Reduce Risk and Secure Your Government Contracts
If you’re in the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain, you may be subject to Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS) / NIST SP 800-171 requirements. DFARS compliance is required of any companies that, “Process, store or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information.” Failure to comply can cause the termination of your DoD contracts.
Polaris MEP can help you determine whether you need to comply with DFARS requirements and how best to achieve compliance. This includes completion of your Security Assessment as well as creation and implementation of your System Security Plan and Plan of Action.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the manufacturing industry is the second most targeted industry based on the number of reported cyber attacks.
Pat Toth
Cybersecurity Program Manager, NIST MEP
Your Biggest Challenges Solved
Grow Sales
Market Competitiveness
Standards Compliance
How We Help
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Self-assessment of your systems’ security against the NIST SP 800-171 controls can be time consuming and challenging. We can facilitate your process, making everything simple and straightforward.
PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Polaris MEP’s DFARS specialists can make the development of your key documentation (System Security Plan and Plan of Action) painless and efficient.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Our policy templates can help provide you with a starting point for addressing the requirements of NIST SP 800-171 — AND can be customized to your systems and needs.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Once policies have been established, we provide cybersecurity awareness training for your employees.
Compliance Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
- Efficient and accurate self-assessments
- Comprehensive and protective System Security Plans
- Clear Plans of Action that close the compliance gap
Related
Providence Business First: Supply Chain help for RI manufacturers
Mary Serreze of the Providence Business First reports that small-to-medium Rhode Island manufacturers in need of supply chain help will get free assistance from Polaris MEP. Polaris MEP is Rhode Islands' manufacturing extension partnership centers of the National...
Providence Business News: Christian Cowan
The Providence Business News profiles Christian Cowan, a PBN Leaders & Achievers 2023. Cowan, director of Polaris MEP, works to support the growth and evolution of the Rhode Island manufacturing community. Christian Cowan began his career by learning about...
Extrusion Machine Manufacturer Reaching Innovation Goals with MEP Center Connections & Support
Company Profile US Extruders manufactures custom single screw extruders, extrusion systems and screws for plastic, rubber & silicone. Each machine or project is a user-focused design, built to unique specs. The machine manufacturer operates a 47,700 sq ft facility...
Cybersecurity breaches aren’t just for large businesses. No business is too small to be hacked. Over 70% of reported breaches actually affected businesses with 100 employees or less. You might be surprised to learn that represents over 90% of Rhode Island manufacturers!
Christian Cowan
URI Research Foundation
Category: Cybersecurity
Key Hires and Staff Moves Strengthen the Position of the URI Research Foundation in Supporting RI Economic Growth
Providence, RI – September 28, 2020 – The URI Research Foundation (URIRF) is evolving and expanding with the hiring of two executives and the transition of two leaders into new roles. The moves will strengthen URIRF’s initiatives including Polaris MEP, Rhode Island’s...
Manufacturers: Stop Chasing the Latest Training Fad!
As COVID-19 has presented new challenges to Rhode Island manufacturers, some of them have remarked to Polaris MEP that it would be great to have something "new," some sort of "innovative" training that would magically help them make up for lost time. My answer? Stop...
Strengthen Cybersecurity and Prevent Waste With This NIST MEP Equipment Pre-Purchase Guide
By Polaris MEP National Network Partner Celia Paulsen A survey from 2014 found that small and medium-sized manufacturers do not like to compromise on quality when it comes to communications devices, vehicles or tea (yes tea – the survey respondents were probably...
How Manufacturing Companies (Can) Do Turnarounds
By Polaris MEP Partner Josh Chernin, Business Improvement Group Much of the advice thrown at manufacturing companies these days is about pivots. Pivoting companies retain much of the original elements of their organization but change others. For example, many Rhode...
401 Tech Bridge Completes $6 Million Funding Round to Accelerate Advanced Materials & Technologies
PORTSMOUTH, RI, August 18, 2020 – Polaris MEP sister agency 401 Tech Bridge has announced thecompletion of a $6 million funding round, which will accelerate collaborative technology commercialization, increase jobs and aid the regional economic recovery. A recently...
Providence Business News: Poll Shows Skilled Workers Key to Manufacturing Recovery
A new poll by Polaris MEP shows sales continue to be the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island manufacturers, and half of the respondents said “workforce/people” are crucial to a faster recovery from the coronavirus crisis, reported the Providence Business News....
National PPE Programs and Opportunities for Rhode Island Manufacturers
Note: Mary Johnson, formerly Growth and Strategy Manager for Polaris MEP, leads the 401 Tech Bridge and the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network. The Department of Defense COVID-19 Joint Acquisition Task Force recently organized a "virtual information day" for...
RI Manufacturing Leaders Say Workforce AND Technology Needed to “Reboot” Manufacturing Post-COVID
Polaris MEP Survey Explores What Is Required to Accelerate Manufacturing Sector Recovery Providence, RI – July 27, 2020 – A new poll by Polaris MEP shows Sales continue to be the greatest challenge currently facing the Rhode Island’s manufacturers. The survey also...
Assembly Magazine: MEP Success Stories Round-Up
Polaris MEP helped Antaya Technologies achieve IATF 16949:2016 certification. John Sprovieri of Assembly Magazine reports on this and other Manufacturing Extension Partnership success stories from around the United States. Click here to read the story, published July...
Polaris MEP Recognized in Rhode Island Inno’s “50 On Fire.”
Polaris MEP has been recognized by Rhode Island Inno for our work to support local manufacturers and Rhode Island’s economy.




