Security Executive Blog

NISPOM Based Questions For SPeD, Industrial Security Oversight Certification ( ISOC), and ISP Study   By Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP, SAPPC Get your copy @ www.redbikepublishing.com These NISPOM based questions could be helpful in passing the NCMS ISP Certification and the DoD's SPeD Certification exams including the most recent Industrial Security Oversight Certification ( ISOC) . Taking practice tests is a great way to prepare for an exam. Successful students in grade school and college study using guides and exam preparation questions based on the test subject material. This same successful methodology can also help prepare for professional exams like ISP Certification and SPeD Certification.  Practice tests augment certification exam preparation.  Red Bike Publishing's Unofficial Study Guide  features four complete test length practice exams based on  NISPOM ...

Operational Controls and Classified Information Systems By: Jeffrey W. Bennett, SFPC, SAPPC, ISOC, ISP This article addresses the protection of Information Systems and the information that resides on them and is modeled after questions from the Self Inspection Handbook for NISP Contractors . We feel this is a great format to walk through the self-inspection criteria. We begin with the topic question, the NISPOM reference, an explanation of requirements, and finally how to inspect compliance. Topic Question(s): How is the IS physically protected? (Check all that apply) NISPOM Reference(s): 8-302b Operational Controls Discussion: Each of the countermeasures above are already covered in sections of NISPOM chapter 5. Neither NISPOM nor the Self-Inspection Handbook desire to define these countermeasures. The intent is to determine which countermeasures are applied to demonstrate their application. These countermeasures should reflect the three controls identified in NISPOM f...

Am I Required to Take a Drug Test as Part of The Security Clearance Process By: Jeffrey W. Bennett, SFPC, SAPPC, ISOC, ISP Drug Involvement is one of the  13 adjudicative criteria  which could lead to the denial or revocation of a security clearance. Even so, marijuana and opioids continue to be a concern for many applicants. While drug involvement can raise questions about loyalty, reliability, and ability to protect classified information for initial security clearance assessments, currently there are no requirements to conduct recurring or random drug testing as a part of the security clearance process. Listen to the Podcast episode: Obtaining a clearance vs getting hired Security clearance applicants complete a Standard Form 86,  Questionnaire for National Security Positions , better known as SF-86. The questionnaire requests information about drug usage that the applicant should populate accurately and completely. For initial security clearances...