Cyber heroes’ verdict on DoD’s new cybersecurity rule

Fortinet Federal CTO Felipe Fernandez says the Defense Department’s proposed rule on vendor cybersecurity would impose new requirements on contractors, particularly those seeking level two or level three certification. He also notes that organizations will need to understand the cost of certification assessments, which are estimated to range from $100,000 to $20 million, according to Defense estimates. Fernandez adds that organizations must understand how their data traverses their systems and how it can be audited. The DoD is concerned specifically with federal contract information, which, if pieced together, could enable adversaries to execute advanced persistent threats against the US and its interests.