While no one wants a cybersecurity breach, small business owners also don’t want to go out of business trying to meet the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements. But that’s just what small business owners are speaking out about to Congress, warning them that the timeline to implement CMMC and the associated costs will either have to be absorbed costs or remove them from supporting the defense industrial base.
“There is no consistent method or message from DOD,” said Michael Dunbar, a small business president who testified on behalf of HUBZone Contractors National Council. “A lot of small businesses have been ignored.” Dunbar argues that small business owners not only claim that the costs are too high to implement CMMC, but also that the communications about requirements have been pushed out over social networks rather than official policy documents.
While many argue that including the standards in the CMMC procurement process adds a burden to the small businesses in the DIB, the reality is that the five-tier range of security controls will provide contractors the ability to start at one level and work their way up over time. The DoD has acknowledged that implementation will require collaboration from the federal government and industry in order to shore up cybersecurity moving forward.
Layoffs Impacting the Cleared Industry
| Cerner Corporation |
Not all IT companies have been immune to layoffs, and as pandemic needs shift, so does technology. Kansas City-based Cerner has plans to layoff 500 employees worldwide. With the news of the layoff, the company stated, “Cerner remains committed to positioning the company for future success. We are focused on delivering a higher order of benefits for clients, associates and shareholders. Our recent actions demonstrate our continued enterprise-wide transformation work – ensuring we more efficiently deliver value to clients and set the company on a path to long-term, profitable growth.” |
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Hiring impacting the Cleared Industry
| LMI | LMI snagged the The Washington Post Top Workplaces 2021 Award, continuing its long history in pushing innovation and growing talent. LMI’s employees have diverse backgrounds, coming from government and defense, business and industry, and academia and research. And more than half of LMI employees are either veterans or former civil servants, but they all come together at LMI to support the mission of improving the management of government.
LMI has open positions for logistics specialists, data analysts, engineers, public relations, and the list goes on. Cleared positions are not limited to one geographic location, so for candidates interested in a taste of the OCONUS life, LMI has open cleared positions around the world. |
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Cleared Employer at Work: NOrthrop Grumman
At Northrop Grumman, you can visualize a career that can take you places, build your skills, and grow – not just for a project, but for a career. Discover a role that’s right for you. Explore opportunities.
Opportunity to Watch
Virginia’s economic development initiative has allocated $11.1 million in grants in order to mover economic recovery along in the state. Go Virginia awarded $1.45 million specifically to a statewide system that supports cybersecurity jobs training for the defense contracting industry in Virginia.
“The targeted support that GO Virginia provides is critical to ensuring communities across our commonwealth are well-positioned to succeed in a post-pandemic economy,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “These projects demonstrate how regional collaboration can drive innovation and deliver positive economic results, including diversifying our workforce, supporting entrepreneurs and upgrading our infrastructure.”
Under this award for cybersecurity, Old Dominion University Research Foundation has plans to develop a cloud-based compliance system that helps Virginia’s defense contractors meet CMMC standards and achieve accreditation. Eastern Shore Community College and Old Dominion University will develop a NIST 800-171/CMMC education program, as well as collaborate with other universities and community colleges to deliver the program. While CMMC accreditation remains a seemingly onerous task for small businesses, government leaders in state and federal are seeking ways to support the defense industrial base.
