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MISI swag is now available!
MISI is now selling an assortment of merchandise. Explore our clothing options ranging from polos to cardigans and find your perfect fit or stay hydrated with one of our MISI water bottles! Find these options and more on our online MISI Swag Store.
Armando Seay was Invited by the United Kingdom's Trade Commission and His Majesty's Royal Navy to present and participate in this year's conference held in New York City
MISI and its DreamPort team have helped to highlight the importance of maritime cybersecurity to the U.S. and the world at large. The two day cybersecurity centric segment was hosted by EY at their innovation spaces. The subsequent segment was held on the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Both segments included senior leaders from the U.S. DoD, intelligence and law enforcement along with key leaders from the UK's Ministry of Defense, US and UK defense industrial base and diplomats.The cyber resilience and supply chain cyber security and artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain innovation in the maritime sector were the two panels Armando was asked to contribute to.
Armando Seay, Co-Founder and Director of MISI, set to Keynote at OT-ISAC Summit 2022
As with the word cybersecurity, the tendency is to also isolate OT cyber into one domain or another and forget the dependency of almost everything we care about and rely upon has to OT. The presentation will run through cyber incidents categorized as OT events and expand the aperture to explore how the cyber attack or threat impacted the other interconnected systems and humans.
Building A Defense Against An Invisible Threat: A New Approach To Building Cyber Security
Remember DreamPort's Hack the Building? Our partners are making news in this critical infrastructure segment.
The 2013 Target data breach of 41 million customer payment cards and the contact information of 60 million customers resulted in a record $18.5 million multistate settlement. The entry point? A third-party heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) vendor with credentials that permitted access to the customer database and an entry point for malware.
10 National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Colleges
Blue team arrivals for the National Security Agency Executive Leadership Forum cyber exercises in Gulfport Mississippi, powered by DreamPort.
New Air-Gap Attack Uses SATA Cable as an Antenna to Transfer Radio Signals
In a recent trip to Israel by DreamPort’s Armando Seay, he was able to sit in on various tech night briefs by leading Israeli researchers and technology companies.
The over reliance on the concept that an air gap network offers super cyber resilience protections has long been shrines by those in the know.
The research described in the post adds another in the long list of ways air gap networks can be defeated.
Read More at Cyber Ben-Gurion University
Congratulations to an incredible technology author, friend of DreamPort and now Hollywood bound Andy Greenberg!
Jigsaw Productions has optioned his upcoming nonfiction book Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency and is developing adaptations in multiple media forms, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The Doubleday title, penned by Wired senior writer Andy Greenberg, follows a group of investigators that developed means of tracing cryptocurrency.
His book SANDWORM is institutionalized as a must read for any serious cybersecurity practitioner and now his upcoming book.
We are looking forward to one day soon getting Andy back to DreamPort for a book talk.
Read More at Hollywood Reporter
Goldilock TruAirgap™ is "Soft Landing" at MISI DreamPort in Maryland, USA
Keith Parnell, Goldilock's General Counsel and Head of Americas stated: "This is an excellent independent verification of the innovativeness of our remote, instant isolation or access on-demand solution."
"Goldilock's innovative solution is exactly the sort of technology we are looking to attract to DreamPort" declared Armando Seay, MISI Cofounder and Member of Board Of Directors. "Our 'always on' society is becoming increasingly vulnerable across all vertical segments, from manufacturing to defence and it is time to challenge this paradigm. Our A24 tech accelerator space looks forward to welcoming them".
AI Will Drive Cyber Efforts at CYBERCOM Amid Zero Trust
United States Cyber Command plans to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve cyber defensive operations as the cyber landscape grows increasingly hostile, according to CYBERCOM Executive Director Dave Frederick speaking at the Defense One Tech Summit Tuesday.
Next week, MISI joins the state of Maryland delegation to present DreamPort to the attendees of Infosecurity Europe
MISI will join several other Maryland cyber technology sector companies at the conference as part of the Maryland delegation.
MISI co-founder Armando Seay will present as part of a fireside chat at the conference, and while in London meet with and tour a select number of innovation centers.
Read More at InfosecurityEurope.com
MISI announces the expansion of its award-winning security operations threat hunting and cyber threat and vulnerability mitigation services to the small and medium business market segment.
