Hackers Are Getting More Advanced: Stay One Step Ahead

Brian Berger, President of Cytellix Corporation • March 30, 2021

Individuals and enterprises alike are well aware that technology is almost constantly changing and advancing. We are able to do things today that past generations would have never thought possible! While technology is hugely beneficial to companies, its volatile nature is proving to be problematic at times as well. Businesses need to stay on their toes to adapt to changing software and solutions as quickly as possible. Cybercriminals are busy finding ways to make this more advanced technology a tool for their own use. If you don't stay at least one step ahead, hackers can wreak havoc in your databases. Here are a few tips to stay protected!


Know What You're Fighting Against

The first thing you have to do before you can combat a problem is identifying the problem. You need to know what it is, where it exists, and how serious it is. Cybercriminals are extremely tech-savvy and are well-versed in even the most elite software. Today's online criminals use sophisticated software, bots, viruses, Trojans, and phishing techniques. Unlike hackers of the past, these new-age criminals can automate the entire process; they can be infiltrating your system while they sleep! Passwords are no match for hackers, so you'll need to amp up your cybersecurity game if you want to stand a fighting chance. Once these cybercriminals get in, they don't always steal data these days. Some new attacks now do data manipulation which is far harder to spot than a full-fledged data leak. By changing some numbers here and some addresses there, you could be looking at millions of dollars lost and just as many angry customers. The crimes are getting stealthier, so you need to be more alert than ever.


Continuous Monitoring Is Key

One of the most fool-proof ways of avoiding serious cyberattacks is installing a cybersecurity continuous monitoring system. Your business undoubtedly has many moving parts. If you rely on your employees to keep track of everything, something will eventually fall through the cracks. If you put monitoring in the hands of cybersecurity software leveraging, AI, or other cybersecurity solutions, the odds of missing something important drop exponentially. The Cytellix Cyber Watch Portal (CCWP) puts all the power in your hands. You get a 360-degree view of the inner workings of your company from one convenient platform. With the CCWP, you have constant access to everything that's happening in the company. We can customize the platform to track exactly what you need to stay on top of the game. Our revolutionary technology can even implement solutions on your behalf! When you have a cybersecurity continuous monitoring system, you will be alerted of any abnormal happenings in your systems, networks, and clouds. We understand that cybersecurity requires proactive measures rather than reactive, so our Cyber Watch Portal will let you know if it finds any weakness so that they can be corrected ASAP. We'll be watching 24/7, and hackers won't stand a chance!


Work With A Team Of Experts

Depending on your company’s size, you may find overseeing cybersecurity daunting; problem solved with our easy-to-use Cyber Watch Portal. If cyber seems like an overwhelming concern, or if you simply want to ensure maximum protection against cyberattacks, we highly suggest partnering with a team of experts. Cytellix has been protecting companies big and small for decades. Our technologies grow and change with the cadence of your company and our team adapts accordingly. The Cytellix team can manage your cybersecurity solutions so that you have even less to worry about. We will make updates as necessary based on our findings. We work closely with each client to determine the best course of action when creating a cybersecurity solution package. Our staff is always more than happy to answer questions and provide insight that will improve your understanding of the climate around you. We are just a call away at 1.949.215.8889.


Training Is Essential

Training is absolutely essential when it comes to protecting yourself against cyberattacks. The entire team needs to be trained on technologies to understand the process. You want all data to be entered in the same way in the same place so that it is secure and easy to find. You must train the team on specific processes, technologies, and policies to ensure that everyone in the company is on the same page. Create a very clear hierarchy of access and outline who can access what, when, why, and how. The more uniformly a task is done, the less likely it is to get messed up. Train employees enough that the procedures become second nature. If you rely on certain nomenclature, drill it into the team repeatedly. If you have a strict policy about changing passwords every x-amount of weeks, be sure to follow through if it's not done. You can also consider training the higher-ups to access and interpret the data from the Cyber Watch Portal so that all responsibility is not sitting solely on your shoulders. Our portal is extremely user-friendly and was designed specifically to make your life easier. With the right training, anyone from your team can take the helm and keep watch for problems or security breaks.


It is possible to close the gap between the known and unknown cybersecurity gaps in organizations of any size. We can create custom solutions that bring areas of your company to life that you never looked into before. Our experts will help you identify areas of weakness and will work with you to implement effective and long-lasting solutions. No matter what size your company is, we can help you improve your cybersecurity to protect against hacks. Give us a call at 1.949.215.8889 to speak to our team, or visit https://cytellix.com/ to learn more about us. We look forward to hearing from you soon! 


Cytellix has expert capabilities in cybersecurity technology, risk management frameworks (RMF, NIST, CMMC, GDPR, FFIEC, ISO) and provides a complete visibility platform that supports: DoD customers, DIB Customers, DoD Supply Chain, and other highly regulated industries (Finance, Automotive, Utilities, State and Local Government).  Our technology stack includes SIEM as Service, 24x7 SOC, Vulnerability Management, Real-time continuous cyber monitoring, Firewall Management, and threat hunting and threat correlation.

