Texas-based Defense Industrial Base manufacturers (DIB) are crucial in supporting national security initiatives. However, these companies must navigate the increasingly complex landscape of cybersecurity regulations to maintain their competitive edge. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of compliance with CMMC 2.0, a cybersecurity standard set by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and how Texas-based DIB manufacturers can achieve and maintain compliance.

The Importance of CMMC 2.0 Compliance (source: CISA.gov) CMMC 2.0 is designed to ensure the security of sensitive government information on contractors’ networks (CISA, n.d.). Companies must demonstrate robust cyber protections against malicious actors and properly store and manage classified information. Failing to comply with CMMC 2.0 could result in losing lucrative government contracts and putting customers’ data and intellectual property at risk.

The Impact on Texas’ Defense Industry (source: raytheon.com) According to DTC Global Research and Raytheon Technologies Corp., federal contracts account for more than 40% of total economic activity in Texas’s defense industry sector (Raytheon Technologies, n.d.). Therefore, compliance with CMMC 2.0 is critical for Texas-based DIB companies to remain competitive, especially those involved in national security initiatives such as missile defense and space exploration.

Achieving CMMC 2.0 Compliance: Five Steps for Texas Manufacturers To achieve full CMMC 2.0 compliance, Texas manufacturers can take the following steps:

1. Update Internal Policies: Ensure your internal policies align with current regulations and best practices (CISA, n.d.).
2. Conduct Regular Assessments: Regularly assess your existing cybersecurity infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement.
3. Implement New Controls or Upgrade Existing Ones: Actively work to enhance your cybersecurity measures by implementing new controls or upgrading existing ones (CISA, n.d.).
4. Establish Employee Training Programs: Develop a training program focused on cybersecurity awareness to help employees understand and mitigate potential threats (CISA, n.d.).
5. Hire a Certified Third-Party Auditor: Engage a certified auditor who can independently assess your systems and guide how best to comply with CMMC 2.0 requirements (CISA, n.d.).

For Texas-based defense manufacturers, complying with CMMC 2.0 standards is essential to remain competitive in the government contracting market. By taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity and following best practices, these companies can protect their networks from potential threats and secure high-value contracts from the DoD in the coming years.

References: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). (n.d.). Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Retrieved from https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-maturity-model-certification-cmmc

Raytheon Technologies. (n.d.). Texas Defense Industry. Retrieved from https://www.raytheon.com/texas-defense-industry