The team specializes in assisting small and medium defense contractors with little or no IT and cyber expertise on staff or outsourced.
Another feature of the service is the support of IT and OT skilled staff that can assist manufacturers with manufacturing operations needing cybersecurity support.
The cost-effective service and solutions leverage the MISI team and is further powered by interns from colleges and universities that are accredited as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity with the hunt and threat research.
INSA’s Security Policy Reform Council presents recommendations for Improving Security Clearance Mobility
Government-imposed impediments to moving cleared people among projects and among facilities hinder contractors’ ability to support critical national security missions. The absence of clear, uniform policy guidance on all elements that impact the mobility of personnel with security clearances means that each intelligence agency and Department of Defense (DoD) component has unique requirements and procedures for accepting these personnel and approving access to their facilities.
Government Accountability Agency releases new report on Defense Cybersecurity
The GAO released a Report to Congressional Committees on Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information Systems (CUI) in May 2022.
According to the report, ”the Department of Defense (DOD) has reported implementing more than 70 percent of four selected cybersecurity requirements for CUI systems, based on GAO’s analysis of DOD reports (including a June 2021 report to Congress) and data from DOD’s risk management tools.”
Congratulations MISI DreamPort Summer Internship class of 2021 alumnus
The MISI Team would like to congratulate all of our past interns graduating in 2022! DreamPort prides itself as a leader in cybersecurity outreach and education. Pictured is graduate Alexandria Horne who was named Salutatorian of her class and will go on to study Electrical Engineering at Morgan State University.
Hack the Capitol Conference 2022 highlights issues that ICS community must focus on to enhance cybersecurity posture
May 6, 2022 -- The action-packed ICS VILLAGE's Hack the Capitol Conference 2022 concluded this week. Designed to educate congressional staffers, scholars, and the press on some of the most critical and prevalent cybersecurity challenges, the day-long, multi-track event turned out to be a tremendous success with over 1,000 registrants and attendees from across the public and private sectors.
Read More at industrialcyber.co
CyberWire launches CISA Cybersecurity Alerts: A first-of-its-kind public service audio feed for urgent threat advisories.
FULTON, Md., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CyberWire today announced the launch of its new podcast, CISA Cybersecurity Alerts, a first-of-its-kind public service audio feed for urgent cybersecurity advisories. The alerts, produced by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with other government organizations, and adapted to audio by the CyberWire, provide urgent information about cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits. The audio alerts are a stand-alone feed that subscribers can find wherever they get their podcasts, and also shared via the CyberWire's flagship CyberWire Daily podcast feed.
DISA's assistant to the director closes out 35-year career
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Garrett Yee, assistant to the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, retired April 28 among 300 of his closest family, friends and colleagues during a ceremony at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia overlooking the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol.
DOJ disrupts Russia-backed Cyclops Blink botnet
The Department of Justice announced an operation to disrupt the state-backed Russian botnet called Cyclops Blink, which was used by the threat actor known as Sandworm to infect thousands of devices worldwide. The court-ordered operation is the latest effort to stop malicious cyber activity following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Read More at Cybersecuritydive.com
DreamPort hosts Angolan Ministry of Defense
This week, DreamPort hosted the Angolan Ministry of Defense to brief an all of nation roadmap to critical infrastructure cyber security with a hyper focus on oil and gas and the grid. DreamPort partner Nozomi Networks provided a global threat brief and lessons learned from their global critical infrastructure engagements in oil and gas cybersecurity.
Norwich University team scores big in maritime cybersecurity competition
Team persistence and savvy sleuthing helped Norwich University place sixth among 32 college teams at Hack the Port 22. Meyer, a freshman computer security and information assurance major, earned a special Hack the Port mention for infiltrating a security camera and fending off invaders. He said analyzing the camera's network traffic, and noticing a specific date and time request, ushered him inside.
Senate confirms new Army Cyber Command chief
The Senate has confirmed President Joe Biden’s nominee to helm the U.S. Army’s digital warfighting branch. Army Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett was approved by voice vote to be the next chief of Army Cyber Command and become a three-star general. The promotion will make her the first woman to lead the organization since it was established in 2010.
New bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act rolled out to bolster efforts in the sector
Two bipartisan U.S. senators have introduced the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act, which would direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate on how to improve cybersecurity measures across hospitals and healthcare networks operating in the healthcare and public health sector.
