May 26, 2026
POA&M for NIST 800-171, anatomy of a defensible plan of action
What a Plan of Action and Milestones actually contains, why assessors read it before the System Security Plan and how to build one that holds up under prime contractor and DoD review.
May 25, 2026
SPRS score, what the number means and how to move it
How the DoD Supplier Performance Risk System scores NIST 800-171 compliance, why most sub-contractors come in negative the first time and how to sequence the work to climb.
May 23, 2026
FCI vs CUI: the inventory question every sub-contractor avoids
What the distinction between Federal Contract Information and Controlled Unclassified Information means in practice, and why getting the inventory right determines whether you owe 15 controls or 110.
May 21, 2026
Bakery customer audit deep dive: when the branded customer sends a 60 question security review
How small and mid-market bakeries answer a 60 question supplier security audit from a branded national customer without missing the renewal window.
May 19, 2026
Peanut and nut processing cybersecurity: FSMA, food defense and allergen segregation
Cybersecurity for peanut, tree nut and seed processors operating under FDA FSMA: allergen segregation system integrity, food defense plan IT alignment and customer-audit readiness.
May 16, 2026
Meat and poultry processing cybersecurity under USDA FSIS
Cybersecurity for meat and poultry processors operating under USDA FSIS continuous inspection: OT segmentation, FSIS reporting, recall posture and customer-audit readiness.
May 14, 2026
Dairy processing cybersecurity: OT, cold chain and USDA reporting
What dairy processors should expect from a cybersecurity program: OT segmentation, cold-chain monitoring resilience, USDA FSIS reporting and customer-audit readiness.
May 12, 2026
PE diligence in food processing: what sponsors look for
The 10 cybersecurity diligence items that move price or kill deals in food processing PE transactions. Where dairy, meat and nut processors typically fail.
May 5, 2026
When the customer security audit visit lands, a manufacturer's prep playbook
What changes when an enterprise customer's security team books an on-site or remote audit visit at a mid-market manufacturer, and how to be ready before the calendar invite arrives.
May 5, 2026
Detroit, PE portfolio cybersecurity in the sponsor-office corridor
Why the Detroit metro's sponsor-office density makes portfolio-company cybersecurity a different operating problem than it is in lower-density PE markets, and what works.
May 5, 2026
Walking through a customer security questionnaire, section by section
What enterprise customers are actually measuring when they send a vendor security questionnaire, and how to answer each section without overpromising or underselling.
April 19, 2026
OT cybersecurity for mid-market manufacturers
Why operational technology needs a cybersecurity program distinct from corporate IT, what the IEC 62443 framework expects and how a mid-market manufacturer should sequence the work.
April 19, 2026
NIST 800-171: the 110 controls and which ones eat the budget
A practical breakdown of the NIST 800-171 control families, which controls take the most effort for small and mid-market organizations and how to sequence the 90-120 day compliance arc.