under the microscopic view of the industry insiders who want to establish a proper holding over the instructions to be followed with the stipulated time frame.The DFARS necessitates companies using metals, alloys, steel, or even titanium to get the due permission from the departmentUnlike earlier, the rules set by the DFARS are more stringent.

But it is for the benefit of the contractors under DoD who are pretty serious about their products and services.

These rules levy on the companies that are using metals, alloys, steel, titanium.Even such companies producing these materials on the USA soil must get permission to do so from DFARS.

However, these restrictions apply on companies using materials for final products: aircrafts, ships, weapons, missiles, tanks, ammunition, or automotive.It clearly defines the clear-cut roles and responsibilities of a contracting officerNow contracting officers have surveillance-related roles which they need to fulfill to run their organization as per the guidelines.

People who are working for the Department of Defense (DoD) may already know how much of an emphasis has been placed in recent times on cybersecurity.

The DoD has published Defense Acquisition Federal Regulation Supplement (DFARS) in 2015 which stipulated that all those private contractors who are working for the DoD must abide by the rules and standards of NIST SP 800-717 on cybersecurity.

And this rationale behind DFARS act is to safeguard the country's defense supply chain against the data breaches and threats posed by cyber attackers both domestically and internationally.

This led to forcing more than 300,000 private DoD contractors by DFARS to adapt to these new standards and rules so that they comply with the present law system.During contract awards procedures, DoD actively discriminates against all those private companies or DoD contractor who is not possessing the necessary cybersecurity standards.

Despite the urgency whipped up by the DoD, thousands of private companies have yet to comply with the DFARS new standards and in fact, few private contractors have made false claims about their compliance.

In order to deal with these problems, DoD has created the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).What is CMMC Compliance:The DoD has created the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance in order to ensure that all the private companies or contractors observe appropriate levels of cybersecurity controls.