Federal Cybersecurity Compliance

The United States Federal Government takes cybersecurity seriously. Through the development of cybersecurity laws, frameworks, and compliance requirements, the government has gone into action to protect the personal data of citizens along with military information. Key federal frameworks include NIST, FISMA, the GLBA, CMMC, and FedRAMP.

Why Federal Cybersecurity Compliance Matters

Depending on the industry of your business, compliance with frameworks like CMMC or FedRAMP could be required to secure federal contracts. Failure to comply with laws like the GLBA can result in significant fines.

Federal Cybersecurity Laws and Standards

NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) develops cybersecurity standards that guide government agencies and private organizations to develop and implement effective cybersecurity programs. NIST compliance can serve as the foundation for complying with other standards such as FISMA, HIPAA, GDPR, GLBA, FedRAMP, and PCI DSS.

Notable NIST standards include:

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) is a voluntary framework comprised of risk-based guidelines that leverage well-established cybersecurity practices. It was designed to help organizations design, implement, and manage a recognized cybersecurity structure, using a flexible and customizable approach. As new cyber threats, technologies, and processes emerge, the NIST CSF will evolve to address the changing landscape.

NIST CSF is a proven framework to defend against cyber threats and establish a unified approach to security throughout the enterprise. It can be especially effective for small and medium-sized companies. Meeting NIST CSF standards will improve your business’s chances of meeting potential customers’ security requirements. Many organizations find the continuous compliance strategy of NIST CSF more effective and efficient than a one-off audit strategy.

NIST 800-53

NIST 800-53 is the main framework for FISMA and FIPS compliance. It is a set of detailed security controls designed for defending data and information systems against cyber-attacks and data breaches. NIST 800-53 was created for federal agencies but can be utilized by any organization looking to improve its cybersecurity posture.

The 800-53 requirements are viewed as best practices for organizations looking to secure contracts with federal agencies. Implementing the associated controls will result in an information security program your organization can trust to protect sensitive data, protect against cyber incidents, and minimize the risk of a breach.

NIST 800-171

NIST 800-171 outlines specific requirements that any non-federal computer system must follow to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CUI is defined as information that does not carry classified status but needs to be safeguarded due to government policies and laws or ordinances. Organizations that handle CUI must be NIST 800-171 compliant to secure federal contracts, including contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and the General Services Administration (GSA).

CMMC is based on the NIST 800-171 controls. CMMC certification is required to secure DoD contracts. NIST 800-171 compliance also brings your organization into compliance with the DFARS and FISMA.

FISMA

The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) requires government agencies to implement an information security program that effectively manages risk. Goals FISMA sets for organizations include implementing a risk management program, protecting data and information systems from unauthorized access, and ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of sensitive information.

GLBA

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) was enacted in 1999. The GLBA regulates how financial institutions handle consumers' personally identifiable information (PII). The law requires financial institutions to disclose how they share personal information and implement information security programs to protect consumer data.

The GLBA is comprised of three components that institutions must comply with, the Privacy Rule, The Safeguards Rule, and the Pretexting Rule.

Failure to comply with the GLBA can result in penalties as large as $100,000 per violation for institutions.

CMMC

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program to protect data in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). CMMC is largely based on the NIST SP 800-171 standard and maps these controls across organizational maturity levels ranging from basic cyber hygiene to advanced cyber threats. CMMC compliance is required for organizations to secure DoD contracts.

In 2021, the total value of DoD contracts was nearly $400 billion. CMMC compliance enables your organization to tap into that massive potential revenue stream.

FedRAMP

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) established a risk-based approach to adopting and using cloud services by the federal government. FedRAMP is the cloud arm of the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). Cloud Service Providers (CSP) that want to make Cloud Service Offerings (CSO) available to federal agencies must have a FedRAMP designation to be listed on the FedRAMP marketplace.

FedRAMP uses the NIST 800-53 security controls and includes parameters and guidance above the NIST baseline that address the unique elements of cloud computing.

How We Can Help

ComplaincePoint has expertise in all these federal standards. We can put your organization on the path to compliance with whichever standards make sense for your business.

Using our Identity, Mitigate, and Manage method, CompliancePoint will work with you to identify gaps in your existing security program. We will help design and implement controls to fill those gaps and mitigate the resulting risk. CompliancePoint can also manage your security program on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance or certification is maintained for the long term.

Let CompliancePoint take the stress out of achieving your cybersecurity compliance goals.