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Lazarus Alliance proactive cybersecurity, accreditation, and DFARS assessment services.

Lazarus Alliance Proactive Cyber Security® services reduce performance and operational risks through innovative, cost-effective solutions tailored to meet Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and NIST 800-171 requirements. Department of Defense (DoD) contractors must comply with DFARS to protect covered defense information within their systems.

Covered defense information refers to unclassified controlled technical information or other Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) that requires protection and controlled dissemination. This includes mandatory cyber incident reporting. The specific safeguards are outlined in NIST Special Publication 800-171: Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Non-Federal Information Systems and Organizations.

Lazarus Alliance Expertise Makes The Difference

Lazarus Alliance’s NIST 800-171 audits provide significant benefits to Defense Industrial Base (DIB) organizations, ensuring compliance with stringent cybersecurity requirements while enhancing operational and strategic capabilities. Below is a detailed description of how these audits support DIB organizations, based on their expertise in NIST 800-171 and related frameworks like DFARS and CMMC:

  1. Ensures Compliance with NIST 800-171 and DFARS
    - Regulatory Adherence: Lazarus Alliance’s audits help DIB organizations meet the requirements of NIST Special Publication 800-171, which outlines 110 security controls across 14 families to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems. This is critical for compliance with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7012, mandatory for Department of Defense (DoD) contractors handling CUI.
    - Avoidance of Penalties: Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, including loss of contracts, legal liabilities, and reputational damage. By conducting thorough audits, Lazarus Alliance ensures organizations meet these standards, reducing the risk of penalties or contract disqualification.
  2. Streamlines Compliance with Automated Tools
    - IT Audit Machine (ITAM): Lazarus Alliance leverages its proprietary IT Audit Machine (ITAM) software from Continuum GRC to automate and simplify the audit process. ITAM speeds up assessments and reporting by 180% compared to traditional methods like spreadsheets, making compliance more efficient and less resource-intensive for DIB organizations.
    - Transparency and Ease: ITAM provides transparency and user-friendly interfaces, enabling organizations to understand their compliance status and plan continuous improvements. This is particularly valuable for small and medium-sized DIB contractors with limited resources.
  3. Identifies and Addresses Security Gaps
    - Comprehensive Gap Analysis: Lazarus Alliance conducts gap analyses to evaluate an organization’s current security posture against NIST 800-171 requirements. This identifies deficiencies in controls, allowing organizations to prioritize remediation efforts and strengthen their cybersecurity framework.
    - Actionable Remediation Plans: Their audits provide clear roadmaps for addressing gaps, leveraging NIST 800-53 controls when needed, ensuring DIB organizations can achieve and maintain compliance efficiently.
  4. Enhances Cybersecurity Posture
    - Robust Security Controls: By aligning with NIST 800-171’s 14 control families (e.g., Access Control, Incident Response, System and Information Integrity), Lazarus Alliance audits help DIB organizations implement robust safeguards to protect CUI from cyber threats, reducing the risk of data breaches and insider threats.
    - Proactive Risk Management: Their Proactive Cyber Security® services focus on real-time risk assessment and management, enabling DIB organizations to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and maintain system integrity.
  5. Supports CMMC Certification
    - Alignment with CMMC: NIST 800-171 forms the backbone of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), which standardizes security assessments for DIB contractors. Lazarus Alliance’s expertise in NIST 800-171 audits prepares organizations for CMMC Levels 1 and 2, and partially for Level 3, by ensuring compliance with the required 110 security practices.
    - Third-Party Assessments: For CMMC Level 2 and higher, Lazarus Alliance’s audits align with Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) requirements, providing a foundation for successful certification and demonstrating due diligence to DoD auditors.
  6. Provides Strategic Business Advantages
    - Market Differentiation: A successful NIST 800-171 audit demonstrates a commitment to cybersecurity, offering DIB organizations a competitive edge when bidding for DoD contracts. It signals to partners and clients that the organization prioritizes data security.
    - Enhanced Trust: Compliance enhances trust among clients, partners, and stakeholders, fostering stronger business relationships and potentially opening new opportunities in both government and private sectors.
  7. Cost-Effective and Efficient Compliance
    - Resource Optimization: For small and medium-sized DIB organizations with limited resources, Lazarus Alliance’s audits are cost-effective, leveraging tools like ITAM to reduce the time and effort required for compliance. This is critical for organizations facing resource constraints or technical complexities.
    - Ongoing Support: Lazarus Alliance provides continuous support, including training and policy development, to maintain compliance over time, reducing the burden of ongoing regulatory changes and audits.
  8. Mitigates Legal and Operational Risks
    - Due Diligence Documentation: In the event of a cyber incident or legal action, a Lazarus Alliance audit provides credible evidence of due diligence, helping to mitigate legal and financial risks arising from breaches or non-compliance.
    - Proactive Incident Preparedness: Their audits emphasize incident response planning and cyber incident reporting, ensuring DIB organizations are prepared to handle breaches effectively, minimizing operational disruptions.
  9. Tailored Expertise and Industry Knowledge
    - Experienced Cybervisors™: Lazarus Alliance’s team of Cybervisors™ brings extensive experience in NIST audits and government compliance, offering tailored guidance to navigate the technical rigor of DFARS and NIST 800-171 assessments.
    - Customized Solutions: Their audits are customized to the unique needs of each DIB organization, ensuring compliance efforts align with business objectives and operational environments.
  10. Facilitates Long-Term Compliance Sustainability
    - Continuous Improvement: Lazarus Alliance’s audits support the development of sustainable compliance programs, with tools like ITAM enabling ongoing monitoring and updates to security controls as regulations evolve, such as the transition to NIST 800-171 Rev. 3.
    - Policy and Training Support: They provide comprehensive policies, procedures, and training to ensure employees are aware of and adhere to security practices, fostering a culture of cybersecurity within the organization.

