You Work For A High Tech Company With About 390 Employees

You Work For A High Tech Company With Approximately 390 Employees

You work for a high-tech company with approximately 390 employees. Your firm recently won a large DoD contract, which will add 30% to the revenue of your organization. It is a high-priority, high-visibility project. You will be allowed to make your own budget, project timeline, and tollgate decisions. This course project will require you to form a team of 2 to 3 coworkers (fellow students) and develop the proper DoD security policies required to meet DoD standards for delivery of technology services to the U.S. Air Force Cyber Security Center (AFCSC), a DoD agency. To do this, you must develop DoD-approved policies and standards for your IT infrastructure (see the “Tasks” section below). The policies you create must pass DoD-based requirements. Currently, your organization does not have any DoD contracts and thus has no DoD-compliant security policies or controls in place.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid expansion of cybersecurity threats and the increasing importance of national security have necessitated stringent security policies, especially when engaging with Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. As a high-tech company venturing into DoD compliance, it is imperative to establish comprehensive security policies that align with DoD standards to protect sensitive data and ensure operational integrity. This paper outlines the essential steps and considerations in developing DoD-compliant security policies tailored to our company's infrastructure, in preparation for delivering services to the U.S. Air Force Cyber Security Center (AFCSC).

Understanding DoD Security Requirements

The Department of Defense maintains rigorous security requirements, governed primarily by the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171. These standards stipulate that contractors handling controlled unclassified information (CUI) implement specific safeguards, including access controls, incident response plans, personnel security, and system boundary protections. Compliance with NIST SP 800-171 ensures that all cybersecurity measures meet federal expectations, which is critical for maintaining the trustworthiness and security of DoD-related information systems.

Assessing Current Infrastructure and Identifying Gaps

As our organization currently lacks DoD-compliant policies, the first step involves a comprehensive assessment of existing cybersecurity practices, policies, and controls. This includes evaluating network security architectures, data handling procedures, personnel security protocols, and incident response mechanisms. Recognizing gaps between current practices and DoD requirements facilitates targeted policy development, addressing vulnerabilities proactively before onboarding DoD projects.

Developing DoD-Approved Security Policies

Key policy areas include access control, data encryption, audit logging, incident reporting, personnel screening, physical security, and system configuration management. Each policy must be tailored to meet DoD standards and be clear, enforceable, and regularly reviewed. For example, access controls should enforce least privilege principles, multi-factor authentication, and strict identity verification processes for personnel accessing sensitive information. Data encryption standards should align with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), ensuring data confidentiality both at rest and in transit.

Implementation and Training

Policy implementation requires collaboration across departments, involving IT, HR, legal, and management teams. Training programs must be developed to educate employees on new policies, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity and individual responsibilities in maintaining compliance. Regular audits and vulnerability assessments are essential to verify adherence and identify areas for improvement, ensuring continuous compliance with evolving DoD standards.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Effective security policies are dynamic and require ongoing monitoring. Implementing automated tools to track system activity, unauthorized access attempts, and anomalies helps detect potential threats early. Feedback loops, including incident reports and audit findings, should inform policy updates, ensuring that security measures adapt to emerging threats and regulatory changes. Such proactive management fosters resilience and maintains compliance throughout the project lifecycle.

Challenges and Considerations

Developing DoD-compliant policies involves balancing operational efficiency with security. Resources may be limited initially, and integrating new compliance requirements could pose operational disruptions. Leadership buy-in and clear communication are vital to overcome resistance and ensure uniform adherence. Additionally, maintaining documentation and evidence of compliance is crucial for audits and inspections by DoD authorities.

Conclusion

Establishing DoD-compliant security policies is a strategic necessity for our organization to successfully undertake the new contract with the U.S. Air Force Cyber Security Center. By systematically assessing current practices, aligning policies with DoD standards, training personnel, and continuously monitoring security measures, the company can ensure compliance, protect sensitive information, and build a reputation as a reliable partner for national security initiatives. This proactive approach will position the organization for long-term success in its defense sector engagements and foster a culture of security awareness across all levels of the company.

References

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). NIST Special Publication 800-171: Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171
  • Department of Defense. (2019). DFARS Clause 252.204-7012: Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting. https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/r21/r21p031.htm
  • Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 140-2. (2001). Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules. https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/fips/140-2/final
  • ISO/IEC 27001:2013. (2013). Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements. International Organization for Standardization.
  • CIS Controls v8. (2023). Center for Internet Security. https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-list/
  • Committee on National Security Systems. (2010). CNSS Instruction No. 1253: National Information Assurance (IA) Glossary. https://www.cnss.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Policies/CNSSI_1253.pdf
  • American National Standards Institute. (2019). ANSI/ISA-62443-3-3: Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems. https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/isa/ansiisa624433
  • Office of Management and Budget. (2021). Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/12/executive-order-on-improving-the-nations-cybersecurity/
  • GAO. (2018). Critical Infrastructure Protection: Strategies for Improving Cybersecurity (GAO-18-233). https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-18-233
  • Technical Guideline NISTIR 7298 Revision 2. (2017). Glossary of Cybersecurity Terms. National Institute of Standards and Technology. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7298r2

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