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    15Jul, 2023
    How can DoD contractors prepare themselves for CMMC compliance?

    Beginning in 2020, DoD introduced the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), which has attracted a lot of interest since then. The US Department of Defense (DoD) launched the CMMC program to enhance security by mandating certification of external contractors, of which there are more than 300,000. This initiative is essential and a question of national security because cyberwarfare is a persistent danger to the defense industrial base (DIB).

    The recently announced CMMC 2.0 has significantly altered the framework while keeping the CMMC’s goal the same. Thus, if you are planning to achieve CMMC compliance, you should hire DFARS consultant Virginia Beach. 

    Here are a few significant changes:

    There are only 3 stages of maturity. The framework only includes three cybersecurity maturity levels, down from five:

    Level 1 is Foundational – this is the level that every contractor engaging with Federal Contract Information (FCI) will be required to accomplish. Another significant distinction is that businesses will be allowed to conduct annual self-evaluations.

    Level 2 is Advanced; it’s comparable to the previous Level 3 of “Good Cyber Hygiene,” and any company that handles Controlled Unclassified Information must meet its requirements (CUI). Most of these evaluations (with minimal exceptions) will call for certification by a third-party (C3PAO) examination.

    Expert is Level 3, which is still being developed. The government will conduct the evaluations for this level, depending on a segment of NIST SP 800-172.

    The acceptance of Plans of Action and Milestones (POAMs). Since the CMMC architecture was designed to be 100% confirming, POAMs were first not allowed because doing so would have hurt those who took the time and money to be secure. Organizations can only develop POAMs under certain circumstances under CMMC 2.0 to obtain certification. However, the contractors must finish these within 180 days.

    Although CMMC 2.0 is still being examined, we continue to advocate that it is best to start preparing right away. 

    Those vendors will be required to comply as immediately as CMMC 2.0 is put into operation for DoD contracts. 

    Don’t be fooled by the fact that there are fewer stages; the criteria are still challenging and will take effort, resources, and knowledge. Perform an assessment of your environment to determine where you are now, where you need to go, and whether you should pursue certification.

    Key Points to remember before becoming CMMC compliant

    If a contractor lacks the CMMC necessary level by a DoD contract, they will not be able to keep that contract.

    DoD contracts will include CMMC certification as an allowed cost, which entitles contractors to pay for certification-related expenses.

    CMMC offers five increasingly more stringent degrees of data security. The CMMC level needed for each contract will be specified, enabling contractors to execute only the security protocols defined in the contract. Whether or not they manage CUI, DoD contractors’ security procedures will be evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5.

    The CMMC level of security for the data systems of DoD vendors will be certified by a third-party auditor. This criterion primarily addresses the recurring issue of vendors self-certifying their safety compliance without actually putting the required security measures in place or even comprehending them.

    The DoD will create a platform to let certifiers gather metrics while conducting audits. To ensure contractors handle CUI properly, the DoD will also evaluate their compliance with DFARS cybersecurity and NIST.

    For all DoD contracts, CMMC establishes a uniform standard for computer security.

    The multi-tiered DIB distribution network in the US is where CMMC hopes to improve all contractors’ security posture. To safeguard CUI on their infrastructures and those of their collaborators and subcontractors, it will be confirmed that contractors exercise the proper degree of supervision over their security procedures. Contracting officers will utilize the same method to define the maturity level for their agreements after auditors evaluate subcontractors and award them a CMMC maturity level. The US government will initially use the CMMC model in DoD contracts, but over time it will likely be used by other agencies. Analysts believe that CMMC is a well-considered option for upholding DFARS criteria while continuing to support small firms as federal contractors.…

    22Jun, 2023
    Government IT Spending: Don’t Get Caught in a Downward Spiral

    Municipalities and government agencies work for public welfare. Government agencies are responsible for executing legislative and administrative regulations within the communities and becoming a channel for the public to access government resources. However, most government departments and municipalities work on a limited budget. They constantly look for ways to utilize the minimum resources they have on welfare services. The current pandemic situation and financial crisis brought by it have further dried up the funds. In such a situation, the budget for federal IT solutions or CMMC MSP Virginia Beach is often the first to be cut. 