Lazarus Alliance’s NIST 800-171 audits empower DIB organizations to achieve and maintain compliance with critical cybersecurity standards, enhancing their security posture, reducing risks, and positioning them for success in DoD contracting. By leveraging advanced tools like ITAM, expert guidance, and a proactive approach, they streamline the compliance process, making it efficient and sustainable while providing strategic advantages in a competitive market.

Frequenty Asked Questions

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Benefits of DFARS NIST 800-171 Compliance

DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) compliance, specifically with NIST SP 800-171 under clause 252.204-7012, focuses on protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) for organizations working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Here are the key benefits of achieving and maintaining DFARS NIST 800-171 compliance:

  1. Eligibility for DoD Contracts: Compliance with NIST SP 800-171 is a prerequisite for contractors and subcontractors handling CUI. It ensures organizations can bid on and secure DoD contracts, accessing lucrative opportunities in the defense sector.
  2. Strengthened Cybersecurity: NIST SP 800-171 provides a framework of 110 security controls across 14 families (e.g., access control, incident response). Implementing these controls enhances an organization’s cybersecurity posture, reducing vulnerabilities to cyber threats like data breaches or malware.
  3. Protection of Sensitive Data: Compliance safeguards CUI, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive DoD-related information. This protects national security interests and builds trust with the DoD and partners.
  4. Competitive Edge: Being NIST 800-171 compliant sets organizations apart from non-compliant competitors. It signals reliability and security to prime contractors and the DoD, increasing opportunities for contracts and partnerships.
  5. Avoidance of Penalties: Non-compliance can result in contract termination, fines, or legal consequences. Adhering to NIST 800-171 requirements mitigates these risks, ensuring uninterrupted business with the DoD.
  6. Enhanced Reputation: Demonstrating compliance showcases a commitment to cybersecurity and regulatory standards, boosting credibility with government agencies, commercial clients, and supply chain partners.
  7. Operational Efficiency: Implementing NIST 800-171 controls, such as system security plans and risk assessments, promotes disciplined processes. This can streamline operations and improve overall cybersecurity management.
  8. Supply Chain Security: Compliance ensures that subcontractors and vendors also meet NIST 800-171 standards, strengthening the security of the entire DoD supply chain and reducing risks from third parties.
  9. Preparation for CMMC: NIST 800-171 compliance aligns closely with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), making it easier to transition to CMMC requirements, which are increasingly required for DoD contractors.
  10. Reduced Breach Risks: By adhering to controls like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and incident response, organizations minimize the likelihood and impact of data breaches, protecting both their assets and DoD information.

