Which practice is not a standard component of contractor safeguarding when handling CUI?

Which practice is not a standard component of contractor safeguarding when handling CUI?

• A. NDA only
• B. Flow-down safeguarding requirements
• C. Access controls
• D. Encryption

Answer: (A)

Protecting CUI relies on practical safeguards, not just agreements. An NDA addresses confidentiality, but it doesn’t implement how data is actually protected, who may access it, or how it’s stored and transmitted. To meet standard safeguarding, you need concrete controls like flow-down safeguarding to subcontractors so everyone handling CUI follows the same rules, access controls that restrict who can view or use the information, and encryption to protect data both in transit and at rest. Because NDA alone does not establish these protective measures, it is not a standard component by itself in contractor safeguarding for CUI.

Protecting CUI relies on practical safeguards, not just agreements. An NDA addresses confidentiality, but it doesn’t implement how data is actually protected, who may access it, or how it’s stored and transmitted. To meet standard safeguarding, you need concrete controls like flow-down safeguarding to subcontractors so everyone handling CUI follows the same rules, access controls that restrict who can view or use the information, and encryption to protect data both in transit and at rest. Because NDA alone does not establish these protective measures, it is not a standard component by itself in contractor safeguarding for CUI.