    According to a report by the IDC, only a fraction of the $3.8 trillion budget to combat the Covid-19 crisis will be utilized for government IT. The budget cuts will directly impact new investments in IT infrastructure. Ultimately, core IT services will have to take a blow from the fund shortage.

    This blog has discussed the adverse effects of lack of IT funding in municipalities and government agencies.

    1. The Effects of an Aging Infrastructure

    IT infrastructures have a life span of a couple of years. And as they age, their efficiency starts depleting. Such IT components also become vulnerable to downtime and data loss. Equipment may stop working efficiently due to no up-gradation. When hardware and software reach each of their life, they stop receiving support. These situations make the agency network vulnerable to problems like downtime and outages. Risk to government data and sensitive information is another problem faced by federal agencies that use aging infrastructure. Timely availability for vital services is necessary to manage the well-being of the constituents. With an aging infrastructure, government agencies may have trouble fulfilling their responsibilities.

    1. The Risk of Inadequate Data Protection

    Disaster recovery and backup technologies are some of the essential government IT solutions. Backup and disaster recovery allow businesses and government organizations to continue their services in the event of data loss. However, federal budget cuts mean fewer resources for improved and robust data backup strategies. For agencies that are under constant threat from hackers and cybercriminals, disaster recovery strategies are the only way to prevent the consequences of data loss.

    DoD companies should practice the 3-2-1 data backup rule. According to this rule, organizations should have at least three copies of their files on at least two types of storage systems, and one should be stored off-site. For proper implementation of the backup strategy, investment in backup storage capacity and data center is necessary.

    1. Falling Behind on Cybersecurity

    Cybersecurity is that one area no government agencies should overlook. Cybersecurity technologies safeguard the organization and its data from cybercriminals. With sloppy cybersecurity measures, it can be impossible to protect the crucial data and prevent people from becoming prey to cybercriminals.

    In situations like ransomware attacks, disaster recovery and backup strategies allow an organization to recover from the damage. Ransomware attacks cost millions and billions to the government even if they refuse to pay the money to the attackers. With a sound backup and data recovery strategy, one can prevent the spiraling cost of recovering the data and putting the system back after a breach.…

    22Nov, 2022
    Domain Requirements for CMMC Compliance Checklist

    Since 2018, in the U.S., every contractor and subcontractor who deals in Controlled Unclassified Information or CUI must comply with NIST SP 800 171. According to the compliance requirements, the contractors can self-assess their data security systems or go for a third-party evaluation. This led to only a few vendors across the Defense Industrial Base become DFARS compliant. CMMC cybersecurity or Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model is a way devised by the U.S. government to fix the compliance problem. Since CMMC is fairly new, DoD contractors should hire CMMC consulting firms.

    CMMC certification is not optional. Instead, every business wanting to win government contracts with the DoD should have CMMC certification. Contractors and subcontractors working under the U.S. government are different from one another. Thus, the CMMC model addresses every Defense Industrial Base vendor that deals with CUI. 

    The CMMC compliance model comprises 17 domains. Each domain has set of capabilities for data security. A majority of these domains have been taken out from the FIPS 200 and NIST SP 800 171. 

    In this blog, we will look into each of the domains in the CMMC model and how to comply with the regulation. 

    • Access Control 

    It’s essential to establish who can access your system, who has the authority to control internal access to the system, and limit access to the data. 

    • Asset Management

    Asset management involves locating, identifying, and taking inventory of the assets of a company. 

    • Audit & Accountability

    To comply with the audit and accountability control, the company should have a process that can track the users with access to the CUI. It’s also essential to have a mechanism to audit the logs to ensure accountability. 

    • Awareness & Training

    The compliance requirement states that one should have a provision for security awareness training for all the personnel. 

    • Configuration Management

    One should establish baselines for the configuration of the systems to check if they are working efficiently or not.

    • Identification & Authentication

    As per CMMC compliance, ensure the proper roles within your organization have the correct level of access and can be authenticated for reporting and accountability purposes. 

    The identification and authentication control necessitates that every person in the organization has a defined role and level of access to the system. There should be a proper channel to authenticate the roles for reporting purposes. 

    • Incident Response

    The company should create an incident response plan that can detect and report cyber breach incidents and implement responses against the incident. 

    • Maintenance

    The new cybersecurity compliance requires a company to have a maintenance system for the effective operation of systems. 

