Continuing our back-to-basics series of the “DFARS Cyber Series” of provisions and clauses brings us to clause 252.204-7020. This clause applies to defense contractors who are required to comply with DFARS clause 252.204-7012. Through DFARS 7020 the DoD reserves the right to conduct a higher-level assessment of a contractor's cybersecurity compliance. Additionally, defense contractors must give DoD assessors full access to their facilities, systems, and personnel.

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

DFARS 7008: https://youtu.be/vgrRGIWboKc?si=g4vc5bKG6Y6G-DDo

DFARS 7012: https://youtu.be/cy4e28YAkXU?si=ImBm-iI6mh3Xs1sF

DFARS 7019: https://youtu.be/7gW_82Cus7Y?si=LxB__5jeSuJMoL5C

The Cyber AB brought the CMMC Ecosystem together once again for the June 2025 installment of their monthly Town Hall series. Join us for this week's show as we discuss all the information distributed during the meeting that you need to know; answers to questions like:

Is the Ecosystem growing?

How many certifications were awarded this month?

Does Microsoft have to be at my assessment?

And so much more... Tune in to find out!

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

AB Town Halls: https://cyberab.org/News-Events/Town-Halls/Details/march-town-hall

System Security Plans are the single most fundamental documents underpinning cybersecurity compliance for defense contractors. But even after nearly 40 years of using SSPs for federal information systems there are essentially zero examples of what good looks like. Thankfully NIST is revising SP 800-18 guidance on developing SSPs and wants your comments. This is a crash course on SSPs so you can get caught up before the July 30th comment deadline.

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

DFARS 7008: https://youtu.be/vgrRGIWboKc?si=g4vc5bKG6Y6G-DDo

DFARS 7012: https://youtu.be/cy4e28YAkXU?si=ImBm-iI6mh3Xs1sF

DFARS 7019: https://youtu.be/7gW_82Cus7Y?si=LxB__5jeSuJMoL5C

NIST SP 800-18r2: https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/18/r2/ipd#:~:text=NIST%20Special%20Publication%20800%2D18r2,and%20mission%2Fbusiness%20process%20requirements.

NIST SP 800-18r1: https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/18/r1/final

The History of CMMC: https://youtu.be/jbY2irZ1ePg?si=_Ay66UqRUU9ShhJV

The CMMC program has been in-effect for six months and hundreds of early adopters have achieved CMMC Level 2 status. Today we speak with Fernando Machado, managing principal at Cybersec Investments, an authorized C3PAO. Fernando has completed 25 CMMC Level 2 assessments and he has a ton of valuable takeaways to share.

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

Fernando (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-machado-cissp-cism-cca-ccp-5b5581124/

Fernando pod (Dec 2024): https://youtu.be/KKJtW4G44WA?si=qzAnzp7_VrCl2Rdu

We're back to basics this week with DFARS provision 252.204-7019. SPRS scores? DIBCAC High assessments? DoD Assessment Methodology? It all started in 2020 with a humble four paragraph provision that was overshadowed by CMMC 1.0. These days the Department of Justice is settling False Claims Act lawsuits for millions and defense contracts aren't getting renewed all thanks to the DFARS cyber provision everyone loves to forget.

The Cyber AB has once again convened the CMMC ecosystem to deliver the monthly Town Hall covering the latest news and information about the CMMC Program. Join Jason and Joy as they talk about the latest ecosystem happening for the month of May.

There has been another branding change, an event filled week in Vegas, more conversations around 10-day re-evaluation periods for CMMC assessments, stats on completed assessments and ecosystem growth, ESP and CSP clarification, and so much more...

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

AB Town Halls: https://cyberab.org/News-Events/Town-Halls/Details/march-town-hall

The CMMC program regulation went into effect in December 2024, but the DoD can't insert CMMC requirements in contracts until they finish revising regulatory contract clause language. The window for the long-awaited contract clause final rule is opening next month. We predict that CMMC will start showing up in defense contracts between June – October 2025.

Episode Links:

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

DFARS 7012: https://youtu.be/cy4e28YAkXU?si=enUg-mPyZgl3FlYK

PALT: https://youtu.be/NZs4f5voyrg?si=KOEiREzXFe5LNAXZ

Katie's Keynote: https://youtu.be/OrPsD24j2Es?si=NSyhli9NW7Y1HJSH

Contractor noncompliance: https://youtu.be/lsiR1KSQKUo?si=hSGzUzJFj1x8PT48

Katie Arrington is the architect of the CMMC program, currently performing the duties of the DoD CIO, and she is ultra pissed that defense contractors haven't improved their cybersecurity posture while she was gone for 3 short years. This week we dive into Katie's keynote at AFCEA TechNet Cyber 2025 where she didn't mince words about CMMC, the DIB, and the coming storm.

Register for CEIC West: https://ceicwest.com/

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

Katie's Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4dNFn_HX20

DFARS 7012: https://youtu.be/cy4e28YAkXU?si=F8FSzFqaWMXQ2h8e

The Cyber AB has once again convened the CMMC ecosystem to deliver the monthly Town Hall covering the latest news and information about the CMMC Program; and Joy has once again joined the show so we can talk about the latest ecosystem happening for the month of April. A change in CAICO leadership, stats on completed assessments, another audit, a “ESP, not a CSP” MythBusters/Ecosystem ethics fusion, and so much more...

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo

AB Town Halls: https://cyberab.org/News-Events/Town-Halls/Details/march-town-hall

It's that time of year again and this time CS2 is coming to Reston, VA. This week we walk through the agenda adn talk about the sessions we're most excited for. Whistleblower attorneys? C3PAO lessons learned? Real world defense contractors who have completed CMMC Level 2? Prime contractor perspectives on upcoming requirements? CS2 has it all.

Register for CS2 Reston: https://cs2.cloud/reston

Pathfinder 101: https://www.summit7.us/pathfinder

Pathfinder Demo: https://youtu.be/JiDTCchfCa0?si=JJFplxSfvkaRVhRo