Federal contractors need to be aware that feds expect their systems to be kept safe, and not only when they have sensitive government information on them.   A data breach of your systems could pose serious problems for your current, and future, federal business.  Potential customers and competitors are increasingly likely to point to successful hacks against your systems as reasons why you can’t be trusted to work on federal business.  The feds expect your company to make security a top priority.  A new rule out this week spells out exactly what federal agencies expect from you.  The rule comes in addition to an earlier one dealing with breeches of “Controlled, Unclassified Information” (CUI).  Instead of focusing on the “what”, though, today’s rule focuses on the integrity of the actual systems themselves.  The kicker:  the rule creates an entirely new category of information that contractors must ensure adherence to.  Called “Federal Contract Information”, the new term is meant to apply to information not intended for public release that is provided by or generated for the government under a contract to develop or deliver a product or service to the government.  Make sure you know what the feds require from you and keep your own systems secure as you assist your customer.