How to Secure Your ComplyUp for DFARS and Get the DFARS Badge/Seal

 

If your organization works with the Department of Defense (DoD) or handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), understanding DFARS compliance is critical. DFARS stands for Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. It requires organizations to meet cybersecurity standards set by NIST SP 800-171. Using ComplyUp makes meeting these requirements smoother, but you must take concrete steps to achieve full security and get the DFARS compliance badge or seal.

• Understand DFARS/NIST SP 800-171 Requirements: DFARS requires you to implement 110 security controls for protecting CUI. Controls cover access management, encryption, incident response, audit logging, and personnel training. Review each control to see how your current environment matches up.
• Use ComplyUp Effectively: ComplyUp is a platform designed to simplify DFARS/NIST 800-171 compliance. Ensure all organizational data is entered, assign team members to individual controls, and document evidence for every control. ComplyUp’s dynamic dashboards help track your compliance progression.
• Gap Assessment is Step One: Run a self-assessment inside ComplyUp to identify gaps between your current practices and DFARS requirements. This process—called a gap analysis—shows where you’re already compliant and what you still have to fix.
• Remediate Gaps with Action Plans: For every unmet requirement, develop a Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) inside ComplyUp. Assign tasks, set deadlines, and clearly document how and when you’ll meet each security control.
• System Security Plan (SSP): Document your security policies, procedures, and technical details in an SSP. This must describe how every DFARS/NIST control is met. ComplyUp helps you structure the SSP for easy auditing.
• Continuous Monitoring and Updating: DFARS compliance isn’t a one-time event. Use ComplyUp to monitor access logs, vulnerabilities, staff training schedules, and perform regular self-checks.
• Prepare for Third-Party or DoD Audits: For the official DFARS badge/seal, you may need an independent assessment. Make sure you have:
  • Documented evidence in ComplyUp (screenshots, policies, access lists for each requirement)
  • POAMs showing progress on incomplete items
  • Regularly updated SSP
• Get Expert Help: If you feel overwhelmed or have complex infrastructure, organizations like OCD Tech can provide consulting and readiness assessments. They’ll review your ComplyUp work, conduct mock audits, and help prepare you for actual DFARS evaluations.

Requirements for Passing Audits and Getting the DFARS Badge/Seal:

• Demonstrate implementation of all 110 controls—either in full or with mitigation in POAMs
• Complete and current SSP/POAM documentation easily accessible in ComplyUp
• Show tangible evidence of each control: policy docs, screenshots, logs, training records
• Evidence of risk assessments, patch management, and incident response processes
• Engage a reputable third-party like OCD Tech for validation or gap analysis, if needed

Most Important Steps to Pass the DFARS Audit:

• All controls must be either met or have an active remediation plan
• Document everything in real time—not just before an audit
• Prepare team members for interviews (auditors may ask end-users about daily security practices)
• Proactively remediate outstanding vulnerabilities as soon as possible

If you need outside help with readiness or using ComplyUp, experts like OCD Tech have deep experience in guiding companies to DFARS compliance and the official badge/seal. It’s better to check before auditors arrive than after a failed review.