In short, DFARS NIST 800-171 compliance ensures access to DoD contracts, strengthens cybersecurity, enhances reputation, and mitigates risks, providing both strategic and operational advantages.

Lazarus Alliance provides expert cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management services, including international audits, Federal assessments, and IT governance solutions, ensuring businesses achieve robust security and regulatory compliance.

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Our Lazarus Alliance Cybervisor™ teams have experience performing thousands of assessments for organizations providing services to clients around the world.

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Lazarus Alliance provides expert cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management services, including international audits, Federal assessments, and IT governance solutions, ensuring businesses achieve robust security and regulatory compliance.

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and NIST 800-171 Compliance Audit Process

The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) is a set of regulations that supplements the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and applies specifically to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. DFARS clause 252.204-7012 mandates that contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) implement the cybersecurity requirements outlined in NIST SP 800-171, which consists of 110 security controls across 14 families to protect CUI.

Compliance ensures eligibility for DoD contracts and safeguards sensitive data.

Lazarus Alliance, as a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) accredited by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB, ID: 10251), conducts audits for DFARS NIST 800-171 compliance and related frameworks like CMMC. Our Proactive Cyber Security™ methodology uses the FedRAMP Authorized Continuum GRC IT Audit Machine (ITAM), a cloud-based SaaS platform, to automate governance, risk, compliance, and audit processes. Unlike traditional audits, our approach emphasizes continuous monitoring over periodic assessments, ensuring sustained compliance and efficiency (e.g., up to 46% faster assessments).

Below is a detailed overview of the DFARS NIST 800-171 compliance audit process with Lazarus Alliance, tailored to our C3PAO capabilities and tools:

1. Engagement and Scoping Phase

  • Kickoff Consultation: Lazarus Alliance initiates the process with a collaborative meeting to understand the organization’s needs, DoD contract requirements, and systems handling CUI. They clarify whether the audit is solely for DFARS 252.204-7012 or also aligns with CMMC preparation (e.g., Level 2, which maps directly to NIST 800-171).
  • Scope Definition: Identify all in-scope assets (e.g., networks, servers, applications, and processes) that store, process, or transmit CUI. This includes reviewing contract-specific requirements and supply chain obligations.
  • ITAM Setup: Deploy the Continuum GRC ITAM platform to centralize data collection. Clients upload existing documentation (e.g., policies, risk assessments) to establish a compliance baseline.
  • Pre-Audit Coordination: If pre-assessment preparation is needed (e.g., gap analysis), Lazarus Alliance may recommend partnering with a Registered Provider Organization (RPO) or our affiliate services, as our C3PAO role focuses on independent validation.

2. Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment

  • Control Assessment: Using ITAM, Lazarus Alliance evaluates the organization’s current cybersecurity posture against the 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls (e.g., Access Control, Incident Response, Media Protection). ITAM’s automated questionnaires and scanning tools identify gaps in implementation.
  • Security Trifecta Methodology: Assess the balance of people, processes, and technology to ensure a holistic approach to CUI protection. This includes analyzing risks like insider threats or supply chain vulnerabilities.
  • System Security Plan (SSP) Review: Examine the SSP, a required document detailing how each NIST 800-171 control is met. ITAM streamlines this by mapping controls to evidence.
  • Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M): Document any deficiencies (e.g., missing multi-factor authentication) in a POA&M, outlining remediation steps and timelines.

3. Audit Execution

  • Continuous Audit Approach: Unlike traditional point-in-time audits, Lazarus Alliance uses ITAM for iterative, real-time testing of controls. This reduces audit duration and ensures ongoing compliance visibility.
  • Technical Testing: Perform system scans, penetration testing (if in scope), and configuration reviews to validate technical controls (e.g., encryption, audit logging, firewalls).
  • Procedural Validation: Conduct interviews with key personnel (e.g., IT staff, compliance officers) and review documentation (e.g., training records, incident response plans) to confirm procedural controls.
  • Evidence Collection: ITAM automates evidence gathering (e.g., logs, screenshots, policy documents), ensuring traceability and transparency for auditors and clients.