Read More at IndustrialCyber.co
Hack the Port 22 Competition an Experiential Learning Opportunity for Information Security and Intelligence Student Team
Five Information Security and Intelligence program students in Ferris State University’s College of Business planned to focus on attack and defense scenarios rather than balmy spring weather in a Hack the Port 22 competition, organized by MISI. Louis Nguyen in the ISI Master of Science program said, “I did a significant amount of training in software security and penetration testing in my undergraduate classes, I expect the penetration testing will be a key component for our competitive efforts, which will help to build my working knowledge in these areas. Being a part of this team will be very valuable for my professional intentions.”
Biden warns U.S. companies to gird up against Russian hacks
The White House has issued its starkest warning that Russia may be planning cyberattacks against critical-sector U.S. companies amid the Ukraine invasion. There’s “evolving intelligence” that the Kremlin is actively exploring its cyberattack options, President Biden said in a statement, warning that companies have a “responsibility to strengthen the cybersecurity and resilience of the critical services and technologies on which Americans rely.”
Read More at WashingtonPost.com
NSA provides expertise at Hack the Port 22
The NSA team, from NSA’s Center for Education, Innovation and Outreach is sponsoring students participating in Hack the Port cyber competitions. Lynne Clark, Acting Chief of NSA’s Center for Education, Innovation and Outreach said “These cyber competitions offer a unique opportunity to showcase the competencies developed in their NCAE-C designated education programs. NSA is always looking for innovative opportunities to test the knowledge, skills and abilities of our students. This competition will allow the students to perform, in-real time, the critical tasks that the future cybersecurity workforce needs. It is an opportunity for the students to show off their education in a real-world context”.
Statement by President Biden on our Nation’s Cybersecurity
Delivered on March 21, 2022. This is a critical moment to accelerate our work to improve domestic cybersecurity and bolster our national resilience. I have previously warned about the potential that Russia could conduct malicious cyber activity against the United States, including as a response to the unprecedented economic costs we’ve imposed on Russia alongside our allies and partners. It’s part of Russia’s playbook. Today, my Administration is reiterating those warnings based on evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks.
Manufacturing Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MFG-ISAC) Partners With MISI DreamPort to Advance the Security of the Manufacturing Sector
MFG-ISAC has partnered with DreamPort to help defend U.S. manufacturers from malicious cyberactivity, and advance the offerings and capabilities of the MFG-ISAC as a hub for intelligence exchange, warning and recovery. Together, the organizations will develop best practices and share information on cyberthreats for the mutual defense of manufacturers in the United States.
Secretary Mayorkas Delivers Remarks at the Maritime and Control Systems Cybersecurity Conference – Hack the Port 2022
On March 21, 2022, Secretary Mayorkas delivered remarks at the Maritime and Control Systems Cybersecurity Conference – Hack the Port 2022. Read his full remarks at the link.
CISA Director Details Growing Threat to Maritime Transportation Sector
Cybersecurity professionals are noting the possibility of Russia reprising a watershed attack on the shipping industry to hit back against the U.S. economy. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly is flagging the maritime transportation sector as an increasingly imperiled soft spot in U.S. critical infrastructure that Russian adversaries have previously disrupted via cyberattack.
Hearing on Worldwide Threats
On March 10, 2022 the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held an open Hearing on Worldwide Threats. A recording of the live hearing is available on the Intelligence Committee website.
Watch at Intelligence.Senate.gov
NIST Releases Final Cybersecurity Assessment Guidance
The National Institute of Standards and Technology issued its newest and final copy of guidance for organizations to assess their internal security IT systems, following a draft copy and comment period. The document, titled “Assessing Security and Privacy Controls in Information Systems and Organizations,” focuses on helping entities manage cybersecurity risks across their individual networks.
Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Conference Heads to Ft. Lauderdale Florida
Hack the Port 2022, the Maritime and Control Systems Cybersecurity and Cyber Exercise Conference, is an elite and unique cybersecurity conference featuring key leaders from the world of critical infrastructure cybersecurity that will see venture capital investors, CEOs of fortune 100 and 500 firms, students from the top Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity colleges, senior government officials, members of US cyber defensive teams, and a few of the world's top cybersecurity solutions that protect, oil and gas, water, the power grid, ships, ports and related facilities come together for 4 days in South Florida.
Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Target Cleared Defense Contractor Networks to Obtain Sensitive U.S. Defense Information and Technology
Russian state-sponsored cyber actors have targeted U.S. cleared defense contractors (CDCs) from at least January 2020, through February 2022. The actors leverage access to CDC networks to obtain sensitive data about U.S. defense and intelligence programs and capabilities. Compromised entities have included CDCs supporting the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Space Force, and DoD and Intelligence programs.
DHS Issues Shields Up Advisory
Every organization in the United States is at risk from cyber threats that can disrupt essential services and potentially result in impacts to public safety. Over the past year, cyber incidents have impacted many companies, non-profits, and other organizations, large and small, across multiple sectors of the economy.
Notably, the Russian government has used cyber as a key component of their force projection over the last decade, including previously in Ukraine in the 2015 timeframe. The Russian government understands that disabling or destroying critical infrastructure—including power and communications—can augment pressure on a country's government, military and population and accelerate their acceding to Russian objectives.
While there are not currently any specific credible threats to the U.S. homeland, we are mindful of the potential for the Russian government to consider escalating its destabilizing actions in ways that may impact others outside of Ukraine.
Nakasone emphasizes growing partnerships between CYBERCOM and academia
On February 10, 2022, U.S. Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency, and chief of the Central Security Service hosted a virtual welcome session for students, faculty and staff partners selected to participate in the inaugural CYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network event, hosted at DreamPort.
AWS Ramp-Up Guides
AWS offers comprehensive approaches to help build your knowledge of the AWS Cloud through our growing collection of AWS Ramp-Up Guides. These curated collections of no-cost, and for-cost training resources include digital training, classroom courses, videos, information papers, hands-on labs, certifications, and more. New courses on DevOps, Networking and Content Delivery, and Microsoft on AWS are available now!
NAPA report backs shift in leadership for cyber workforce development
A new study from the National Academy of Public Administration recommends that the newly established Office of the National Cyber Director develop and implement a coordinated, multi-sector strategy for the cybersecurity workforce, which faces chronic workforce shortages.
NSA Funds Development, Release of D3FEND
D3FEND, a framework for cybersecurity professionals to tailor defenses against specific cyber threats is now available through MITRE. NSA funded MITRE’s research for D3FEND to improve the cybersecurity of National Security Systems, the Department of Defense, and the Defense Industrial Base. The D3FEND technical knowledge base of defensive countermeasures for common offensive techniques is complementary to MITRE’s ATT&CK, a knowledge base of cyber adversary behavior.
Pressing Questions: Offensive Cyber Operations and NATO Strategy
NATO members are in the midst of a crisis. With Russia massing troops along its border with Ukraine and moving additional forces to Belarus ostensibly to conduct joint military exercises, policymakers fear that Russia is on the precipice of invading Ukraine and taking additional territory by force—similar to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. But, even if Russian President Vladimir Putin ultimately chooses not to launch a direct, conventional invasion of Ukraine, it is highly likely that he will continue to pursue Russian strategic objectives in the gray zone short of war. The crisis over Ukraine underscores the challenges NATO faces in competing with Russia in the gray zone—especially in cyberspace.
Read More at Modern War Institute
White House publishes final zero trust strategy for federal agencies
The White House on Wednesday published a final version of its zero-trust architecture strategy, which is intended to substantially improve the cybersecurity of government agency systems by 2024. Key aspects of the new document include a new enhanced focus on multi-factor authentication, a requirement that departments move towards encrypting all DNS requests and HTTP traffic, and begin to segment their network perimeters into separate isolated environments.
The Defense Department's IT agency says 'collaborative environment' at U.S. Cyber Command's DreamPort has been key for tech workforce development.
The Defense Information Systems Agency wants to foster "collaborative environments" to bolster training and development of the future tech workforce. And key to that has been the agency's relationship with DreamPort facilities run by U.S. Cyber Command.
CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
Prioritizing actively exploited vulnerabilities is important. It's not about the CVE score but more about is the vulnerability contextual to your business and are threat actors actively searching for companies in the blind.
