Why CASP Exists: A Slightly Cynical View (and no, this doesn’t mean I’m advocating the CISSP) In the world where DoD 8570.01-M (DoDD 8140) is relevant the CISSP has long been a staple for those seeking IAT Level III, IAM Level II/Level III and IASAE I and IASAE II roles. CompTIA’s CASP exam endeavors to…
When it comes to getting your CISSP certification, I have one important word for you: STUDY. Study in the car (preferably not while driving), study at work (taking care to not get fired), study at home, study everywhere you get a free moment. Study before training, study after training. You really cannot study too much…
Very early on in high school I remember my father sitting me down and saying, “When you get to college nobody is ever going to ask you what your GPA was in high school. And after graduating from college nobody is ever going to ask you what your grades were. All they are going to…
By Kathryn M. Farrish, CISSP Common Controls are security controls whose implementation results in a security capability that is inheritable by multiple information systems (IS). For example, the information systems hosted in a data center will typically inherit numerous security controls from the hosting provider, such as: Physical and environmental security controls Network boundary defense security controls Other inheritance scenarios include agency or departmental-level policies…
By Lon J. Berman, CISSP The story is told of an intern who is asked by his boss to pick up some items from the supply room in the basement. The young man is not sure how to get down there, but, seeing an open door, assumes it is the stairway and steps through. Unfortunately the door turns out to be an…
You’ve earned your CISSP or your Security+ certification…now you need to maintain it. No one wants to have to take those beastly exams again! But how do you do that without spending a lot of money? Sure you could take other classes (and will need to to remain relevant, of course), but sometimes there isn’t…
By Lon Berman, CISSP No longer just a technical issue, instead a strategic program to manage cybersecurity risk. Targeted cyber attacks are a strategic organizational problem. Cyber attackers are more sophisticated than ever before, and it has become vitally important to understand how to manage risk and implement a continuous monitoring program. More than just…
With the publication of revised DoD Instruction 8510.01, adoption of the Risk Management Framework (RMF) by DoD has begun. DoD programs are busy planning and implementing strategies for transitioning from DIACAP to “RMF for DoD IT”. What Efforts are Taking Place in Support of the RMF Transition? Tier 1: DoD Enterprise RMF Knowledge Service –…
A deadline for federal agencies to adhere to the government’s baseline cloud security standards and changes to the standards themselves are coming up very soon. The deadline for agencies to have their existing cloud computing solutions assessed against the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, or FedRAMP is June 5, 2014 Read more about this…
by Annette Leonard BAI Consulting Continuous Monitoring has long been recognized as a critical element in maintaining a strong security posture for any IT system. In spite of this, the risk management processes used in most federal agencies have traditionally been centered around mountains of paperwork, along with “point-in-time” assessments and approvals. With the ascension…