    • Media Protection

    According to the compliance norms, the company must provide proof that its media is adequately marked for ease of access. Besides this, one should be able to prove that they have taken all necessary protocols to protect, sanitize, and transport the media. 

    • Personnel Security

    You must make sure that all the personnel within your organization are thoroughly screened. The compliance requirement states that a company should provide evidence that Controlled Unclassified Information is protected at all times. 

    • Physical Protection

    The compliance norms require that the company provide evidence that the assets are well protected through robust physical security. …

    22Nov, 2022
    How to Achieve Business and IT Alignment?

    Most organizations will agree that they experience difficulties aligning IT strategies with their business goals. Many times, businesses have to make tough decisions and sacrifice essential things along the way. However, the real challenge is in identifying processes that are essential for the business. Balancing between IT needs and business continuity involves a thorough evaluation and assessment of risks to the business. This will allow you to make informed IT decisions. When it comes to implementing new IT strategies into your business, you rely on the expertise of MSP company. 

    In this blog, we have highlights some tips through which you can effectively streamline IT strategies with your business goals. 

    1. Know the effect of misalignment 

    Very often, the IT department has to cut corners due to the unavailability of funds and resources. Software or program that benefits the organization today may become useless in the future. Sometimes, the IT department has to delay updating software to prolong the life of the IT assets. However, such measures can create a security gap and make the organization vulnerable to data breaches and attacks. 

    Poor IT and business goal misalignment will harm the business, but it will also negatively impact how the end-users consume the IT. If an organization’s IT team is not scalable to address such issues, the consequences will reflect on the business revenue. 

    1. Know the difference between bleeding edge and leading edge.

    Whether you aim to align your IT or make a transition from one MSP to another, having a robust strategy is essential. In contrast, one may think that investing in the latest IT solutions and services company will open the door for progress and revenue. However, it must be noted that technologies come with a hefty price tag. Moreover, new technologies are untested. Therefore, using one generation old iteration is still better than investing in a technology that is yet to be vetted. 

    1. Standardization 

    Proper alignment requires standardization of the process. Standardization will allow you to bring your entire team on the same page. However, standardization doesn’t mean sticking to one IT solution or preferring one brand. Instead, it means setting the right standards for building IT infrastructure and functionality that can create harmony amongst different IT components. 

    1. Set the Timeline

    Having a timeline for IT alignment and sticking to it is a must for the proper execution of the process. The timeframe for IT alignment should be in line with the needs of other departments and the business’s future goals. In its initial years, a company will require IT infrastructure and standards that can sustain business growth. Both external and internal factors influence an organization. Top managers should identify external factors that may affect the IT alignment process. 

    IT alignment requires deliberate planning and practical execution skills. Teams can only work on IT alignment if they present at the same place. Every business has its own set of IT requirements. If your industry is consolidating, your IT needs will be different than the large ones. Thus, it’s essential to first analyze your business needs and goals before going ahead with IT alignment.…

    25Aug, 2022
    How can brands enhance the social media community through marketing?

    Every business, whether a digital marketing Agency Virginia or e-commerce brand needs a strong brand, especially when using social media. However, more companies need to pay attention to the value of brand consistency.

    By using consistent advertising strategies, you may maintain contact with your target market because they will become accustomed to your logo, color scheme, taglines, and other branding elements regardless of their platform.

    One of the pillars of strategies to increase brand recognition is consistency in brand messaging and recognition.

    The top 5 tips listed below can assist you in maintaining your brand identity on social media:

    1. Design a Top Notch Logo

    An organization’s logo is far more than just a stunning emblem with the brand name attached to it. A company’s mission, beliefs, and guiding principles are represented by its logo. To retain brand consistency throughout social media, you must make your logo distinctive and appealing.

    Remember that you must utilize your logo everywhere, including your profile photo, banner image, copyright in social media images, and more. Therefore, the design will fall flat if it isn’t unique and memorable.

    Making sure that your logo functions not just as a watermark but also in a square avatar style adds another layer to social media. Your primary logo and social media avatar don’t need to be exact, but they should convey the same sentiment, style, and rules. Make sure it is legible, recognizable, and noticeable.

    Suppose your logo has to be modified for social media. In that case, you may either hire a professional on a freelancing marketplace, or you can create it yourself using an automated online tool like Tailor Brands.

