Cybersecurity and Covered Defense Information (CDI) Safeguarding

This contract mandates the implementation of NIST Special Publication 800-171 controls to safeguard covered defense information maintained or processed by the contractor. It requires strict adherence to cybersecurity practices designed to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, disclosure, or compromise, aligning with Department of Defense standards for information security. The contractor must establish and maintain a compliant security environment that includes access controls, audit mechanisms, configuration management, incident response planning, and continuous monitoring as outlined in the NIST framework. In addition to safeguarding the information, the contractor is obligated to promptly report any cyber incidents affecting covered defense information in accordance with DFARS clause 252.204-7012. This includes providing detailed incident notifications to the appropriate government authorities within specified timeframes and cooperating fully with follow-up investigations. The contractor must also preserve all affected media and digital evidence following a cyber incident to support forensic analysis and compliance verification, ensuring that critical data remains intact and unaltered during the investigative process. Failure to meet these requirements may result in contractual penalties, loss of eligibility for future DoD work, or legal consequences.