Manufacturers working in supply chains linked to government contracts might anticipate increased income levels that would not be achievable otherwise. However, obtaining and retaining such work requires adherence to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) are a set of regulations that govern all purchases and contracting activities linked with the United States government.
The Department of Defense (DoD) is the administrative body behind DFARS, although its impact goes beyond that department. Any firm that processes or keeps sensitive, unclassified information on behalf of the US government must adhere to the cybersecurity guidelines outlined in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171). Contractors for the Department of Defense, colleges and research institutes that get federal money, and firms that provide services to government agencies are all examples of this.
NIST 800-171 establishes guidelines for protecting sensitive information on government contractors’ IT systems and networks. The resilience of the whole federal supply chain is increased by demanding best-practice cybersecurity measures from government contractors. NIST 800-171 focuses on the security and preservation of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on contractor networks. NIST 800-171 focuses on the security and preservation of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on contractor networks.
How Do You Put NIST SP 800-171 into Practice?
It’s fair for manufacturers to ask what they should do to implement NIST SP 800-171 and ultimately achieve DFARS compliance, and whether there are specialist resources available to assist them in achieving that goal without problems. The first thing they should remember is that being DFARS compliant will almost certainly include engaging with a cybersecurity professional that is well-versed in the NIST SP 800-171 criteria.
nist 800-171 implementation is a contractual requirement for contractors that handle CUI on their networks, and these firms are expected to undertake self-assessments to identify and maintain compliance. As a result, it is critical that the needs be properly understood and appraised.
Small manufacturers should contact their state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center.
Representatives at your local MEP Center will have a working understanding of NIST SP 800-171 and can assist firms prepare for DFARS compliance as part of the MEP National NetworkTM, a bigger organisation that connects them to NIST.
Implementing NIST SP 800-171 is an essential procedure for a firm to safeguard its information. It can be a quick or long process, depending on the intricacies of a company’s operational environment and information systems.