    2. Build a Brand Identity

    The manner shapes your brand’s identity and character in your reply to comments, the type of material you produce, and the communication style you choose. Every time you connect with someone online, it’s critical that you keep this in mind and remain consistent with the brand identity. Understanding that you are marketing your brand and not a commodity, as well as tapping on the human side of the business to establish a stronger connection with your target market, are some of essential things for building a strong social media community.

    3. Reuse Your Core Values With A Key Slogan/Tagline

    Several well-known global brands use catchy taglines. They keep using these catchphrases because they are effective. Additionally, they convey the fundamental principles and goals of the brands that utilize them. Your tagline will be more useful in your social media post to promote brand awareness and draw consumers if it has a deeper significance.

    4. Create a Well-Defined Brand Book

    The crafting of a clear vision for small business IT solutions company is one of the most commonly ignored tasks in social media strategy. You cannot develop a robust brand community on social media unless your activities, objectives, and strategy are clear. Making a clear and thorough brand book is one of the most crucial first steps for brand continuity. It should specify the typefaces, colors, image styles, etc., you intend to utilize. It should also offer a graphic template for your social media posts. The secret is consistency.

    5. Create Your Brand’s Voice

    If you want your social media marketing initiatives to succeed, you cannot neglect your brand voice. Popular social media profiles all have distinctive voices. While some accounts concentrate on humor and wit, others post upbeat and inspirational information. Discover your brand’s personality and style and express it through your content. You can research other well-known accounts to learn how it functions.

    Save existing examples from businesses that have the brand voice you wish to imitate, then rewrite them for your company’s context.…

    24Aug, 2022
    How can Content Marketing Strategy benefit your brand?

    Most business owners question if the content marketing strategy is essential for their brand reach.

    The most crucial thing to remember is that the content acts as a magnet. It brings customers to your establishment, giving you the chance to convert them.

    You can’t assume visitors will find your website accidentally if you don’t have a content marketing strategy. How you connect with your audience is influenced by your content marketing approach. Digital marketing agency Virginia recommend brands to create a content plan right away if you don’t already have one.

    Many businesses are unsure where to start:

    • What kind of content should they create?
    • How often?
    • Where should it be posted, too?

    Why is content marketing strategy essential, and what does it entail?

    Your content marketing strategy is known as the series of actions you take to gather, produce, disseminate, and market information that is useful to your audience. All content is just text, sound, or film that aids in problem-solving.

    Quality is the essential component that every content marketing plan needs. The Internet is filled with a lot of stuff. There is a good mix of valuable and excellent content.

    You must perform better than your rivals. Otherwise, the SERPs won’t display your content.

    Three times as many leads can be produced by a successful content marketing approach as by paid advertising.

    One of the most crucial indicators that businesses monitor is lead creation. You have more opportunities to close sales the more leads you generate.

    Consider your content marketing approach as the hook to draw in potential clients. The hook is your proposal. Focus on luring potential customers with quality content rather than blindly dumping money at them.

    How to Determine if Creating a Content Marketing Strategy Is Really Necessary

    A content marketing approach will be beneficial to the vast majority of firms. To what extent do your potential consumers struggle with issues or goals? If “yes,” you require a content marketing strategy.

    Let’s imagine that you market a consumer good or small business IT solutions. You desire increased sales or leads.

    You create content that appeals to your target audience instead of, or in addition to, paying for advertising. We want to provide them with free assistance with their issues or objectives.

    These articles help potential customers find your website. They read your stuff, value it, and keep returning. Your brand comes to mind when customers require a product similar to yours.

    You can only speculate without a content marketing strategy, though. Using a strategy, you may produce the appropriate content at the proper time.

    Why Developing a Content Marketing Strategy is Critical to Increasing Conversions?

    When consumers are ready, they convert. It’s that easy. However, a content marketing plan enables you to be present when a potential customer decides to make a purchase.

    Success in content marketing is frequently determined by strategy, as opposed to failure to connect with audiences.

    When you have a plan in place, you’ll be aware of the following:

    • Which keyphrases to use
    • When to highlight your product in your article and what voice to utilize
    • How to present a compelling call to action

    People shouldn’t only read your content, though. You want them to move forward.

    Show them that you are an expert in your field to persuade them. Compare your content generosity to that of your rivals. And create a content marketing plan that enables you to connect with individuals at critical moments.…