Is your cybersecurity as a government contractor ready to fight against evolving cyber threats?Â
In today’s fast-paced cyber environment, one of the panel discussions at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit — “CMMC: Is Your Company Cybersecurity Ready?” — aims to tackle the cyber-readiness of government contractors by leveraging the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, or CMMC.
If you want to strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity, join the “CMMC: Is Your Company Cybersecurity Ready?” panel discussion at the 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6.
About the 2024 Cyber Summit
The 2024 Cyber Summit is one of the leading government contracting events by the Potomac Officers Club. The event is held annually to delve into the impacts of digital modernization and the cyber revolution in the federal government.
Attending the summit will treat GovCon organizations to keynote and panel discussions about uncovering cyber capabilities, increasing operational efficiency and advocating for digital transformation. Leading these discussions will be cyber experts and industry leaders with esteemed roles in the dynamic cyber landscape.
Register for the 2024 Cyber Summit on June 06, 2024, happening at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 S Hayes St. Arlington, VA 22202.
CMMC: Is Your Company Cybersecurity Ready?
This panel session will address the cyber measures that GovCon companies must take to ensure the highest level of cybersecurity when doing business with the government. Comcast’s Yasmine Abdillahi, the DOD’s Derrick Davis, the Cyber Readiness Institute’s Karen Evans, the Defense Acquisition University’s Kelley Kiernan and Edward Tuorinsky of DTS will be participating in this discussion.
Get to know the distinguished executives to grace this panel discussion at the 2024 Cyber Summit.
Yasmine Abdillahi, Executive Director of Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance and Business Information Security Officer at Comcast Business
As Comcast’s executive director of cybersecurity governance, risk and compliance, Yasmine Abdillahi heads the policy governance and security certifications. Her over two decades of experience in technology and cybersecurity equip her with the credibility to speak on the “CMMC: Is Your Company Cybersecurity Ready?” panel.
Derrick Davis, Director of Industrial Cyber Security for the Officer of Small Business Programs at the Department of Defense
Derrick Davis is the director of industrial cyber security at the Office of Small Business Programs (OBSP). He oversees several OBSP programs, including the Project Spectrum cybersecurity outreach initiative. Davis’ focus on cybersecurity in the government sector will provide an excellent perspective to the 2024 Cyber Summit panel discussion.
Karen Evans, Managing Director at Cyber Readiness Institute
Karen Evans has been at the forefront of cybersecurity policy for over 20 years. She currently is the managing director of the Cyber Readiness Institute, where she handles the creation of cybersecurity tools for small and medium-sized businesses.Â
Kelley Kiernan, Professor of Cybersecurity at the Defense Acquisition University
Kelley Kiernan is a professor of Cybersecurity and Information Protection at the DOD’s Defense Acquisition University. Her demonstrated work revolves around robust cybersecurity adoption in the acquisition processes of the Navy, Air Force and Space Force. Kiernan will join as a panelist at the 2024 Cyber Summit panel discussion.
Edward Tuorinsky, Founder and Managing Principal at DTS
Edward Tuorinsky founded DTS in February 2011 and has served as its managing principal since. He has been a long-time advocate of cybersecurity, stemming from his experience in the Army and GovCon companies such as L-3 Communications. At the “CMMC: Is Your Company Cybersecurity Ready?” panel discussion Tuorinsky will serve as the moderator.
Here’s a sneak peek of the topics covered by these speakers in the panel discussion.
What is the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is a program of the Department of Defense designed to protect sensitive unclassified information shared among its contractors and subcontractors. It ensures that the DOD’s information security requirements align with those of its Defense Industrial Base (DIB) partners.
As the DIB is susceptible to complex cyberattacks, CMMC increases industry assurance that cybersecurity requirements are met, particularly regarding acquisition programs and systems that process controlled unclassified information (CUI).
What is the CMMC 2.0?
CMMC 2.0 is the next-generation iteration of the DOD’s cybersecurity model. It further emphasizes the importance of reinforcing DIB cybersecurity to support the nation’s information security and enable warfighters.Â
Through CMMC 2.0, cybersecurity requirements are streamlined into three levels; each level aligns with the widely accepted National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity standards. It outlines the key features within the framework: a tiered model, required assessments and implementation through contracts.
Transitioning to CMMC 2.0 upgraded the program structure and requirements, targeting the primary goals of:
- Protecting sensitive information to enable and secure warfighters
- Ensuring DIB cybersecurity standards can fight evolving threats
- Observing accountability while overcoming the barriers to DOD requirement compliance
- Fostering collaboration for cybersecurity and cyber resilience
- Upholding ethical standards and professionalism to maintain public trust
How CMMC Readies the Cybersecurity of Government Contractors
Cybersecurity is at the forefront of the federal government’s priorities amid the fast-changing cyber landscape. Programs like CMMC allow the federal government to protect its CUI while doing business with government contractors.
Similarly, contractors and subcontractors dealing with confidential data must ensure compliance with CMMC to keep CUI secure from internal and external cyber threats. Following this model is a protocol for GovCon companies that want to start doing business with the government.
Is Your Company Cybersecurity Ready?
Are you looking to venture into government contracting or want to strengthen your cybersecurity as a GovCon organization?
Attend the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit and discover how to prepare your company’s cybersecurity for the fast-paced cyber environment. Plus, learn more about topics such as zero trust, supply chain security, cyber resilience and secure information sharing.
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