For Department of Defense (DoD) entities and contractors, annual information awareness training is essential to minimizing information security risks to the critical infrastructure they handle. Unaddressed threats to sensitive data within critical infrastructure could significantly impact national security. Read on to learn more.
Your Guide to DoD Annual Information Awareness Training
As a DoD entity or contractor, you need to understand the scope of the annual information awareness training requirements and which ones apply to your organization. So, this blog will:
- Provide an overview of DOD annual information awareness training
- Outline the DOD information security annual training requirements
- Describe the benefits of cyber awareness annual training for CMMC compliance
Compliance with the annual information awareness training requirements will help you stay ahead of cybercriminals targeting defense information. With the expertise of a CMMC partner, you can optimize your DOD annual information awareness training program and strengthen your overall data security posture.
What is DoD Annual Information Awareness Training?
Any DoD entity or contractor that handles controlled unclassified information (CUI) is required to implement DOD annual information awareness training for its staff who have access to systems containing the CUI. Although CUI is not considered classified information, wrongful and unauthorized access to its contents can threaten national security.
Categories of CUI include:
- Critical infrastructure data related to nuclear, defense, and natural resources
- Financial data related to tax records, patents, and sensitive financial disclosures
- Documentation about international agreements connected to immigration and trade
- Intelligence and global law enforcement
- Data collected from various local and international government agencies
DOD annual information awareness training is essential for staff who come into frequent contact with CUI categories, such as administrative, legal, and managerial staff. Certain military personnel who have access to documents containing CUI while on active duty may also be required to undergo information security annual training.
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DoD Annual Information Awareness Training Requirements
DoD 8570.01-M provides an exhaustive list of annual information awareness training requirements. In general, the DoD 8570.01-M requires all DoD entities and contractors to:
- Remain responsible for securing access to assets containing CUI
- Understand their roles and responsibilities when protecting CUI categories
- Implement ongoing, up-to-date training for all staff with access to CUI
- Rely on the resources provided by the Defense Information Security Agency (DISA) for all training support
- Comply with all necessary DoD information security annual training standards
- Verify that users with access to sensitive CUI environments have received information security annual training
When implementing a DOD annual information awareness training, your goal is to ensure:
- Staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting CUI from threats and vulnerabilities
- Any poorly managed but avoidable risks to CUI can impact national security
- Complete reliance on the guidance provided by the DISA and other DoD training resources
Beyond DOD annual information awareness training, you will likely need to remain compliant with the CMMC control requirements to fully safeguard CUI from security and privacy risks.
Let’s review the CMMC and why it’s important for safeguarding defense information.
What is the CMMC Framework?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework was developed to help all DoD entities, contractors, and other stakeholders within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) handle CUI and other sensitive forms of defense information.
The CMMC is a comprehensive framework comprising controls from:
Evaluation of CMMC compliance is based on maturity levels, which depend on the types of defense information you handle. Entities that handle federal contract information (FCI) will most likely require Level 1 CMMC certification whereas those handling CUI will require Level 3 CMMC certification or higher.
At the higher levels of CMMC certification, DoD entities achieve robust protections.
For contractors, CMMC compliance and subsequent certification helps you to renew your contracts and possibly be awarded other lucrative contracts. DOD annual information awareness training will most likely play a critical part in your journey to CMMC certification.
CMMC Compliance and Annual Information Awareness Training
The road to CMMC certification starts with implementing the controls stipulated by the CMMC, getting audited by a CMMC-approved external auditor, and finally—becoming CMMC certified. Ensuring your staff receives annual information awareness training is critical to long-term CMMC compliance and certification.
Achieving a fully functional DoD annual information awareness training program starts with implementing the recommended DISA training procedures. With the help of a CMMC compliance specialist, you can streamline all aspects of cyber awareness annual training.
Learn More About CMMC Cyber Awareness Training
Whether you’re currently a DoD entity or contractor or looking to apply for a DoD contract, annual information awareness training will help you safeguard sensitive defense information. Working with a CMMC partner like RSI Security will help you hit the ground running in no time.
To learn more, contact RSI Security today!