Port of Houston Thwarts Cyber Attack
Last week, the port put out a statement: "The Port of Houston Authority (Port Houston) successfully defended itself against a cybersecurity attack in August. Port Houston followed its Facilities Security Plan in doing so, as guided under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), and no operational data or systems were impacted as a result."
Cyber Command announces partnership with 84 universities
U.S. Cyber Command announced it will partner with 84 universities across 34 states this year as part of a program to build up the nation's cybersecurity workforce and familiarize students with military cyber programs.
MISI supports US Cyber Command's Technical Outreach Objective
Check out the Command’s technical outreach site to see some great visuals on work we have done together in support of US Cyber Command, such as the recent Cyber Dome VI exercise!
CMMC Accreditation Body Announces Election of New Board Officers
The Accreditation Board (CMMC-AB) for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program has elected Vice Chair Jeff Dalton to be its next CMMC-AB Chair, the board announced December 20.
MISI harnesses Elastic to increase defense security, enhance cyber career development
Leveraging Elastic SIEM, MISI operates a security operations center that is a cost-effective service for defense contractors that need to comply with national cybersecurity standards, such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. This allows MISI to help contractors learn about and protect vulnerable parts of the national security supply chain.
Industrial cybersecurity requires unique skills. A new apprenticeship program aims to hone them.
According to energy tech firm Siemens Energy, there are fewer than 10 colleges that feature a curricula that covers cybersecurity for operational technologies. Hoping to make the most out of these still-limited academic options, Siemens this week announced a new industrial cybersecurity apprenticeship program that will allow university students to hone their specialized IT, OT and IoT skills in a real-life professional environment while also receiving pay for their work.
The MISI team keeps pushing forward and making news with innovative approaches to cybersecurity for industrial control systems and critical infrastructure.
The Cybersecurity & Industrial Infrastructure Security Apprenticeship Program (CIISAp) – Building the Next Generation of Industrial Cyber Defenders
The future depends on cybersecurity.
It's about more than the Internet. The systems that bring electricity, fuel, and water to millions of Americans count on smart devices. Industrial equipment, supply chain logistics, and remote work depend on secure networks.
MISI joins Industrial Control Cyber Skills Training Consortium
The Cybersecurity & Industrial Infrastructure Security Apprenticeship Program (CIISAp) was launched by Siemens Energy, MISI, and other National Academic and Non-profit Partners. They will collectively design and run an apprenticeship program that links rigorous academic classes and educational training with real-world job rotations at leading industrial companies.
MISI is excited to contribute our growing body of expertise, physical and virtual cyber ranges and extensive partnership network to this exciting and important cyber skills consortium.
National Vulnerability Database: Log4j2 Zero-Day (CVE-2021-44228)
A zero-day remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228) was found in the popular log4j2 Java library and was discovered to already be actively exploited in the wild.
On December 9, the Apache Foundation released Log4j version 2.25.0 as an emergency update for a critical vulnerability.
MISI always advises our customers to prioritize vulnerabilities known to be actively being exploited and the Log4j2 is one of the more severe types of vulnerabilities.
Reports indicate millions of adversarial activities designed to find and exploit this vulnerability are in progress.
MISI Lands Two Defense Industrial Base Supply Chain Subscribers
MISI is excited to announce the addition of two new customers seeking to utilize MISI and its team for CMMC 2.0 compliance coaching, red team operations, continuous cyber threat monitoring and MISI Security Operations Center (MSOC) Elastic Center of Excellence (ECE) cyber threat services.
MISI is making an impact locally and nationally as it provides the most cost effective set of cybersecurity services designed specifically for the small and medium sized defense industrial base supply chain.
CYBERCOM and NSA chief: Cybersecurity is a team sport
Many of today's biggest cyber challenges threaten collective interests and must be met with continued collective action.
In this era of strategic competition, foreign states use cyber operations to steal information, influence populations and damage industry. The threat and the impacts are shared: our adversaries target everyone – government, industry, civil society and more – and cybercriminals ransom and hold hostage our businesses, both large and small, and threaten critical infrastructure relied upon by millions.
OUSD A&S Released CMMC Scoping Guidance Documents
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition & Sustainment office has just released new CMMC Level 1 and Level 2 Scoping Guidance documents.
FBI: Cuba ransomware breached 49 US critical infrastructure orgs
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed that the Cuba ransomware gang has compromised the networks of at least 49 organizations from US critical infrastructure sectors.
