Companies

Why vendors can't wait for CMMC to raise their cyber standards

"The current geopolitical climate...should have companies thinking about how they are currently defending themselves against cyber attacks," a defense official said on Thursday.

Contracts

Space acquisitions could see more 'discipline' from Biden pick

Frank Calvelli, the nominee for the first ever assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, said better program management was key to keeping procurement on-time and on budget.

Companies

Russian hackers are hitting cleared defense contractors, security agencies warn

The two-year campaign targeted sensitive but unclassified information stored by defense contractors.

Companies

DOD bets on small businesses to improve industry competition

Part of the plan includes leaning in on other transaction agreements while increasing oversight of defense industry mergers and acquisitions.

Contracts

Former lead of CMMC resigns amid legal drama

Katie Arrington, who was previously the chief information security officer for acquisition and sustainment, has resigned from her post.

Contracts

DOD's testing chief wants cloud contracts to allow for more security checks

The Defense Department's Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation recommended commercial cloud contracts be renegotiated to include independent cyber assessments.

Contracts

CMMC gets a new home in the Pentagon

The Defense Department has shifted responsibility for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program for contractors to the DOD chief information officer.

Contracts

DIU boasts more rapid acquisition agreements but fewer new programs in 2021

The Defense Innovation Unit awarded out 72 new prototype contracts, but transitioned out only eight technologies – a dip compared to 2020.

Contracts

DISA preps for a diverse hybrid cloud environment

The Defense Information Systems Agency is experimenting with using commercial containers in data centers to help prepare for a multi-vendor, multi-capability cloud environment.

Contracts

New CMMC training to align with certification changes

Look for trainers working on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to realign their efforts to support recent changes to the certification process in 2022.

Contracts

CMMC assessments could resume in January

The governing body responsible for implementing the Defense Department’s unified cybersecurity program for contractors expects security procedures for authorized third party assessors to start back up in early 2022. But DOD has the final say on the timeline.

Pentagon adds new top AI role

The Pentagon is creating a new position to lead its artificial intelligence efforts across the enterprise.

What’s next for CMMC

After the Defense Department revamped cybersecurity standards for contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program’s accreditation body is making adjustments.

Biden taps former USAF buyer to lead DOD acquisition

The White House has nominated former Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante to be the Pentagon’s top buyer.

Leidos, Peraton among winners of $32.6M in spectrum OTAs

The awards were made via an other transaction agreement through the National Spectrum Consortium. DOD has increasingly used OTAs to rapidly buy and fund prototype development as well as fielding new technologies.

DIU director: Look beyond reform to keep the technological edge

Mike Brown, the director of the Defense Innovation Unit says that more than acquisition reform is required if the U.S. wants to regain its technological edge.

DOD CIO nominee wants tweaks to CMMC to help small businesses

The Biden administration's pick to be the Pentagon's tech chief wants to make it easier for small businesses to adhere to the Defense Department's cybersecurity standards and expand network optimization across the entire enterprise.

Biden's pick to lead DOD's weapons testing wants cyber assessments for commercial cloud systems

The Biden administration's pick to lead the Defense Department's operational testing, Nickolas Guertin, called the department's inability to conduct independent cyber assessments of commercial cloud systems "a severe limitation."

Breaking down the Army's new network plan

The Army wants to be able to freely send data back and forth from its legacy and business systems to the tactical edge. Key to doing that is its strategy to unify tactical and enterprise networks and creating a common "data fabric." But will it work?

IT spend expected to trend up, acting DOD CIO says

Rising IT and cyber budgets may lay ahead as the Defense Department moves forward with implementing zero trust architecture and begins relying more on artificial intelligence, according to DOD's acting CIO.