Blogs
If you're interested in the latest industrial security trends and topics, then you'll want to hang out here a while.
Where Are We in the DISS to NBIS Transition? What Security Professionals Need to Know
In 2016, the defense contracting industry was taken by storm when the Department of Defense (DoD) announced its plans to create the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) system as the replacement solution for clearance background investigations. This was part of the amended Obama administration initiative, Executive Order 13467, to have DoD support the National Background…
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What FSOs Should Know About AI
The launch of the ChatGPT chatbot system in November 2022 came with a mixed bag of reactions across industries, from excitement to distress and everything in between. Even though artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been around for decades, the recent events really brought to light the true capabilities of the technology, along with a wide…
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Why FSOs Are Becoming Even More Essential to Defense Contracting
Between federal budget increases, escalating conflicts overseas, and a massive push to enhance our nation’s cybersecurity posture, the defense contracting industry will rapidly grow over the next few years. By default, so will one of the most crucial positions within a defense contractor’s organization — the Facility Security Officer (FSO). What started as a role…
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Top 5 Security Industry Trends for 2023
What to Expect for Industrial Security Professionals, FSO’s, and Cleared Personnel The world of industrial security is a dynamically evolving machine that never seems to rest. Between added and updated compliance requirements, emerging cybersecurity threats, and exponential advancement of technology capabilities, Facility Security Officers (FSOs) and their teams of cleared personnel can always expect that…
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Top 6 Cybersecurity Threats for 2023
Without proper threat intelligence and robust security controls, cybersecurity attacks will come without warning and cause detrimental harm to an organization. Depending on the attack, organizations could lose critical data, pay hefty compliance fines, or see their brand reputation diminished for not taking their customers (and their own) data security seriously. A successful attack could…
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MathCraft Celebrates Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Each year in October, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) team up to promote cyber awareness for a wide range of industry topics in what’s known as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. During this time, cybersecurity training, marketing ads, and events take place to provide education on today’s threats, solutions, and…
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Governance, Risk, and Compliance: How Access Commander is Effective for Both Security and Compliance
Facility Security Officers (FSOs) are tasked with essential responsibilities in maintaining data security and integrity while ensuring their organization meets compliance requirements. With the cybersecurity landscape being tenser than ever, government agencies are demanding more from their contractors to deploy security controls, enforce governance policies, and report for audit purposes. Having to oversee cybersecurity, facility…
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Transitioning from DISS to NBIS: Everything You Need to Know
The National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) is the federal government’s central database system (still in development) for running background checks, vetting personnel, adjudicating cases, and providing ongoing screening for cleared employees. Once fully complete, it’ll act as the single source of truth for background investigations and case management by integrating all data into one system…
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What is Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) & How Does it Impact Security Compliance?
Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) is a status or situation in which a contractor with access to classified information has some foreign investment or association with foreign interest. It’s used by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) to manage our national security interests without denying defense contractors, specifically those with foreign interests, access…
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