After the Department of Defense (DoD) released the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification in Jan. 2020, contractors have begun to question the logistics and implementation of the new cybersecurity regulations. The scale and cost of the regulation change has been clouded by uncertainty.

One of the primary concerns is the continued emphasis that the CMMC is a flexible blueprint for effective cybersecurity and will not impose significant compliance or audit costs on smaller contractors and subcontractors. However, contractors have concluded that, at a minimum, the CMMC will require prime contractors to thoroughly assess their existing cybersecurity infrastructure, making it nearly impossible to regulate without cost.

Second, concern has circulated around whether or not CMMC will deter commercial companies and start-ups from participating in DOD contracts. Prior to CMMC contractors have used smaller companies to rapidly contract commercial companies that may prove to have useful military application.

Now, the DD has indicated that CMMC requirements will ultimately be incorporated into OTA contracts, primarily awarded to smaller businesses, raising the specter of increased cybersecurity compliance costs to work under contract. For small, commercially-focused companies that may be unable to readily fund the necessary upgrades.

Third, contractors have asked for clarification on the impact on suppliers that operate further down the DoD supply chain. If the DoD will require downstream suppliers to achieve the same CMMC certification as the prime contractor, that could significantly increase the cost of critical components and drive away potential suppliers.

Potomac Officers Club will host its CMMC Forum 2020 on April 2. Click here to register for the event.

Katie Arrington, chief information security officer at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, will serve as a keynote speaker at the CMMC Forum 2020. She will address the CMMC’s timeline, how the certification process could change and will provide a memorandum of understanding with a newly established CMMC accrediting body.

A full expert panel will include Ty Schieber, senior director of executive education and CMMC-AB chairman of the University of Virginia and Richard Naylor of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) among other members of the federal sector and industry.

Register here to join Potomac Officers Club for its CMMC Forum 2020 on April 2nd to learn about the impact DoD’s CMMC will have on cybersecurity practices, supply chain security and other aspects of the federal market.

In a March 5 letter to agency contractors, Soraya Correa, the Department of Homeland Security's chief procurement officer told her contracting staff to keep advised of the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines. 

Correa told contractors that "if contract performance is affected due to the COVID-19 situation, such as the need for alternate work locations, or travel or schedule changes, the contracting officer is the authority to discuss this with your company."

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in the nation's capital within the past week, federal agencies have begun preparations for possible restrictions that could be implemented in response to the epidemic. 

"If your employees must travel to affected areas, please have them contact you prior to their return to discuss possible telework or leave options," she advised. She added that managers have their employees contact them if they've been in close contact with a person "known to have COVID-19" or if airport screeners told them to self-quarantine after returning from travel overseas.

The predicted contracting adjustments will continue to change government contracting regulations as COVID-19 remains a prevalent threat. For example, for federal meetings, officials urged contractor attendees to have an alternate representative ready to send, if the primary contractor falls ill.

Correa will serve as a keynote speaker during Potomac Officers Club's 2020 Procurement Forum on Thursday, March 19th. Register here to save your spot for the forum. During her keynote address, she will discuss the short term and long term strategies, acquisition, workforce initiatives, tech modernization and collaboration between government and industry.

Register here to join Potomac Officers Club for its 2020 Procurement Forum on March 19th. 

Everbridge has launched its new critical event management (CEM) capabilities across the Internet of Things (IoT) for corporate, government and healthcare organizations to protect people, assets, operations, supply chain and brand from critical events such as coronavirus (COVID-19), the company announced on Tuesday. 

“The CEM platform monitors threat data streams continuously, alerts stakeholders when there is a relevant issue, and automatically orchestrates a coordinated response—it is always on,” said Imad Mouline CTO of Everbridge.

Everbridge’s CEM platform will include a new IoT extension module that will leverage the intellectual property from the company’s acquisitions of Connexient and CNL Software. Through the software, enable organizations to retrieve a wider range of situational intelligence and automate targeted responses.

The company’s new platform will also utilize electronic data, including IoT sensors, to digitally transform safety and security management of employees, customers, patients, first responders, residents and visitors, in addition to the resiliency of operations and supply chain. 

CEM for IoT will extend the number of use cases for the Everbridge platform within the critical event management market, adding to the company’s existing offerings for supply chain and wearable devices. A variety if sectors, including government and healthcare organizations, will be able to leverage CEM to mitigate risks from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Through integrating millions COVID-19 related communications deployed by Everbridge, the expansion of CEM for IoT enhances coronavirus-related use cases to better protect people, operations, supply chain and brand. 

The company will also improve the ability to coordinate first responders and other critical healthcare resources such as intensive care unit (ICU) beds, respirators and expert medical staff based on real-time data on the broader impact of COVID-19.

Everbridge’s IoT initiative will harness the same CEM framework currently being used by industry leaders from aircraft manufacturing, financial services, entertainment and media, high tech, healthcare, hospitality, retail, pharmaceuticals, the federal government and other sectors. 

About Everbridge

Everbridge, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVBG) is a global software company that provides enterprise software applications that automate and accelerate organizations’ operational response to critical events in order to keep people safe and businesses running. 

During public safety threats such as active shooter situations, terrorist attacks or severe weather conditions, as well as critical business events including IT outages, cyber-attacks or other incidents such as product recalls or supply-chain interruptions, over 5,000 global customers rely on the company’s Critical Event Management Platform to quickly and reliably aggregate and assess threat data, locate people at risk and responders able to assist, automate the execution of pre-defined communications processes through the secure delivery to over 100 different communication devices, and track progress on executing response plans.

FLIR Systems has launched FLIR Ranger HDC MR, a new high-definition midrange surveillance system, to enhance the detection of illegal activity in harsh weather conditions, the company announced on Tuesday. 

“This new system can eliminate days of inefficient surveillance by using on-the-edge technology to see through poor weather conditions, increasing up-time. Our powerful Ranger HDC MR offers customers a cost-effective solution that boosts mission success,” said David Ray, president of the Government & Defense Technologies business at FLIR.

The Ranger HDC MR will utilize embedded analytics and image processing to reduce the cognitive workload, which will enable operators to determine true threats and false alarms. The surveillance system has integrated a high-performance HD thermal imaging system to capture a larger scope of imagery with the same target resolution. 

The high-definition thermal imager, including a 1280 x 720 detector and a 1920 x 1080 HD color TV camera, will work in combination with other sensors to further enhance counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) applications. 

In addition, FLIR has enhanced the system’s mission capability through its built-in fog filter to see through fog and haze, as well as an optional Merlin ASX turbulence filter to see through heat and air turbulence for more accurate target classification. 

The Ranger HDC MR will be compatible with on-board AI image processing for faster decision-making. Its advanced technology will improve reliability and lower downtime and maintenance. FLIR will also integrate a cybersecurity tool that will mitigate risk by scanning each software release to help ensure the system is protected from cyberattacks.

“Whether securing borders, ports, facilities or troops, the FLIR Ranger HDC MR delivers a new level of surveillance so operators can act fast against threats,” added Ray.

About FLIR Systems, Inc.

Founded in 1978, FLIR Systems is a world-leading industrial technology company focused on intelligent sensing solutions for defense, industrial, and commercial applications. FLIR Systems’ vision is to be “The World’s Sixth Sense,” creating technologies to help professionals make more informed decisions that save lives and livelihoods.