"The FBI has identified, as of early November 2021 that Cuba ransomware actors have compromised at least 49 entities in five critical infrastructure sectors, including but not limited to the financial, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology sectors," the federal law enforcement agency said.
Read More at Bleeping Computer
MISI’s DreamPort highlighted in ABC News feature with NSA Director General Paul Nakasone
ABC News reporter Pierre Thomas toured MISI's DreamPort facility with MISI Co-Founder & Director Armando Seay as part of an exclusive feature on NSA operations.
Every day, foreign adversaries make millions of attempts to scan America's military networks, Director of the National Security Agency and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command Gen. Paul Nakasone says, and there is incredible pressure to defend the nation from those adversaries. ABC News was granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the "Battle Bridge" where the secret spy agency's cyber operations take place.
Pentagon official: First CMMC 2.0 rulemaking not expected in 2021
The Defense Department is in the early stages of developing two new rulemakings to change the Pentagon’s acquisition rules for its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, and does not expect to release the first rule for public comment during 2021 because details are still under discussion, according to CMMC program leader Buddy Dees. The Pentagon has halted all CMMC pilot programs until the new rulemakings go into effect.
Read More at Inside Cybersecurity
NSA Director: Evolving Cyber Threats Require Deeper Public-Private Partnerships
The government has long leaned on partnerships with companies and academia to advance technology, but according to one top cybersecurity leader, the complexities of the modern conflict landscape warrant cross-sector collaboration that goes deeper than any before. Nakasone, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, outlined areas of investment his team is pursuing in the face of new strategic challenges. They include talent, technology and partnerships. He also shed light on a new partnership NSA is embarking on with the National Cryptologic Foundation to advance future-facing research and build pipelines for cybersecurity jobs.
Pentagon strips down CMMC program to streamline industry cyber assessments
The Pentagon is revising its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program by massively reducing the amount of companies that would require third-party assessments and providing new waiver processes for select requirements. The Defense Department is also suspending the CMMC pilots for select contracts until it enacts the revised rules.
Read More at Federal News Network
A Proclamation on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2021
A Presidential Action from the White House Briefing Room on October 29, 2021. For generations, American infrastructure—from the Erie Canal and the Transcontinental Railroad to the Hoover Dam—has been a cornerstone of our economic power, providing jobs, facilitating transportation, bolstering security, and overcoming barriers posed by distance and geography. During Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we renew our commitment to securing and enhancing the resilience of our Nation’s critical infrastructure.
Nakasone Now Sees Ransomware, Influence Ops As ‘National Security’ Threats
The head of US Cyber Command and the National Security Agency said his idea of “national security” issues for the US in cyberspace has expanded, specifically now including ransomware attacks and online influence operations.
Joint Cybersecurity Advisory: BlackMatter Ransomware
Since July 2021, BlackMatter ransomware has targeted multiple U.S. critical infrastructure entities, including two U.S. Food and Agriculture Sector organizations. This advisory provides information on cyber actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) obtained from a sample of BlackMatter ransomware analyzed in a sandbox environment as well from trusted third-party reporting.
MISI wins Elastic's 2021 Solve with Search Award!
The Solve with Search award recognizes organizations producing relevant data insights inspiring strategic, results-driven action. MISI is honored and humbled to be in the company of our fellow nominees in this category. More importantly we are proud of our ability to transform the cybersecurity awareness and defense of the DoD supply chain for small and medium sized businesses!
Record backlog of cargo ships at California ports
Some 65 cargo ships have been forced to queue outside two of America's biggest ports, in the latest sign of supply chain disruption hitting the US. The ships are stuck outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, which handle 40% of all cargo containers entering the country. Before Covid, it was unusual for more than one to wait for a berth.
Air Force Cyber College Call for Abstracts
The Air Force Cyber College announces a call for abstracts for teaching cases on topics related to Cyber Strategy, Policy, and Leadership. Teaching cases or table-top exercises identify dilemmas, or lead students to do so. In contrast to traditional academic cases studies, teaching cases do not “solve problems” in the text of the case – they enable active learning for students to work them out. Successful abstract entrants will be invited to work on their draft cyber teaching case in the Air Force Cyber College Cyber Case Study Workshop.
