Benefits of 800-171 Support in Northern Virginia
When the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released their special publication (SP) 800-171, they took an important step to prevent security breaches for government contractors.
If you’re a non-federal agency that works with government data, you’re required to comply with the regulations this publication outlines. NIST SP 800-171 applies to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), so any devices or systems that house or transfer this information need to maintain compliance.
When you work with an experienced consultant to provide NIST 800-171 support, your business in Northern Virginia benefits. Here’s how.
Protect Your Data
800-171 requirements outline basic security measures to protect CUI, but in doing so, help protect your own data as well.
Most companies should already have procedures such as those outlined in 800-171 in place. Without these measures, you increase your risk for cyberattacks in addition to legal ramifications from non-compliance for your government contracts.
800-171 protects sensitive information by requiring fundamental controls such as:
- Allowing only authorized users access to systems and devices that contain CUI.
- Conducting security awareness trainings so employees better understand their role in network protection.
- Mandating regular system maintenance that could resolve existing security issues.
These are steps any smart business in Northern VA would take to secure their networks!
Build Customer Trust
In the event of a security breach, you may be found to be in non-compliance if you neglected the measures outlined in the publication to prevent such an infraction. You could lose your funding, not to mention your customers and your reputation.
Taking advantage of 800-171 support can keep your reputation secure by preventing data breaches. A strong reputation can help you build relationships with your clients and keep your business moving forward.
Customers lose trust if you’ve sustained a cyberattack that’s compromised their information, not to mention onboarding new customers will be particularly difficult.
By maintaining compliance, you can not only keep your funding but keep your customers and your reputation as well.
Prevent Costly Downtime
A cyberattack could render your networks inoperable until you can appropriately respond to the incident. By applying NIST 800-171 controls, you can prevent such an attack in the first place.
In the event that the attack was unavoidable, 800-171 controls can minimize the impact and help you be more prepared to handle and recover from a breach.
By regularly scanning for vulnerabilities and assessing the effectiveness of your implemented controls, you can patch holes with the support of an experienced provider in Northern VA and prevent downtime, ultimately saving your company money.
Market Your Security as an Asset
It’s no secret that companies both large and small have experienced data breaches.
With 800-171 measures in place, you can market your business by showing that you take your customers’ data seriously. Clients will be more likely to do business with you knowing that you’ve fulfilled and maintain requirements that help protect sensitive information.
Being security conscious is absolutely an asset. Letting your customers know that their information is safe with you can increase conversions and build loyalty.
Working with a Provider
Maintaining compliance with 800-171 support from a provider in Northern Virginia is highly recommended in the event that you aren’t sure how to implement or maintain these controls.
A consultant who’s experienced with the 800-171 standards can help you successfully meet the requirements. Working with a professional is often the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to be sure your security measures align with those of the publication.
Contact us at Solvere One today to learn more about how our team can help your business see the benefits of 800-171 compliance with the right support!