Blogs
If you're interested in the latest industrial security trends and topics, then you'll want to hang out here a while.
The History of DISS and the Future of Clearance Reform
After more than a decade of preparation, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) finally rolled out the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) this March. Fulfilling a major goal of the Trusted Workforce 2.0 initiative, DISS has risen to replace the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) as the Defense Department’s security clearance and access database, solving…
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Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Zero Trust Security and Insider Threats
Following the SolarWinds attack in December of 2020 – and the Colonial Pipeline attack 5 months later – the government has been working overtime to stem the tide of threats to America’s national security. In May 2021, the White House issued Executive Order (EO) 14028, with a long list of reforms intended to strengthen cybersecurity across federal agencies. Now, some of…
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How Cleared Organizations Should Prepare for Supply Chain Attacks
Following the SolarWinds attack in December of 2020, regulators have been pushing for stricter supply chain risk management (SCRM) practices across federal organizations, beginning with a list of recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). But since the publication of this list, it has become clear that agencies are struggling to comply in a timely way. In response, the…
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How CMMC is Changing Facility Security in 2021
It’s been nearly a year since the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) went into effect. Announced by the Department of Defense (DoD) in 2019, the program is an ambitious effort to consolidate security regulations across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and supplant the more familiar NIST SP 800-171. Now, implementation is well underway, and the certification…
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FSO Tip: Managing Forms with Portal Commander
Today’s Facility Security Officers (FSOs) have a tough job. Not only must they ensure that their facilities comply with increasingly strict security regulations, but they must also assist with employee training activities, protect classified information, conduct self-inspections, and much more. With so many things to do, FSOs don’t have all day to spend in front…
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FSOs in a New Age of Counterterrorism
Terrorism as a global phenomenon is winding down. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), the number of worldwide terror attacks has been on the decline since 2014. But now, U.S policymakers are turning their attention to the rise of “domestic terrorism” incidents around the country, which could lead us into a new era of counterterrorism efforts.…
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Defending Against Cyberattacks: The FSO’s Perspective
Two weeks ago, news broke of a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, the largest provider of natural gas across the Eastern United States. In response, the company temporarily shut down its 5,500-mile pipeline extending from Houston, TX to Linden, NJ. In the aftermath, gas stations experienced shortages as customers stocked up, and the price of gas increased…
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FSO Tip: How to Send Welfare Checks in Portal Commander
At any given time, hundreds of employees in cleared organizations may be traveling for assignment or recreational purposes throughout the United States and around the world. Not only is it the job of Facility Security Officers (FSOs) to review foreign and domestic travel requests ahead of time, but they must also keep track of an…
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What Does the New NISPOM Rule Mean for Federal Contractors?
On December 21st, 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a final rule concerning the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). The rule not only incorporates NISPOM into the code of federal regulations (CFT), but it also introduces several new provisions. Most importantly for FSOs, NISPOM now includes the reporting requirements established by Security Executive Agent…
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