Media Contacts:
DEO Communications, 850.245.7110
Zoraida Velasco, FloridaMakes, 407.430.7714
August 5, 2020
Orlando, Fla. – The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has awarded funding to FloridaMakes from a grant it received from the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), for the creation of the Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Program.Funding will be used to administer programs and trainings that assist small and medium-sized defense contractors in becoming aware and compliant with the DoD’s Regulations for Cybersecurity, including the DoD’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards for cybersecurity.
FloridaMakes will work with DEO to conduct a series of educational and engagement events and training modules for companies within Florida’s defense industrial base and provide Cyber Physical Security (CPS) assessments for small and medium manufacturers in the defense supply chain. Making use of curriculum and best practices developed through its partnership with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network, FloridaMakes will support greater awareness of and ability to comply with the DoD’s cybersecurity requirements of the DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP800-171 R1, and the CMMC. The Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Program will assist in strengthening, protecting and growing Florida’s aerospace and defense supply chains.
To help strengthen the Defense Industrial Base against cyber attacks, the DoD introduced the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) in January 2020. The new model requires that all DoD contractors be certified at one of five levels by an approved certification body after completing an independent audit process. Beginning at the end of this year, the DoD will start requiring CMMC compliance in the RFP process on selected contracts, with full implementation on all DoD contracts expected within 5 years.
“Small manufacturers in the defense supply chain are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks due to limited awareness and access to cyber-defense resources,” said Kevin Carr, Chief Executive Officer of FloridaMakes. “This training program will provide guidance to these companies on how to manage risk, improve resiliency and respond to breaches.”
Florida’s military and defense industry has a $95 billion annual economic impact. The defense sector also provides 914,787 jobs in Florida and constitutes approximately 9% of the state economy. Florida is the 4th largest recipient for Defense Contracts in the US with over 17.5 billion dollars in awarded grants annually. Defense spending creates jobs in EVERY county in Florida.
FloridaMakes and DEO will conduct statewide educational events on the CMMC and its impact on the Florida Defense Industry at regional Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Programs. Register for the upcoming events or find more information on these virtual conferences here.
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About DEO
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit FloridaJobs.org.
About FloridaMakes
FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida's regional manufacturers associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. It accomplishes this by providing services focused on three principle value streams: technology adoption, talent development, and business growth. FloridaMakes is the representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in the state of Florida, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information about FloridaMakes, please visit FloridaMakes.com and follow @FloridaMakes.
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