Data breaches and ransomware incidents in global enterprise corporations make the biggest headlines, but small businesses are the most at risk from cyber threats. The cost to a small business from a cyber attack can quickly add up and become ruinous to short-term and long-term goals.
For example, in 2024, a data breach could cost small businesses anywhere between $120,000 and $1.24 million, factoring in not only direct financial damage but also loss of revenue, higher insurance premiums, penalties for non-compliance, stolen intellectual property, or reputational damage. The greater the financial damage done, the harder it will be to recover—if at all.
For a small business, cybersecurity is essential. But for small contractors in the defense sector, preventing and mitigating cyber attacks is especially crucial, because it’s not just your data at risk, it’s your clients’ data—and in the Defense Industrial Base, that client includes the US military and its allies. That is why the DoD’s standards for cyber compliance are so stringent.
In this blog post, our experts weigh in on the five ways you can improve cyber and information security for your small business by building a better, more resilient, and more responsive cybersecurity culture.
What Is a Cybersecurity Culture for Small Defense Contractors?
Defense contractors and subcontractors large and small alike are required to adhere to cybersecurity best practices, as outlined in the CMMC 2.0 level specified by their DoD contracts. Smaller businesses typically must meet foundational Level 1 or advanced Level 2 compliance requirements, depending on the type of sensitive data they handle.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework sets out what security controls a small business’s cybersecurity practices should include. Successfully implementing these controls and protecting your business, though, starts with your organization’s culture.
“Businesses can adopt a cybersecurity culture by cultivating cyber awareness and best practices in their everyday processes, procedures, and practices.” – Elizabeth Guezzale, Cask Government Services
A strong cybersecurity culture is the bedrock on which your CMMC compliance—and your ability to remain competitive as a small defense contractor—rests. To build your small business’s cybersecurity culture, start by:
1. Setting the Tone From the Top
Organizational culture-building can be spearheaded by employees, but to succeed, it requires a top-down approach as well. Cybersecurity culture for defense contractors is no different. Your organization’s leaders have a responsibility to not only communicate the importance of cybersecurity best practices to all employees, but also see to it that you have enough resources allocated to effectively implement necessary cybersecurity practices.
2. Training Employees for Cybersecurity Awareness
Cyber criminals succeed by targeting the weakest parts of your organization’s network—and the weakest part is usually the human element. An employee who isn’t aware of what a phishing email looks like could unwittingly give a bad actor access to your network. Regular mandatory training, including simulated mock cyber threat exercises, helps your employees recognize these threats so cyber criminals cannot use their ignorance to gain access.
Tailor your training and awareness program to the appropriate level of the CMMC 2.0 framework to ensure compliance with your contracts as well as protection from cyber threats.
3. Drafting Clear Policies and Procedures
Make sure everybody in your organization understands how to handle sensitive data such as FCI (Federal Contract Information) and CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information), access your network, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Your policies should map directly to the CMMC control requirements specified by your contracts.
Thorough documentation of your policies, protocols, and guidelines is an essential part of cybersecurity culture for small defense contractors. Everybody in your organization should be able to readily access information telling them how to follow proper cybersecurity procedures, including how to respond to incidents to minimize damage if they do occur.
4. Embedding Security in Your Business Processes
A strong and stable cybersecurity culture needs to touch every part of your organization. All new projects, systems, and processes need to incorporate cybersecurity decisions from page one, and both new and existing programs and projects need regular audits to ensure they remain cyber compliant.
5. Recognizing Cybersecurity Success
Cybersecurity culture thrives on not just spotting and stopping bad security practices, but also rewarding good security. In fact, positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal for promoting and strengthening your small business’s cybersecurity posture.
Reward good behavior by employees who demonstrate strong cybersecurity practices and use their example to advocate for incorporating cybersecurity best practices into your daily work routines.
Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Culture With Cask
Fraud, in the form of phishing and other social engineering tactics, is one of the biggest cybersecurity risks organizations of all shapes and sizes face. However, a strong culture of cybersecurity in your small business gives potential fraudsters fewer footholds in your network. By taking the above steps to prevent cybersecurity fraud in your small organization, you minimize your risks of incurring the heavy costs of data breaches and other cyber attacks—and maintain a CMMC compliant culture that keeps you competitive in the Defense Industrial Base.
With years of experience as a CMMC consultant for both small businesses and top-tier enterprise defense contractors, Cask is here to help you achieve CMMC readiness and build a strong cybersecurity culture so you can protect your business, win contracts, and grow. Contact us today to get started.