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The Clock is Ticking for CMMC 2.0: Here’s Everything You Need to Know – START NOW

By Brian Berger • August 23, 2023
The Department of Defense (DoD) has formally presented the CMMC regulation for official evaluation, marking the start of its journey toward formal announcement. Every regulation proposed by the executive branch, including this one, undergoes scrutiny by OIRA, a division of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The significance of this step is that the previously mentioned "delays" in the CMMC process were due to the time taken for the DoD to forward the rule to OIRA. With this action now taken, the subsequent stages of the rulemaking procedure are underway. Nevertheless, due to the intricate nature of federal rulemaking, several more stages need to be navigated before the CMMC becomes a part of contracts. The following scenarios should be considered for preparation for compliance and certification for the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Scenario 1: Proposed Rule Submission to OIRA: The Department of Defense (DoD) has officially submitted the CMMC rule for regulatory review to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Review and Publication: After OIRA's review, which takes an average of 66 business days, the CMMC rule is expected to be published in late October 2023. Public Comment Period: A standard 60-day public comment period will follow, ending in December 2023. Finalization: The CMMC rule will be published as a "proposed rule", which means it will only become effective after the agency responds to public comments in a final rule. Based on historical data, the average time for DoD proposed rules to be published as final rules is 333 business days. This means the CMMC final rule is expected between February and April 2025 . Phased Roll-Out: The DoD plans a 3-year phased roll-out for CMMC contract clauses. Assuming the final rule is published in Q1 2025, all relevant DoD contracts will contain CMMC by 2028. Scenario 2: Interim Final Rule Immediate Effectiveness : If the CMMC rule is published as an "interim final rule", it will be effective before the agency responds to public comments . This means the rule would be in effect and appear in contracts in Q1 2024 . Rarity of Interim Final Rules: Such rules are rare and bypass the usual democratic process of "notice and comment" rulemaking. They are typically granted in urgent situations, like the need to enhance national security. So when should you start preparing? Before we start with the background and changes, let’s talk about the "Big Elephant” in the room. Clearly, the updated compliance and certification process developed by the DoD and the non-profit organization liaisons has been long overdue with a lot of anticipated deadlines that never materialized. And with the latest announcements it does seem to be mildly reminiscent of the movie comedy and colloquial meaning of Groundhog Day. Since the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry I found humor in relativity, not cynicism. Opinion: This is different and the information we have in the DoD supply chain must be protected from our adversaries. This is a serious issue and needs clear and precise guidelines as the supply chain will not spend money on the protection of the information that protects national security unless they must as it is deemed as a complex undertaking. That’s an unfortunate reality. We have seen the start and restart of the cyber programs for DoD for the past 5-years, what makes this different? The implementation of the CMMC rule in contracts will be phased in over a period of 3 years, with all relevant DoD Defense Industrial Base (DIB) contracts containing CMMC by 2028. For a company with 50-100 employees operating in the DoD supply chain, it takes an average of 12-18 months to prepare for assessment and audit for eventual certification, with certification being the ultimate requirement for compliance. Therefore, the time is now to start the process if you plan to hold government contracts in 2024/2025. There are also varied flow down requirements that need to also be taken into consideration. Understanding Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) There is now the ability to present interim status vs 100% compliance as we have with the current DFARS and NIST requirements. These interim reports can be handled in the traditional manner by presenting a Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) that have a less than 180-day completion date for allowed baseline gaps. Unallowed gaps will have a “No POAM” designation and need to be implemented. If you have any doubts, work with a highly skilled 3 rd party who has expertise in these standards and a track record of enabling comprehensive successful standards-based cyber programs. The information presented by the suppliers in POAM’s or claiming 100% compliance will be evaluated and can and will likely trigger audits if certain high-level cyber controls are not met or the 100% compliance score creates suspicion of a false claim. Be careful to present accurate and validated information. So, what does this all mean? You must be compliant with DFARS clause 252.204.7012 and NIST 800-171 today. This is a requirement of your current contracts, and the False Claims Act applies to all cyber compliance representations. If you are not compliant, you could be subject to civil penalties and criminal charges. You need to start preparing for CMMC 2.0 today. The deadline for the final rule is 18 months from now, and it will take an average company in the DoD supply chain 12-18 months to become assessment ready. Waiting is not an option. Waiting is a bad idea. Why you ask? It is very clear that most suppliers and Small and Medium Businesses are not cyber ready and nowhere near compliant with any cyber framework. The timeframe for a typical business to understand, develop and implement full compliance is more than 1-year assuming they have the skills and personnel to complete the objectives. CMMC 2.0 clearly aligns with DFARS and NIST, so it is the best way to protect your organization's sensitive data. Don't delay, start preparing today! *If you have any questions, please reach out to our experts – [email protected]