The Importance of a Company’s Supplier Performance Risk System Score (SPRS)
Across the globe, threats continue to evolve and multiply. The cybersecurity industry is at the forefront of the movement to address those risks. The Department of Defense (DoD) has increased efforts to safeguard United States intellectual property within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). This led to a new era of cybersecurity standards, labeled the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). A key component of DoD compliance is the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) score. This self-assessment lets companies prove their cybersecurity awareness to the DoD before an in-person assessment can be conducted.
Why Organizations Need a SPRS Score
An organization’s SPRS score is necessary for three crucial reasons:
- cybersecurity risk mitigation
- competitive advantage
- resource optimization.
These aspects of operations are vital to innovation and growth, and can therefore separate an organization from its competition. Maximizing the utilization of SPRS scores can help your company prepare for the future by implementing a robust standard of policies that give prime and subcontractors an advantage when bidding on contracts involving Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
A favorable SPRS score indicates a hardened cybersecurity posture, therefore minimizing potential risks within the organization’s supply chain. The security and integrity of data is paramount to the DoD’s operations, and the SPRS score therefore serves as a testament to a company’s commitment to its cybersecurity. The framework required for a favorable score also provides a methodology for secure enterprise change management, ensuring continuous improvement within the organization’s environment.
Understanding the Benefit of SPRS Scores
The benefits of a strong SPRS score go beyond solidifying your organization’s cybersecurity. As the DoD seeks to further implement the CMMC architecture, organizations operating in the DIB will receive greatly increased scrutiny around their cybersecurity. It will be required for all primes and subcontractors within the DIB to provide a SPRS score if they interact with CUI or Federal Contract Information (FCI). Therefore, this requirement will propel organizations with favorable SPRS scores ahead of the competitors who neglect their cybersecurity.
Planning for the Future
By implementing the required controls, organizations will optimize auditing, create effective documentation, and reliably maintain employee awareness of cybersecurity threats. As stakeholders and partners become more aware of cybersecurity, they will place a premium on businesses who demonstrate a commitment to data protection and security. A strong SPRS score will help foster and maintain trust with partners and ensure an organization’s readiness for the future of cybersecurity.
