Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

If you’re a defense contractor, cybersecurity compliance isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a requirement. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has implemented strict cybersecurity guidelines to ensure that sensitive government information stays protected. Two major frameworks you need to be familiar with are the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 (NIST SP 800-171) and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

Strong security policies are the foundation of any successful security program. Before jumping into tools like Vanta to manage and automate your policies, it’s crucial to get the basics right—starting with how those policies are created, adopted, and aligned with compliance controls. ‍

Cybersecurity threats are evolving at a record pace, creating significant gaps and challenges for organizations handling sensitive data. To strengthen security across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), the Department of Defense (DoD) introduced the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program.

PCI DSS stands for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. A set of rules that helps businesses protect payment card data. Major credit card companies created these rules to reduce the risk of security breaches and other threats. Today, these standards are essential for organizations that handle card-based transactions. If you run a SaaS security platform, you may rely on web apps to process payments. Following security standard pci dss principles helps you gain trust from your customers.

This past month, the Vanta team launched new features to help you: ‍

Cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for organizations across all sectors in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. As technology leaders, we recognize that while technological defenses are crucial, the human element often represents the most significant vulnerability. Implementing comprehensive security awareness training (SAT) is essential to fortify this human firewall, mitigate risks, and cultivate a security-conscious organizational culture.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the governmental body responsible for enforcing and overseeing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) proposed updates in December 2024, which were added to the Federal Register for comments on January 6th. These updates include changes to the Security Rule, looking to enhance cybersecurity to align with evolving security standards.

If you’re part of the defense industrial base and you’re seeking CMMC certification, there’s a very good chance you’re aiming for Level 2. Level 1 is mostly meant for businesses with a focus on federal contract information but not CUI, while Level 3 is meant for businesses handling the most sensitive kinds of CUI; since most businesses fall somewhere in the middle, Level 2 is the most common.

Navigating an audit can be complex and time-consuming, but the right preparation and approach can make the process much smoother. Whether you're working toward SOC 2, ISO 27001, or another framework, knowing when to engage auditors, how to provide access, and what to focus on during the audit will set you up for success. ‍ In this guide, we’ll walk through best practices for working with auditors—from initial engagement to ongoing audit management and post-audit steps. ‍

GxP compliance supports the medical and pharmaceutical industries. “Good” x “Practices” covers several scenarios, where x represents manufacturing, distribution, laboratory, clinical, or document scenarios. There’s also cGxP, where c represents “current”, which is about as good as saying “new”. How long is “new”, and when does “new” become “legacy”?