As a defense contractor, you work with federal government data and other sensitive information as part of your operations. While this data is necessary to get the job done, it also makes your organization a target for cyber threats. If your systems are compromised, it could have severe consequences—not just for your organization, but for the country at large.
That’s why regular cybersecurity audits are essential for defense contractors. These detailed internal investigations will help you identify and correct cybersecurity vulnerabilities before they lead to data breaches.
Let’s take a look at what happens during a cybersecurity audit and why they’re so essential for defense contractors.
Key Takeaways
- Defense contractors are often targeted by nation-state actors and other malicious entities due to the sensitive data they work with.
- Contractors also must adhere to very strict compliance standards, including the DOD’s CMMC program.
- Conducting regular cybersecurity audits helps contractors identify and address weaknesses in their systems.
- Cybersecurity audits result in better data security, better compliance, and more transparency across your organization.
What Are the Key Cyber Threats to Defense Contractors?
Government contractors are particularly vulnerable to a few different types of cyber threats due to the sensitive data they work with. Your cybersecurity strategies should be built with these specific threats in mind.
Data Theft
Defense contractors work with large volumes of classified and controlled unclassified information. This could include information about military strategies, advanced defense technology, or critical national infrastructure. All of this information could have serious consequences if exposed.
There are several ways that data breaches can happen to defense contractors. Employees, subcontractors, or partners could accidentally expose this secure data if they fail to adhere to cybersecurity standards.
They could also expose secure data maliciously, leaking it to third parties. This is most likely to happen at the end of the working relationship, especially if the employee is disgruntled. Swift removal of credentials can help prevent this type of data theft from happening.
Data theft also happens as a result of cyberattacks. Threat actors use techniques like phishing, malware, brute force attacks, and more to gain access to your secure systems and steal data. These attacks are often conducted with the goal of selling information on the dark web.
For example, many defense contractors in the US were recently compromised by Infostealer malware infections, which compromised a significant number of contractor credentials.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Defense contractors play an important role in the military supply chain. Many defense contractors provide the government with items that are crucial for national security, such as weapons, vehicles, communication technology, and more.
Because of this, security vulnerabilities within the supply chain can be particularly damaging for defense contractors. For example, if a lower-level materials supplier has poor cybersecurity practices, it could lead to data breaches and other security challenges within your organization.
Defense contractors must be extremely cautious when selecting subcontractors and supply chain partners to avoid these vulnerabilities. Ideally, these partners should undergo a thorough screening and meet key security requirements before work begins.
Nation-State Actors
Nation-state actors are hackers who are affiliated with foreign governments. These threat actors conduct malicious attacks on behalf of these governments, especially during times of physical or ideological conflict.
Nation-state actors often conduct attacks to steal intelligence that could give their governments negotiating power or an advantage in conflict. Since defense contractors often work with military data, they are vulnerable to these attacks.
Some nation-state actors will also conduct attacks with the goal of sabotaging elections or disrupting the operation of federal infrastructure.
Because these hackers have funding and political support from their governments, they have advanced technology at their disposal and are often able to operate without being detected. Nation-state attacks have become more common in recent years, with Russia, China, and North Korea as some of the most frequent antagonists to the US.
What is the Purpose of Cybersecurity Audits?
Cybersecurity audits are essential for defense contractors. During an audit, your team will conduct a thorough review of your current security measures and policies for full transparency. This practice helps keep your systems secure so you can avoid unexpected security incidents in the future.
Here are the goals of standard cybersecurity audits for defense contractors.
Identify Gaps in Policies, Processes, and Tools
Even if you already have a security strategy in place, there may be gaps in your security coverage that could expose you to cyberattacks.
During an audit, you will evaluate all of your security practices, looking for possible vulnerabilities. You will need to assess the types of technology you are using, how systems are configured, and how data moves through your systems.
Additionally, you will need to consider your work processes and policies. Even if your technology is secure, your policies (or lack thereof) could leave your organization vulnerable. For example, if your employees don’t receive training on cybersecurity requirements and best practices, they could make mistakes that put your business at risk.
Ensure Adherence to Industry Regulations
Contractors have to adhere to very strict standards and regulations when working with the Department of Defense (DOD) and other federal agencies. These include:
- Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): Program that helps DOD contractors comply with security requirements. CMMC requirements include both self-assessment and third-party assessments by the DOD.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: Set of voluntary guidelines used to manage cybersecurity risks.
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS): Comprehensive document clarifying DOD department requirements and practices.
- Supplier Performance Risk System: System used to evaluate DOD suppliers.
During an audit, you will assess your systems to ensure they are fully compliant with these regulatory guidelines. Constant compliance is necessary to secure future government contracts and avoid consequences like fines or legal action.
Keep Up With Evolving Threats
Cyber threats are constantly changing as hackers try to keep up with new technology and work around existing security controls. For example, many new threats have emerged as AI technology has gone mainstream, which contractors have had to address in their cybersecurity practices.
Audits are a great opportunity to improve your cybersecurity strategies based on recent threats. To avoid cyber attacks, you’ll always need to stay one step ahead of hackers. Staying stagnant could mean exposing secure data and falling out of CMMC compliance.
What Are The Benefits of Regular Security Audits?
Conducting regular security audits benefits your organization, the federal agencies you work with, and the country as a whole. Defense contractors play an essential role in our government, and security audits help your organization reach its fullest potential.
Standardized Frameworks
Audits will help you standardize your cybersecurity frameworks for more consistency across your organization.
Clarifying and strengthening your security posture will help your entire team work more efficiently and avoid mistakes that could lead to data breaches. Additionally, standardized frameworks can help you stay compliant with the CMMC program and other essential defense requirements.
Use Independent Experts
For security audits to be effective, they should be conducted with the help of independent defense and cybersecurity experts.
Every organization has blind spots, even those who are proactive about safeguarding data. Independent experts bring a new perspective to your operations and can help you identify vulnerabilities that you might have missed on your own.
Implement Continuous Monitoring
An audit is a great opportunity to implement continuous system monitoring if you haven’t already.
Monitoring your systems 24/7 will help you identify unusual activity in real time and respond right away. This can help prevent cyber attack attempts from turning into more damaging data breaches.
Train The Workforce
As a defense contractor, your entire workforce should be aware of security threats and compliance requirements. During your audit, you should evaluate your team to identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed.
From there, you can offer training to address these weaknesses. Employees should learn how to spot and avoid malicious emails and other social engineering attacks they may encounter as part of their work.
Ideally, training sessions should be required for your entire team, regardless of their seniority level. Everyone from administrative staff up to executives can benefit from increased cybersecurity awareness.
How Can Diamond IT Help You?
Diamond IT is a managed services provider with a deep commitment to security and compliance. Our cybersecurity experts can help you conduct a thorough cybersecurity audit and implement new security measures to protect the sensitive defense information you work with.
We’ll serve as your IT partner, helping you with tech support, system monitoring, data backups, disaster recovery, security training, and much more. Our services are fully scalable and can be customized to fit the unique requirements of the defense industry. Contact our team today to get started!