The technologies that power today’s government – hardware and software alike – draw on a global supply chain that is almost unfathomably complex. (The companies that produce components for an Apple iPhone have manufacturing operations in nearly 100 countries.) And as a 2018 MITRE report warned, “Adversaries seek to counter areas of U.S. military dominance and to challenge U.S. interests in cyber domains via supply chains upon which our government, our industries, and our populace rely.”
Many agencies are daunted by the challenge of addressing such a fundamental risk, but significant steps are being taken. This FCW Briefing explored the tools already available, the policy changes being proposed, and the likely implications for both acquisition and security across the federal government.
Discussion topics included:
- DOD’s current position on supply chain security
- How existing programs can assist with supply chain visibility
- Evolving supply chain security standards
- The cost and contracting implications of improved supply chain security
- Emerging technologies that can help secure the supply chain