Tech companies tell DoD its new cyber standards are missing the mark
Tech companies tell DoD its new cyber standards are missing the mark
IT Data Solutions
On the heels of the official launch of the Defense Department’s cybersecurity maturity model certification effort, six industry associations are warning that the without more clarity, the initiative could falter.
The Alliance for Digital Innovation, BSA: The Software Alliance, the Cybersecurity Coalition, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the Internet Association and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) wrote a letter to Ellen Lord, the undersecretary of Defense for acquisition and sustainment, and Katie Arrington, the chief information security officer in the Office of the Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment, outlining a series of recommendations for how to improve the CMMC program before it truly gets going.
“We are concerned that current plans for implementing CMMC lack sufficient clarity and predictability in key areas, and as a result may unnecessarily generate confusion, delay and associated costs. These challenges could lead to the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) being even less secure, if left unaddressed,” the letter states. “We strongly support efforts to improve DIB cybersecurity and appreciate the department’s openness in meeting with and accepting input from industry about the CMMC during the autumn of 2019. We pledge to continue this partnership, as it is imperative that industry stakeholders and government continue to work together to ensure that the CMMC meets its overall objectives.”
MOU is signed
The letter comes as DoD and the CMMC Accreditation Board signed their memorandum of understanding—according to a post on LinkedIn by Arrington—as of March 25 to officially kick-off the program, including the training for third-party assessors and the release of the necessary documents to help vendors prepare to meet the standards…
