The Charles IT Blog

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Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for a CMMC Auditor

Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for a CMMC Auditor

July, 2021 | Foster Charles

The cybersecurity maturity model certification (CMMC) is a unified framework that is intended to regulate and enforce information security standards across the entire defense supply chain. Unlike [...]

The Basics of Designing A System Security Plan

The Basics of Designing A System Security Plan

July, 2021 | Foster Charles

The DFARS 252.204-7012 clause requires that all contractors and subcontractors of the US Department of Defense maintain an up-to-date system security plan (SSP). You will likely be asked to provide [...]

What Are the Consequences of Noncompliance?

What Are the Consequences of Noncompliance?

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

Navigating DFARS 252.204.7012 compliance requirements can be challenging. It requires tightening DFARS-specific security controls, an area in which the expertise of compliance experts who can help [...]

What Exactly is Considered CUI?

What Exactly is Considered CUI?

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

Signing off contracts with the US Department of Defense, either in the capacity of a contractor or subcontractor, can be highly lucrative. After all, the DoD is an enormous market consisting of [...]

When Do You Need to Meet the Requirements of NIST 800-171?

When Do You Need to Meet the Requirements of NIST 800-171?

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

Every business that works with the US Department of Defense needs to be compliant with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). This includes both contractors who work directly [...]

How Can A Small Business Approach Compliance?

How Can A Small Business Approach Compliance?

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

Protecting controlled unclassified information (CUI) has been a top priority for the Department of Defense and its 200,000-strong supply chain in recent years. Facing increasing threats from [...]

Understanding Subcontractor Responsibilities

Understanding Subcontractor Responsibilities

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is one of the largest supply chains in the world, employing over a million people in 200,000 organizations. Protecting that supply chain from threats such as [...]

What Does the Term ‘Adequate Security’ Really Mean?

What Does the Term ‘Adequate Security’ Really Mean?

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

The DFARS 252.204-7012 documentation requires defense contractors and subcontractors to implement adequate security measures to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI). This is, of course, [...]

What You Need to Know About Cyber Incident Reporting

What You Need to Know About Cyber Incident Reporting

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

Defense contractors operate in one of the most heavily regulated industry sectors of all. They face a wide range of threats from various sources, such as insider threat, social engineering, and [...]

5 Ways an MSP Is Your Biggest Compliance Ally

5 Ways an MSP Is Your Biggest Compliance Ally

June, 2021 | Foster Charles

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Clause 252.204-7012 covers everything contractors must know about safeguarding covered defense information (CDI) and reporting cyber [...]

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