Services

NIST 800-171

Created to help government contractors and subcontractors minimize their cybersecurity risk, protect their networks, and secure controlled unclassified information (CUI), NIST SP 800-171 is a set of guidelines for protecting CUI that's stored, transmitted, or processed by non-federal organizations. Contractors that want to do business with the US Department of Defense (DoD) must usually handle data that requires them to comply with NIST 800-171 standards. NIST SP 800-171 compliance ensures that these contractors provide the necessary protection for CUI.

These guidelines ensure that contractors provide the security needed to protect CUI as specified in their contracts. Achieving NIST 800-171 compliance can be challenging, as it requires a deep understanding of your information systems' infrastructure, processes and procedures.

NIST has also stated that working with a consultant that has a thorough knowledge of NIST 800-171 is likely the most important step in meeting DFARS requirements. The right partner can help contractors implement a comprehensive NIST 800-171 compliance solution by assessing business risk, documenting practices, writing policies, and implementing technology.

These steps help government contractors put a security program into place that will meet the increasing demand by the Defense Industrial Base's (DIB) for protecting sensitive government information.

 

CMMC 2.0

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a comprehensive framework established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance the cybersecurity of contractors within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

If your organization works with the DoD--either directly or as a subcontractor-and handles Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), you will need to comply with CMMC. The specific CMMC level required will depend on the type of information you handle and the requirements outlined in the DoD contracts with which you are involved.

As of November 2021, CMMC 2.0 introduced significant changes to simplify the certification process, align more closely with existing cybersecurity standards, and reduce the compliance burden on small businesses. These changes make the framework more practical and accessible while maintaining robust cybersecurity practices to protect sensitive information.

CMMC 2.0 reduced the number of certification levels from five to three:

• Level 1 (Foundational): Basic cyber hygiene practices.
• Level 2 (Advanced): Aligns with NIST SP 800-171 practices.
• Level 3 (Expert): Aligns with a subset of NIST SP 800-172 controls, focused on advanced/progressive cybersecurity practices.

Understanding the key steps of CMMC 2.0 compliance can simplify the process and ensure your organization is well-prepared to meet requirements including:

• Determining your CMMC level
• Understanding CMMC requirements
• Conducting a gap assessment
• Taking steps to satisfy deficiencies outlined in the gap assessment
• Performing annual self-assessments, or when necessary, conducting assessments by a certified third-party assessment organization (C3PAO) every three years.

 

PCI Auditing

PCI compliance is compliance with The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), a set of requirements intended to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.

Outsource IT can assist in validating and improving PCI DSS compliance by auditing firewalls, inventorying devices and creating password policies, evaluating encryption algorithms, scanning for unencrypted data, managing anti-virus software, properly restricting data access, maintaining access logs, scanning and testing for vulnerabilities, and documenting policies.

 

IT Policies and Procedures

IT policies and procedures play a strategic and crucial role in making sure that a company’s corporate information is safe. Policies document how people and other IT systems can access your data and network. Policies and procedures work together with internal security controls to protect confidential information from unauthorized access, disclosure, corruption, loss, and interference in both physical and electronic formats.

Outsource IT can help your organization establish clear guidelines and instructions for technology use and management, ensuring consistent, secure and compliant IT operations.