CISA Compliance

We Are a Full-Service CISA Compliance Law Firm

Attorney Nick Oberheiden
CISA Compliance Team Lead

The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is America’s Cyber Defense Agency. As a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it is responsible for ensuring compliance with the federal cybersecurity requirements in both the public and private sectors. Our lawyers and consultants assist private-sector organizations with all aspects of CISA compliance, from implementing necessary cybersecurity and national security protocols to affirmatively demonstrating compliance to CISA agents when necessary.

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and proliferate, protecting sensitive information is becoming ever more important for the federal government. As a result, private-sector organizations’ cybersecurity obligations are becoming more robust, and CISA and its partners are also taking a more robust approach to enforcement. The scope of CISA’s enforcement authority is extremely broad—and continuing to grow—and this makes it imperative for covered organizations, including software vendors, to work with experienced lawyers and CISA consultants who can help them do business with confidence.

Our CISA Compliance Services in the Private Sector

At Oberheiden P.C., we provide comprehensive CISA compliance services to organizations in the private sector. If your organization is subject to America’s cyber defense agency oversight, our lawyers can ensure that you have a clear and comprehensive understanding of your organization’s compliance obligations, and our CISA consultants can assist with implementing all necessary safeguards, security posture, protocols, and procedures. Among other CISA-related matters, our lawyers and consultants are available to assist with the following:

Participation in CISA’s Industry Engagement Program (IEP)
Doing business with CISA and other DHS operational components
Managing CISA compliance in connection with other government business

From compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) to protecting chemical-terrorism vulnerability information (CVI) and other highly sensitive data, organizations’ obligations to CISA can range widely. With this in mind, when representing clients with regard to CISA compliance, one of our first priorities is always to ensure that our clients identify vulnerabilities and have a clear and comprehensive understanding of their compliance obligations. Not only does this allow our clients to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities, but it also allows our clients to take an efficient approach that facilitates ongoing CISA compliance management.

In the area of CISA compliance, some examples of the specific services we provide to our clients include:

CISA Compliance Needs Assessments

As we just mentioned, our lawyers and consultants begin by assessing our clients’ CISA compliance needs. This ensures that we help our clients take all the steps necessary to satisfy CISA’s requirements without doing anything unnecessary. While we provide full-service legal representation, we also focus on educating our clients’ key stakeholders so that they can make informed decisions with their organizations’ best interests in mind.

Direct Interfacing with CISA

When necessary, we can interface directly with CISA on behalf of our clients to help facilitate applications, reviews, and other methods of engagement. We can also seek guidance from CISA on novel and complex security issues that are not adequately addressed by existing federal laws and regulations.

CISA Compliance Program Development and Documentation

Our lawyers and consultants work with all private-sector entities to help them develop custom-tailored CISA compliance programs. Our lawyers draft all necessary documentation, and our CISA consultants assist with addressing the technical and practical implications of implementing mandatory data security safeguards, including multifactor authentication.

CISA Compliance Program Implementation, Management, and Enforcement

After developing and documenting our clients’ CISA compliance programs, we then turn our focus to implementation. Once we have helped our clients with the seamless integration of their compliance programs, our lawyers and consultants remain available to provide continuous monitoring with compliance management and internal enforcement.

Response to Cyber Incidents, Breach Notifications, and Concerns

A key aspect of CISA compliance is being prepared to respond to data security incidents when they occur. History has shown that even the most robust cybersecurity protocols aren’t always enough to defeat novel threats. Our lawyers and consultants can assist with incident response, breach notifications, and other compliance-related concerns—and can do so on an emergency basis when necessary.

Again, these are just examples of the services we provide. Whether your organization already has a sophisticated CISA compliance program or needs to build a compliance program from the ground up, we can provide cost-effective advice and representation custom-tailored to your organization’s specific needs.

Dr. Nick Oberheiden

Founder

Attorney-at-Law

Lynette S. Byrd

Former DOJ Trial Attorney

Partner

Brian J. Kuester

Former U.S. Attorney

Hon. Kevin McCarthy

55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)

Government Consultant

Mike Pompeo

Of Counsel

Former U.S. Secretary of State

John W. Sellers

Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney

Linda Julin McNamara

Federal Appeals Attorney

Nicholas B. Johnson

Former Prosecutor

Roger Bach

Former Special Agent (DOJ)

Chris J. Quick

Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)

Michael S. Koslow

Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)

Ray Yuen

Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)

Why Choose Oberheiden P.C. for CISA Compliance?

