The Great Equalizer: How Civilian CUI Reform Reshapes the Federal Contracting Landscape

For over a decade, we've operated in a bifurcated federal contracting environment. Defense contractors operated under the rigorous NIST SP 800-171 framework, while civilian contractors enjoyed more flexible requirements. This disparity created an unintended consequence: a two-tier system where sensitive information received varying levels of protection based solely on which agency controlled it. The new FAR CUI Rule eliminates this dichotomy, acknowledging a crucial reality: in today's interconnected digital landscape, a breach in any federal system can compromise the entire government's security posture.