The potential impact of coronavirus fears on the implementation of new Department of Defense cybersecurity standards for contractors is not known, with DoD officials considering teleconferencing and online training sessions for third-party evaluators, FCW reported Monday.
Katie Arrington, chief information security officer in the office of the defense undersecretary for acquisition and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, told reporters at a Washington Technolog-hosted event in Virginia that DoD needs to use technology to remain on schedule regarding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.
DoD expects training of independent CMMC assessors to commence by mid-April and plans to issue initial CMMC-based requests for information in June.
Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and a 2020 Wash100 awardee, said that companies should be wary of individuals posing as CMMC evaluators when requirements are not yet finalized.
Lord added she hopes a memorandum of understanding with the CMMC Accreditation Body on the certification process will be in place soon.
The DoD issued the first official version of CMMC in January and established the accrediting body shortly after.
