IT firm helps MO defense contractors navigate new cyber security requirements

Experts fear some companies may not be prepared to meet DoD standards
IT firm helps defense contractors navigate cyber security requirements
Photo credit Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - Thousands of jobs in Missouri are tied to Department of Defense contracts. New requirements for cyber security are putting increased pressure on those companies.

KMOX Virtual Consumer Editor Megan Lynch discovered concerns that some may not be ready.

"From our own internal surveys, we know that about 75 percent of those folks that have participated say that they are unsure of what they are supposed to be doing," explains Elizabeth Niedringhaus, President and CEO of SSE, a St. Louis based cybersecurity, IT and training firm.

SSE has partnered with the Missouri Association of Manufacturers to help defense contractors and sub-contractors comply with a 110 point cybersecurity checklist required by the DoD.

"For small and mid-sized organizations where, let's face it, manufacturing is their business, not IT or cyber security, it's a bigger reach for them to get all of the systems in place."

Niedringhaus says failure to comply could put critical defense information at risk, as well as cost Missouri companies contracts.

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