Preparing Your Nonprofit for Government Contract Compliance

Why cybersecurity consultation is more necessary than ever

The focus of many not-for-profit organizations is serving the community, fulfilling a specific mission, and creating meaningful change. The evolving digital environment has brought both opportunities and challenges to these goals. Cybersecurity threats loom large, and as new standards like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) emerge, organizations are recognizing the importance of strengthening their cybersecurity standards—not only to safeguard sensitive information but also to maintain trust with stakeholders.

What is CMMC and why does it matter?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is poised to become the most widely applied cybersecurity standard, impacting over 200,000 organizations, including nonprofits working as government contractors. It establishes cybersecurity benchmarks for protecting Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) against evolving threats. Nonprofits that engage with the Department of Defense (DoD) or handle sensitive data must prepare to meet these requirements to remain eligible for contracts.

The new cybersecurity standards mark a shift away from self-attested compliance to third-party assessments ensuring accountability and minimizing the risk of data breaches.

The importance of cybersecurity for nonprofits

Nonprofits are often viewed as “soft targets” by cybercriminals due to perceived limited resources and, in many cases, an underdeveloped cybersecurity framework. A successful cyberattack can lead to:

• Loss of donor trust: Breaches of sensitive donor or client information can damage relationships and diminish support.
• Operational disruption: Cyberattacks can paralyze operations, preventing you from delivering critical services.
• Financial loss: From ransom payments to recovery costs, the financial burden of an attack can be devastating.
• Compliance risks: Failing to meet evolving standards like CMMC could result in lost funding opportunities and legal penalties.

Assess your CMMC readiness

All Department of Defense contractors and subcontractors must comply with CMMC 2.0 to compete for and secure defense contracts. Many organizations do not have the resources needed to perform a CMMC risk assessment, identify cybersecurity gaps, and develop corrective action plans. In these cases, businesses are turning to cybersecurity consultants with knowledge of NIST and the CMMC framework. With nearly 20 years of experience in cybersecurity consulting and expertise in frameworks like NIST SP 800-171, NIST SP 800-53, and HIPAA, Keiter is uniquely positioned to guide organizations through the complexities of CMMC compliance and broader cybersecurity challenges.

If you want to learn more about our tailored cybersecurity services, Keiter’s team of cybersecurity specialists can help you. Email | Call: 804.747.0000.