Security Executive Blog

Prepare for year-end taxes at the beginning of the year Writing off expenses is incredibly helpful way to for a consultant or other self-employed security business entity to decrease the tax burden. As traditionally ethically minded professionals, we understand that we must pay what we owe. Understanding how to claim deductions or what to claim is a little trickier. However, it’s an important and sometimes time consuming part of doing business. In all cases, consult the IRS and a tax accountant as often as necessary.  I've  found both resources very helpful and patient in leading me through what I thought were difficult questions. The challenge of collecting sales tax and reporting income tax is difficult at first, but it is part of doing business, and is a must for maintaining that business. Failure to do so could result in fines or worse. Doing the right thing will help you better sleep at night, and increase your business savvy. What expenses can be “wri...

When w orking on your business, be sure to make time for administrative tasks. Many of these tasks include filing quarterly estimated taxes. This quarterly estimated tax depends on your total income all your sources of income including full time jobs and businesses. This tax is also figuring FICA, Medicare and any profits your business earns (total sales minus expenses).  This applies for full time self-employment and if you have a side business in addition to a full time job Managing taxes is sometimes and easier endeavor when filing as a sole proprietary entity, especially where state jurisdictions are concerned. Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) or other corporate entities are more complex and administrative tasks will pull you from your primary business role. In addition to consulting or providing other security products and services, you will have to handle mundane but important administrative responsibilities. So, as you form an LLC or other incorporated entity, do...

NCMS’ Industrial Security Professional (ISP®) Certification Achieves ANSI Accreditation  Wayne, PA, 23 October, 2013: Leonard Moss, Jr., President of The Society of Industrial  Security Professionals (known as NCMS), announced today that NCMS’ Industrial  Security Professional (ISP®) Certification has earned accreditation from the American  National Standards Institute Personnel Certification Accreditation Program. The ISP® Certification is available to qualified candidates who work within the U.S.  National Industrial Security Program (NISP). The intent of the ISP® designation is to award professional certification and recognition to qualified candidates who  demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities their profession demands. The basis for  the examination is primarily the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual  (NISPOM), the supplements, and other information security concomitant rules and  regulations to include Op...

I’ve been asked the question several times and the answer I usual provide is: “it depends.” Many job announcements in the industrial security / security specialist / facility security officer (FSO) career field list the duties to be performed, and then jumps into qualifications. The job descriptions center on working within a security program designed to protect classified information at a department of defense or other department or agency and their supporting contractor location. The qualifications usually require a minimum of a predetermined number of years’ performing security tasks and a four year degree. Most of the time the four year degree can be substituted for demonstrated experience. Rarely if ever is demonstrated job performance able to be substituted. So, in this scenario, I would answer that the certification weighs heavier than the college degree. As an example, let’s look at an applicant for a new FSO position. She is a veteran who had received an honor...

With proper preparation, you can pass this test. If you are serious about advancing in your field, get ISP certified. Some are reluctant to take the test, but they just need the confidence earned through practice. Here's a way to get 440 practice questions. First, to meet minimum test requirements an applicant should have five years experience working in the  NISPOM  environment. If that’s you, then you are a technical expert and know the business of protecting classified information. Second, study this book to practice, practice, and practice. It can help you prepare for the test. Using practice tests to augment your ISP exam preparation will help. This book is the only one featuring four complete test length practice exams available for the ISP Certification. It teaches insightful study tips designed to show you how to: form study groups, network, seek out opportunities, learn your way around the NISPOM and includes four exam length practice tests. According to reader...

Have you ever found yourself trying to quickly find Defense Security Service (DSS) interpretation of NISPOM guidance? Mining this information has been difficult, but no longer. DSS has just added a tool to their website that covers industrial security letters. This tool takes the guesswork out of how many ISLs exists, NISPOM reference, ISL subject, status and a hyperlink to the actual ISL. Now you can easily pull up the table crosswalk your copy of the NISPOM to the applicable ISL. Here's the link:  http://www.dss.mil/isp/fac_clear/download_nispom.html Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is the owner of Red Bike Publishing Red Bike Publishing . He regularly consults, presents security training, and recommends export compliance and intellectual property protection countermeasures. He is an accomplished writer of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals. Jeff is an expert in security and has written many security books including: "Insider's Guide to Security Clearances" an...

NISPOM Derivative Classification Training While some cleared defense contractors perform non-technical services, other cleared contractors conduct derivative classification in the performance of their contracts. Derivative classification in general terms includes, paraphrasing, incorporating, restating or regenerating classified information into a new form. Since contractors are not performing original classification, most of their work would involve using classified sources to create new classified products. Here's the important part, no training; no work. Properly executed National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual ( NISPOM ) training and documentation is the difference between performing on classified work and not being able to meet contractual requirements. Cleared contractors must plan to train cleared contractor employees who perform derivative classification responsibilities. The NISPOM outlines requirements for derivative classification training. Wh...