DFARS 252.204-7012

Defense Contractors and The Cloud: Which version of Microsoft 365 is right for you?

Defense Contractors and The Cloud: Which version of Microsoft 365 is right for you?

In the age of CMMC and pending independent third-party assessments of defense contractors’ compliance with their contractual cybersecurity obligations, there is a lot of misinformation out there about which Microsoft 365 environment meets your regulatory compliant needs. As a Microsoft Direct CSP and Azure Government CSP partner, we (Ariento) figured we’d address the most frequent questions our team receives when working with clients on their government cyber compliance journey. Note: a lot of this evaluation can be applied to other public cloud service providers (e.g. Google, Zoom, Google, Amazon, etc.) as well.

CMMC Timeline Update: DoD Submits CMMC Program to Office of Management and Budget for Review

CMMC Timeline Update: DoD Submits CMMC Program to Office of Management and Budget for Review

On July 24th, the Department of Defense submitted the Cybersecurity Model Maturity Certification (CMMC) Program to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. So, what exactly does this mean for Defense contractors and when would a CMMC certification requirement start to show up in contracts solicitations?

DOJ’s False Claims Act and why it matters to Defense Contractors

DOJ’s False Claims Act and why it matters to Defense Contractors

On April 27, 2022, Aerojet Rocketdyne agreed to pay roughly $9 million to settle a False Claims Act complaint relating to overstated levels of cybersecurity compliance and controls. The case is significant because it is the first time that a whistleblower has successfully used the False Claims Act to hold a defense contractor accountable for cybersecurity fraud. The case also sets an important precedent for future whistleblowers who are trying to hold defense contractors accountable for cybersecurity violations.

What CMMC can and should learn from FedRAMP

What CMMC can and should learn from FedRAMP

In our role as NIST 800 series and Risk Management Framework (RMF) subject matter experts, we’ve worked closely with both third-party assessment organizations (3PAO) and companies at different points of the packaging process for Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) authorization.

CMMC – The Cyber Compliance Standard We’ve Been Waiting For?

CMMC – The Cyber Compliance Standard We’ve Been Waiting For?

Is the DoD’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) the future, or just another compliance initiative in the long line of competing cyber standards across a fragmented landscape. One thing is certain, this is a different approach.