4. Findings and Reporting

  • Compliance Report: ITAM generates a detailed report specifying which of the 110 controls are met, partially met, or not met. The report includes risk ratings, evidence summaries, and remediation recommendations.
  • SPRS Score Calculation: Calculate a compliance score (out of 110) based on the NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Methodology. Lazarus Alliance assists in submitting this score to the DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS), a requirement for DFARS compliance.
  • CMMC Alignment (if applicable): For clients pursuing CMMC certification, the audit report maps findings to CMMC Level 2 requirements, leveraging Lazarus Alliance as your C3PAO for formal assessments.
  • Due Diligence Artifacts: Provide documentation to demonstrate compliance with the DoD or prime contractors, protecting against penalties like contract termination.

5. Remediation and Continuous Monitoring

  • POA&M Execution: Implement remediation plans to address gaps, such as deploying encryption or updating access controls. ITAM tracks progress and timelines.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Use ITAM’s real-time dashboards for ongoing compliance monitoring, including alerts for new vulnerabilities or non-compliance issues.
  • Incident Response Compliance: Ensure adherence to DFARS requirements for reporting cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours, with ITAM facilitating incident tracking and reporting.
  • Periodic Reassessment: Conduct regular reviews (e.g., annually or after system changes) to maintain compliance, especially as regulations evolve or new contracts arise.

6. CMMC Integration (Optional)

  • CMMC Readiness: Since NIST 800-171 is the foundation for CMMC Level 2, Lazarus Alliance’s C3PAO status enables them to conduct formal CMMC assessments if required by the contract. This involves additional validation against CMMC’s process maturity requirements.
  • Certification Support: For CMMC, they perform independent audits, issue certification reports, and submit results to the CMMC-AB for DoD validation (valid for three years).
  • Transition Support: Help clients transition from DFARS self-assessments to CMMC’s third-party audit requirements, leveraging ITAM for efficiency.

Key Features of Lazarus Alliance’s Process

  • Automation via ITAM: Reduces manual effort, accelerates audits (e.g., weeks to days), and provides transparent, client-accessible dashboards.
  • C3PAO Expertise: Ensures objective, DoD-compliant assessments, critical for high-stakes contracts or CMMC certification.
  • Proactive Cyber Security™: Emphasizes continuous compliance over one-time audits, reducing risks like data breaches or contract ineligibility.
  • Scalability: Supports organizations of all sizes, from small subcontractors to large primes, across industries and jurisdictions.
  • Cost and Schedule Efficiency: Clients report significant improvements in security processes and compliance outcomes, with audits completed on time and within budget.

Notes and Considerations

  • Self-Assessment vs. Third-Party Audit: DFARS 252.204-7012 currently allows self-assessments with SPRS score submission, but third-party audits by a C3PAO like Lazarus Alliance provide greater credibility, especially for prime contractors or CMMC preparation.
  • CMMC Transition: With the DoD’s CMMC final rule (effective 2025), some contracts now require CMMC Level 2 certification, making Lazarus Alliance’s C3PAO services critical.
  • Documentation Importance: A robust SSP and POA&M are essential for audit success. Lazarus Alliance’s ITAM simplifies its creation and maintenance.

This process ensures DFARS NIST 800-171 compliance, enhances cybersecurity, and positions organizations for DoD contract eligibility and CMMC certification.

Credentials You Can Count On

Lazarus Alliance proactive cybersecurity, accreditation, and CMMC assessment services.

Department of Defense (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) CMMC Third Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO).

Lazarus Alliance proactive cybersecurity, accreditation, and assessment services.

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) ISO/IEC 17020 accredited certification number 3822.01.

Leveraging the Continuum GRC IT Audit Machine, Security Trifecta methodology, and the Policy Machine, Lazarus Alliance provides international standards that are recognized as “Best Practices” for developing organizational security standards and controls that support Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and NIST 800-171 based compliance audit certifications and assessments.

We want to be your partner and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and NIST 800- 171 compliance audit assessor of choice! For additional information, please call 1-888-896-7580.