DFARS Compliance for government contractors

As a government contractor, it's; imperative that you take steps to comply with cybersecurity recommendations outlined in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). To adequately prepare for and meet DFARS compliance standards, you first need to learn more about what DFARS entails and the steps you must take to protect government data.

WHAT is DFARS?

DFARS is a set of cybersecurity guidelines that all government contracts must follow as mandated by the Department of Defense. These guidelines include security controls companies must implement to prevent data breach and reporting procedures companies must fallow in the event breach occurs.

Why it is important for a government contactor to align with DFARS regulations? A data security breach can be devastating, in terms of non-compliance consequences, disruption to your business, and putting sensitive material in jeopardy. If you want to ensure your sensitive data is secure and remain eligible to be a government contractor, you should your security controls are line up to DFARS standards.

Ways to Prepare DFARS Compliance for government contractors.

DFARS compliance for government contractor guidelines, requires strategic effort to make sure that contractor is prepared for the compliance. Below are essential steps that a government contractor should take for the DFARS compliance for the government contractor.

  • Update your Compliance program - Do you already have a compliance program for your company, but you are unsure of it’s up current DFARS standards. Before you take an actual steps toward implementation security measures, you need find all documented plans and procedures and determine whether or not they need to be updated. If you don’t know how to go about updating these documents you may want work with an expert compliance consultant. This consultant can point out areas in your DFARS compliance for the government contractor documentation that should be updated. While working with an expert might lead to greater costs, it can make this process faster, and you will feel confident that your documentation is accurate.
  • Identify CUI and CDI data - One clear objective of DFARS is to keep CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) and CDI (Covered Defense Information) secure and out of unauthorized hands. Some companies have massive amount of data stored in many different locations, and it’s likely not all of this data falls in to the CUI or CDI categorize. So one helpful way to streamline compliance and protect sensitive data quickly is to isolate data that falls under DFARS compliance for the government contractor guidelines. By putting this information all in one place and protecting it first, your organization will be in compliance with regulations faster.
  • Plan Risk and Security System Assessments - One of the most effective way to ensure your data security efforts up to DFARS standards is to plan for regular risk and security assessment. Let look at risk Assessment first. Assessing your security controls reveal potential vulnerabilities that that should be addressed. Also risk assessment are often required when you sign in government contracts with the government. So it’s vital that you document all risk assessments to fulfill these requirements. Your security controls need to be regularly tested and assessed for their effectiveness as well. Are all security controls up to your standards? Should any controls be updated? To avoid breaches in security and cybersecurity incidents, run security assessment on an ongoing basis.
  • Research File Sharing Solutions - Because so much of DFARS is focused on keeping data secure, you should consider integrating a secure file sharing solution into your cybersecurity compliance efforts. This will make the compliance process far easier. Although countless file sharing solutions on the market, you should focus your search on once that offer DFARS compliance for the government contractor assurance one such solution GOVFTP from FTP today has features built into the solution to promote secure data practices, like in-transit encryption, IP address restrictions, user access controls and more.
  • Monitor Your Data - Unfortunately DFARS compliance for a government contractor isn’t one time event. It take continuous monitoring to ensure your data is not being compromised. Establish data monitoring guidelines and invest in any monitoring tools to help your effort suspicious activity or cybersecurity incidents occur even though these attempted breaches will likely be prevented.