Understanding Virginia's OMB A-11 for Government and Defense Cybersecurity

 

In Virginia's government and defense sectors, OMB Circular A-11 provides specific guidance for budgeting, planning, and executing cybersecurity initiatives within state agencies and defense contractors that work with federal entities.

 

What is OMB A-11 in the Virginia Context?

 

OMB Circular A-11 is a federal directive from the Office of Management and Budget that has been adapted and implemented specifically for Virginia state agencies and defense contractors. It outlines how cybersecurity funding should be requested, allocated, and reported, with particular emphasis on Virginia's unique position as home to critical defense and intelligence infrastructure.

 

Key Virginia-Specific Requirements

 

• Commonwealth Information Security Program - Virginia agencies must align their cybersecurity budget requests with the Commonwealth's Information Security Program requirements, which exceed federal baseline standards in several areas
• Virginia National Guard Cyber Battalion Integration - Defense contractors must outline coordination plans with Virginia's specialized National Guard Cyber Battalion for incident response scenarios
• Northern Virginia Technology Corridor Compliance - Special provisions apply to agencies and contractors operating within the NoVA technology corridor due to proximity to federal agencies
• Virginia Cyber Range Participation - State agencies must allocate funding for cybersecurity workforce development through the Virginia Cyber Range program
• Hampton Roads Maritime Cybersecurity - Defense contractors in this region must include specialized maritime cybersecurity provisions in their budget planning

 

Virginia's OMB A-11 Cybersecurity Budget Cycle

 

• September - Virginia-specific cybersecurity risk assessments completed
• October - Initial budget requests due to Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA)
• December - VITA reviews and recommends adjustments
• February - Final cybersecurity budget submissions aligned with Commonwealth Security Standards
• July - New fiscal year implementation begins with Virginia-specific reporting requirements

 

Virginia-Specific Cybersecurity Investment Categories

 

• Critical Infrastructure Protection - Focused on Virginia's unique mix of energy, transportation, and defense facilities
• Election Systems Security - Virginia-specific requirements for voting system security that exceed federal standards
• Commonwealth Data Protection - Specialized requirements for protecting Virginia citizen data across state systems
• Defense Industrial Base Coordination - Requirements for coordination between defense contractors and state agencies
• Virginia Fusion Center Integration - Budget allocations for cyber threat intelligence sharing with Virginia's fusion center

 

Key Differences from Federal OMB A-11

 

• Virginia Executive Order 19 - Requires additional security measures beyond federal baselines for critical infrastructure
• Commonwealth Authentication Framework (CAF) - Virginia-specific identity management requirements that must be budgeted separately
• Virginia-specific supply chain risk management - Additional vetting for technology vendors operating in the Commonwealth
• Regional reporting structures - Alignment with Virginia's geographic cybersecurity zones (Northern, Central, Tidewater, Southwest)

 

Common Compliance Challenges in Virginia

 

• Dual federal and state requirements - Virginia defense contractors must navigate both sets of standards
• VITA oversight coordination - Virginia's centralized IT agency has specific documentation requirements
• Commonwealth Security Standards - Often more prescriptive than federal counterparts
• Regional variance - Different requirements based on agency location within Virginia's cybersecurity regions

 

Steps for Virginia Agencies to Comply with OMB A-11

 

• Conduct a Virginia-specific risk assessment using the Commonwealth's Security Assessment Framework
• Complete the Virginia Cybersecurity Expenditure Worksheet categorizing investments by Commonwealth-specific categories
• Document compliance with Virginia-specific requirements including the Commonwealth Security Manual
• Submit through the Virginia eBudget system with appropriate security classification markings
• Prepare quarterly reports for the Virginia Cybersecurity Commission on implementation progress

 

Resources for Virginia Organizations

 

• Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) - Provides Virginia-specific guidance on implementing OMB A-11 requirements
• Virginia Cyber Security Partnership - Public-private collaboration for defense contractors in the Commonwealth
• Virginia Cybersecurity Training and Exercises - State-run programs to ensure staff readiness
• Commonwealth Security Assessment Framework - Virginia's tool for evaluating cybersecurity posture

 

By understanding these Virginia-specific aspects of OMB A-11, government agencies and defense contractors can properly align their cybersecurity budgeting and planning to meet both Commonwealth and federal requirements while protecting Virginia's unique critical infrastructure.