National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released an initial public draft of NIST SP 800-171, Revision 3, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations. Compliance with the security controls in NIST SP 800-171 is required for Department of Defense contractors and is expected to be incorporated into a new Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause and required for all federal contractors that process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). 

Continue Reading NIST Releases Initial Public Draft of NIST SP 800-171, Revision 3 for Protection of Sensitive Government Information

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is seeking public comment on the secure software development common self-attestation form to be completed by software producers that sell software to the federal government. Federal agencies are scheduled to begin collecting attestation forms for critical software by June 2023 and for all other software by September 2023.

Continue Reading CISA Releases Proposed Security Attestation Form for Software Producers

While you were asking ChatGPT to create a 3-course menu for the upcoming book club you’re hosting or to explain the Rule Against Perpetuities, several federal government agencies announced initiatives related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems, focusing on the potential threats stemming from the misuse of this powerful technology. As the development and use of AI becomes integrated into our daily lives and employee work routines, and companies begin to leverage such technology in their solutions provided to the government, it is important to understand the developing federal government compliance infrastructure and the potential risks stemming from the misuse of AI and automated systems.

Continue Reading ChatUSG: What Companies Doing Business with the Government Need to Know About Artificial Intelligence

The FedRAMP Program Management Office is seeking comments on its draft FedRAMP Authorization Boundary Guidance, Version 3.0, released on September 14, 2022. The public comment period currently is open and closes on October 17, 2022.

Continue Reading Third Time’s The Charm – FedRAMP Releases Draft Authorization Boundary Guidance Version 3 for Public Comment

Per Executive Order 14028, Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum on September 14, 2022 requiring federal agencies to only use software from software producers that attest compliance with secure software development guidance issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Continue Reading Federal Government Outlines New Security and Attestation Requirements for Software

On July 19, 2022, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released a Pre-Draft Call for Comments, seeking feedback on improving its Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) series of publications. The comment period currently is open and scheduled to close on September 16, 2022

Continue Reading NIST Wants Your Input – Updating NIST’s Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Guidelines

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) is seeking comments on its second draft of NIST SP 800-161 Rev. 1, “Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Systems and Organizations,” published on October 28, 2021. We previously discussed the release of the first draft here. The public comment period currently is open and concludes on December 3, 2021. NIST anticipates releasing a final version during the third quarter of 2022.


Continue Reading Seeking HoNIST Opinions, Part II – NIST Invites Comments on Major Revision to Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management Practices and Software Guidelines Mandated By Cybersecurity Executive Order

On November 4, 2021, the Department of Defense (“DOD”) announced several changes to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (“CMMC”) program – the program that DOD intends to use to enhance the security of the defense industrial base through assessments and third-party cybersecurity certifications.[1] The new version of the program – “CMMC 2.0” – is a result of DOD’s internal review of the CMMC program implemented thus far (“CMMC 1.0”), which began following the release of an interim rule in September 2020, and included review of over 850 public comments. DOD intends to engage in additional rulemaking to refine and finalize CMMC 2.0. Although the overall goal of the program remains focused on safeguarding sensitive unclassified information, CMMC 2.0 includes several important differences from the original program, as discussed in greater detail below.

Continue Reading DOD Updates Its Cybersecurity Certification Program – CMMC 2.0: What Contractors Need to Know

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) is seeking comments on its draft NIST SP 800-160, Volume 2, Revision 1, “Developing Cyber-Resilient Systems: A Systems Security Engineering Approach,” and draft NIST SP 800-53A, Revision 5, “Assessing Security and Privacy Controls in Information Systems and Organizations.” The public comment periods currently are open and conclude on September 20, 2021 and October 1, 2021, respectively.

Continue Reading Double Time – NIST Seeks Comments on Major Revision to Practices for Developing Cyber-Resilient Systems (SP 800-160) and Assessing Security and Privacy Controls in Information Systems and Organizations (SP 800-53A)

The FedRAMP Program Management Office is seeking comments on its draft FedRAMP Authorization Boundary Guidance, Version 2.0, released on July 13, 2021. The public comment period currently is open and closes on September 13, 2021.

Continue Reading Watch Your Boundaries – FedRAMP Releases Draft Authorization Boundary Guidance for Public Comment