“Cyber Hygiene”:  you know the term, but what does it really mean? Some say it is an ill-defined set of practices for individuals to follow (or ignore). Others say it is a measure of an organization’s overall commitment to security.  Still, others think of “cyber hygiene” as simple, readily available technologies and practices for cybersecurity.

To improve the federal government’s cybersecurity posture, the Department of Homeland Security created the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program.  On September 6, the House of Representatives voted to codify CDM, and barely two weeks later, the White House’s National Cyber Strategy assigned to DHS still more authority over cybersecurity in the United States.  What’s more, government contractors are winning 9- and 10-figure CDM contracts, so it’s clear that CDM’s time has come.