Security Executive Blog

Business Organization Requirements A defense contractor should be legitimate business entity, have good reputation and practice ethical business practices. The company should prove that they are structured and a legal entity under the laws of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico and have a physical location in the United States or territories. Such proof includes Articles of Incorporation, Stock Records, Minutes of Board Meetings, and Corporate by-laws. Legal entities include one or more of the following business structures: Sole Proprietorship A Sole Proprietorship is a business owned by one individual. The owner is in control of all equipment, supplies and assets of the business. As a result, they receive all the money earned. They control all decisions and are ultimately the one entity who can commit the business to decisions. The upside is that the owner receives all the benefits and earnings and has full control. The down side to a sole proprietorshi...

How are security clearances granted? Why does the Government grant security clearances? How does the Government assign security classification? Who is eligible for a security clearance? First of all, classified information must be protected. Part of the protection is to ensure only properly investigated and vetted cleared employees with need to know get access to classified information. Defense contractor employees are required to have a personnel security clearance (PCL) and need to know before being granted access to classified information. The PCL is also related to a facility security clearance (FCL) held by the cleared contractor they work for. Respectively, the defense contractors are required to have a FCL prior to performing on classified contracts. What does this mean? It means the cleared contractor and cleared employee has been thoroughly investigated and properly vetted before even being considered eligible to receive classified information. Defense contractors and the...

Insider’s Guide to Security Clearances Who this Book is For Perhaps you are one of the many who have questions about getting a security clearance. Maybe you are interested either as an employee or business owner in getting a security clearance, but don’t know how to get started. This book is written with you in mind and is addressed specifically for defense contractors operating under the Department of Defense guidance. Other Government agencies may have different procedures. However, this book can be used as a general reference regardless of which agency the contractor is operating under. This book reflects requirements as found in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual ( NISPOM ) There are numerous training opportunities within the industrial security community, government services, and professional organizations. However, other than government regulations, there are few published books addressing the subject. This book is intended to provide answers that help ...

The Facility Security Officer You might be asking, why all the emphasis an FSO? Isn’t this book about security clearances? Yes it is. It’s all about security clearances and FSOs are a large part of the process. For those of you who own your own business and are trying to get or are in the process of obtaining an FCL and PCL, or are currently performing on classified contracts, your appointment of someone to perform as or your assumption of FSO duties should not be taken lightly. If you are an employee who needs a clearance, the FSO is on your team to initiate the clearance, answer questions about your clearance and is an integral part in the continuous evaluation process. The FSO is going to make or break your security clearance capability. Security clearances and FSOs go hand in hand; one does not go without the other. Executive Order 12829 National Industrial Security Program The US Government awards contracts, grants and licenses to defense contractors in the course of providing ...

If you are serious about advancing in your field, get this book. Learn the secrets to becoming influential, earning credibility and studying for the ISP Certification. Secret number one, you are a technical expert and know the business of protecting classified information. Let us help you prepare for the test. Our book helps you prepare for both your career and the ISP Certification Exam. Keep reading for sample questions. Using our books to augment your ISP exam preparation will help you be better prepared. This book is the only one available for the ISP Certification and offers much more than what is found in other study manuals. Our author teaches insightful study tips designed to show you how to: form study groups, network, seek out opportunities at work, learn your way around the NISPOM and has four exam length practice tests. It’s true, those who have bought our books and used our techniques to augment their preparation have performed very well. See our testimonials page for t...

You’ve spent a lot of time, effort and training to be in the position you are in today. You probably spent personal time taking courses, college and attending professional seminars. You are learning and growing, and working hard to earn business as a defense contractor. Perhaps you want to take the additional step to be a cleared defense contractor. Defense contractors who desire to win classified contracts do not always know where to go to find information on what might be expected of them. Some might find that contracts beginning as unclassified may become classified at a later time, leaving the company with a steep learning curve. Leaders not experienced in working with National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) or classified contracts may not know where to look for information or gain access to training or possible expenses until after the Government grants their facility and personnel security clearances. Red Bike Publishing can help. We will soon publish...

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Unless retention is permitted by the Government Contracting Activity (GCA), classified information must be destroyed or returned as soon as it has served its purpose. According to NISPOM section 5-701, classified information can only be retained for two years unless the GCA approves an extension. Cleared contractors should develop a system to evaluate the classified information in their possession for reduction. Classified information no longer needed should be returned to the GCA or destroyed using approved methods. The FSO should create a system to help prioritize which items to evaluate. The Information Management System (IMS) or accountability system can be used in the process to manage classified holdings and help determine what is still useful and what can be removed. The objective is to maintain only the classified material necessary to execute the classified contract. Additionally, the FSO should be able to determine that the documents were actually destroyed or returned and ...