Because of the magnitude involved in working with classified information about our national security, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), in conjunction with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), has set numerous submission and sponsorship standards to acquire and maintain a Facility Security Clearance (FCL). Arguably, one of the most tedious is […]

The Zero Trust Security Model, coined just over a decade ago, is a framework organizations can use to construct or enhance their cybersecurity program. It was formulated by considering the modern-day infrastructure challenges that now consist primarily of cloud and hybrid environments — making it difficult to define precisely where a network of servers, applications, […]

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 also introduces several new provisions. Most importantly for FSOs, NISPOM now includes the reporting requirements established by Security Executive […]

Staying NISPOM compliant has always been difficult – but when SEAD 3 went into effect in 2017, the standard for security became more than just compliance. Now, organizations must play an active role in monitoring themselves, their employees, colleagues and associates. With Portal Commander™, we can help. Modern Threats Despite popular belief, the modern FSO […]

The National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) defines security standards that must be followed by U.S organizations (government and corporate) with access to classified information. Among other things, the NISPOM provides guidelines to: • Ensure proper clearance for access to classified information• Provide adequate security training/briefings to personnel• Regulate outgoing and incoming visits to […]

In July of 1982, a British man by the name of Michael Fagan climbed a drainpipe in London, broke into Buckingham Palace and triggered several alarms on the premises. Readers might imagine that he was quickly spotted and apprehended by the Queen’s Guard; that Scotland Yard was called onto the scene before quickly apprehending and […]

Background When Amazon Web Services was proposed in 2003 by Benjamin Black, it had already been a year since the U.S Government completed its effort to create and finalize the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) – which defined IT security across public agencies and partners. This update to U.S. law had taken fifteen years […]

In 2014, Sony was ostensibly held ransom by North Korean attackers calling themselves the ‘Guardians of Peace’ in retaliation against anti-DPRK film The Interview. The incident made headlines around the world, along with chilling images left across company screens depicting a skeleton and links to the publicly leaked data. It was a sensation which gave […]