U.S. FAR 52.204-27

Why it Matters

FAR 52.204-27 helps organizations mitigate national security risks by restricting the use of prohibited applications in federal information systems.

Key benefits include:

• Support regulatory compliance

Enable organizations to meet federal requirements and avoid penalties associated with unauthorized applications in government projects.

• Enhance supply chain security

Reduce exposure to potential threats introduced through software supply chains and third-party application providers.

• Protect sensitive information

Limit the risk of unauthorized access or data exfiltration by prohibiting high-risk software on government networks.

• Strengthen risk management

Improve the ability to identify, assess, and address software-related security threats within organizational IT environments.

• Promote operational integrity

Assure stakeholders that systems remain compliant and free from unauthorized or untrusted applications, supporting reliable business operations.

How it Works

U.S. FAR 52.204-27 establishes regulatory requirements that prohibit the presence or use of ByteDance covered applications—including TikTok—on any information technology used in federal contracts. The framework sets forth compliance boundaries by clearly defining what constitutes a covered application, delineates scope according to government information systems, and outlines contractual obligations for federal contractors.

In practice, organizations interpret these requirements by inventorying devices and systems to identify any use of prohibited applications, updating security policies, and deploying endpoint management tools to enforce restrictions. Compliance teams typically conduct periodic assessments, monitor IT environments, and maintain documentation to verify removal or blocking of ByteDance software across managed devices. Contractors integrate these activities into existing governance and security control programs to satisfy federal requirements and demonstrate regulatory adherence.

Using SmartSuite, organizations can implement FAR 52.204-27 by using policy governance libraries tailored to regulatory mandates, configuring risk registers to track the prohibition’s impact, and managing compliance workflows. Evidence collection modules document removal actions, while compliance dashboards provide ongoing monitoring and reporting on adherence, supporting audit readiness and continuous governance.

Key Elements

• Scope of Prohibition

Specifies which entities and contracting activities are subject to restrictions regarding ByteDance covered applications.

• Covered Application Definition

Defines the criteria and characteristics that qualify an application as a ByteDance covered application under this clause.

• Contractor Responsibilities

Outlines obligations for contractors, including ensuring compliance and monitoring device usage within contract performance.

• Enforcement and Monitoring Mechanisms

Describes measures for verifying contractor adherence and potential remedies for non-compliance.

• Waiver and Exception Criteria

Establishes the conditions and processes for requesting waivers or applying statutory exceptions.

• Applicability to Subcontractors

Clarifies expectations and flow-down requirements for subcontractors involved in applicable federal contracts.

Framework Scope

U.S. FAR 52.204-27 applies to federal contractors, subcontractors, and vendors with access to government IT systems or data. The framework governs the use of applications produced by ByteDance on information technology assets managed for federal contracts, and is typically enforced to meet federal regulatory obligations and support compliance oversight for government procurement activities.

Framework Objectives

U.S. FAR 52.204-27 establishes requirements to prevent unauthorized use of ByteDance covered applications on government information systems to enhance cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

Safeguard federal information systems against potential cybersecurity threats from prohibited applications

Strengthen governance and oversight of application usage in alignment with federal policies

Promote regulatory compliance with U.S. government security and risk management mandates

Enhance data protection by minimizing risks introduced by unauthorized software

Support audit readiness through clear enforcement and documentation of security controls

Maintain operational resilience by reducing exposure to emerging privacy and cybersecurity risks FAR 52.204-27 is a regulatory requirement focused on prohibiting certain applications for federal contractors. While not a cybersecurity framework, it aligns with CMMC and NIST SP 800-171, which govern federal information protection. Organizations typically implement FAR52.204-27 to achieve regulatory compliance and maintain federal contract eligibility.

Common Framework Mappings

FAR 52.204-27 is often mapped to major cybersecurity and data protection frameworks to simplify regulatory compliance, demonstrate adequate risk management, and ensure consistent controls for federal contract eligibility.

Mapped frameworks include:

CIS Critical Security Controls

FedRAMP

GDPR

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27002

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)

NIST SP 800-53

PCI DSS

SOC 2

StateRAMP

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