The stakes are high with CISA compliance. Not only can non-compliance lead to loss of business opportunities with the federal government, but it can also expose organizations to liability for fines and other penalties. If compliance failures result in the unauthorized disclosure of employees’ or other citizens’ personal information, they can lead to costly litigation as well.

With all of this in mind, why should you choose Oberheiden P.C. for CISA compliance?

Our CISA Lawyers – All of our CISA lawyers have senior-level experience, and many have prior experience handling cybersecurity matters and critical infrastructure for the federal government at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Our Non-Lawyer CISA Consultants – Our team also includes non-lawyer CISA consultants who entered private practice after long stints in the federal government. This includes stints as Special Agents with DHS and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Our Practice Experience and Focus – Our practice focuses on federal compliance and defense. Our lawyers and non-lawyer consultants rely on their past government experience to provide clients with deep insights and practical solutions within our areas of practice.
Our Custom-Tailored Approach Focused on Efficiency – Our emphasis on providing custom-tailored legal advice and consulting services allows us to maximize the efficiency of our engagements. Our clients trust us to help them move forward quickly and confidently without incurring unnecessary legal or consulting expenses.
Your Organization’s Resources and Reputation – When it comes to CISA compliance, your organization’s reputation is truly on the line. We take a proactive approach to help conserve our clients’ resources and ensure that miscues and oversights do not jeopardize their ability to do business with the federal government.

FAQs: Effectively Managing CISA Compliance

What Does CISA Regulate?

The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regulates private-sector organizations that do business with the federal government and have access to sensitive information pertaining to homeland security. The ambit of CISA’s authority is extremely broad, and organizations in a wide range of industries will need to address CISA compliance when pursuing or performing under federal contracts or programs. If you aren’t sure whether your organization needs to be CISA-compliant, you should consult with an experienced lawyer promptly.

What Are CISA’s Requirements for Private-Sector Entities?

CISA’s security requirements for private-sector entities vary depending on factors ranging from the size of an entity’s technology environment to the type (or types) of sensitive information to which an entity has access. This makes a custom-tailored approach to CISA compliance essential. At Oberheiden P.C., we have experience working with a wide range of clients, and we work closely with our clients’ key stakeholders to help them effectively and efficiently manage all pertinent aspects of CISA compliance.

How Are CISA Compliance and FISMA Compliance Related?

The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) is one of several federal statutes falling within CISA’s enforcement jurisdiction. For private-sector organizations that do business with the federal government, FISMA compliance is just one aspect (albeit a substantial and complex aspect) of CISA compliance.

What Are the Risks of CISA Noncompliance?

The risks of CISA noncompliance can be substantial, though they depend heavily on the specific issue involved. Private-sector entities that fail to meet all pertinent statutory and regulatory requirements can face civil monetary penalties (CMP), and they can also risk losing their federal government business. When noncompliance leads to an inadvertent disclosure with homeland security implications, the consequences can be far greater. When it comes to CISA compliance, coming up short isn’t really an option, and this makes it essential for covered entities to work with a team of experienced CISA lawyers and CISA consultants who can guide them forward with confidence.

Do I Need a CISA Lawyer or CISA Consultant (or Both)?

Since CISA compliance involves both complex legal issues and complex technical issues, effectively managing compliance requires a team of CISA lawyers and CISA consultants who can work together to help an organization effectively implement all necessary protocols, security policies, and procedures. At Oberheiden P.C., our team includes senior-level lawyers and non-lawyer consultants—many of whom have prior high-ranking experience in the federal government—and this allows us to take an efficient, full-service approach to helping our clients stay compliant.

Speak with a Senior CISA Lawyer or CISA Consultant at Oberheiden P.C.

If you would like to know more about our CISA compliance services, our lawyers’ or consultants’ federal government experience, or any other aspect of our practice, we invite you to get in touch. We will arrange for you to speak with one of our senior lawyers or consultants promptly at a time that is convenient for you. Give us a call at 888-680-1745 or contact us confidentially online today.