Pentagon internal review delays plans to release CMMC final rule in September
The Defense Department is not planning to release the final rule cementing the implementation of its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program in September, due to an ongoing internal review expected to conclude toward the end of 2021.
Read More at Inside Cybersecurity
The DoD Interim Rule: Act Now, Prepare, or Delay?
The CMMC roll out is now behind the initially planned schedule as it is currently under review at the DoD. Industry associations came together and wrote a six page letter to DoD officials outlining their support of the CMMC, but with some recommendations. MISI has been providing assistance to DoD supply chain small businesses by helping them develop preparedness strategies to recover from cyber-attacks, such as ransomware. This assistance includes developing, testing, and implementing an incident response and recovery plan.
Operational Value of Indicators of Compromise White Paper
Most organizations prioritize processing internal information over processing and acting on external Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) feeds. There is a significant debate in the cybersecurity community as to what operational value some IOCs provide to organizations, since threat actors can and do change IOCs routinely to avoid detection. During the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial IOC Automation Pilot, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory discovered that the right question is not if IOCs are operationally valuable, but when.
Moving the U.S. Government Towards Zero Trust Cybersecurity Principles
Executive Order 14028, “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity”, pushes agencies to adopt zero trust cybersecurity principles and adjust their network architectures accordingly. To help this effort, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) developed a Zero Trust Maturity Model to assist agencies as they implement zero trust architectures. The maturity model complements the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Federal Zero Trust Strategy, and is designed to provide agencies with a roadmap and resources to achieve an optimal zero trust environment.
CISA is holding a public comment period on the Zero Trust Maturity Model from September 7, 2021 until October 1, 2021. During that time, reviewers can submit their comments and feedback to tic@cisa.dhs.gov.
Read More at Zerotrust.cyber.gov
House panel passes 2022 NDAA with eye on cyber workforce
The House Armed Services Committee passed its version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, 57-2, with a keen eye on improving the cyber workforce, while raising the topline spending limits by about $24 billion. HASC Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) opened the 16-hour markup session, characterizing this year's bill as transformative in its support of emerging technologies that could help the Defense Department better develop platforms, protect networks and deter adversaries "more cost effectively."
New ransomware resource StopRansomware.gov available to the public!
StopRansomware.gov is the U.S. Government's official one-stop location for resources to tackle ransomware more effectively by consolidating information from all federal government agencies. Previously, individuals and organizations had to visit a variety of websites to find guidance, latest alerts, updates, and resources, increasing the likelihood of missing important information. StopRansomware.gov reduces the fragmentation of resources, which is especially detrimental for those who have become victims of an attack, by integrating federal ransomware resources into a single platform that includes clear guidance on how to report attacks, and the latest ransomware-related alerts and threats from all participating agencies.
Read More at StopRansomware.gov
Nozomi Networks releases White Paper on Real World Threats to OT & Effective Mitigation Strategies
Attacks are becoming more daring – cutting off power supplies, poisoning water utilities, disrupting transportation systems, interfering with pharmaceutical recipes and halting production in manufacturing facilities. This white paper shares how to mitigate attacks like these.
MISI Co-Founder & Director Armando Seay tapped to keynote Triangle InfoSeCon 2021
Armando Seay—an executive with years of IT, sales, operations management, and business strategy leadership—has been announced as the Keynote Speaker at Triangle InfoSeCon 2021, known as the best cybersecurity conference in the Southeast! Learn what Armando has to say about MISI's many initiatives at Triangle InfoSeCon 2021 on October 28-29.
Read More at Triangle InfoSeCon
AFCEA Innovation Connection - Episode 2
MISI supports outreach to non traditional companies and innovators through partnerships such as AFCEA’s Innovation Connection. This link is to the most recent episode of AFCEA’s Innovation Connection where one of MISI’s Co-founders and Directors participated.
Posture Statement of General Paul M. Nakasone Commander, United States Cyber Command
Read the Posture Statement of General Paul M. Nakasone Commander, United States Cyber Command before the 117th Congress Senate Armed Services Committee on March 25, 2021.
White House is Developing a Plan to Secure Industrial Control Systems
The top White House cybersecurity official is working with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the energy sector and industrial control system specialists on a plan to protect critical infrastructure.
The operational technology, or OT, behind the systems that treat drinking water and run electric grids, subway systems and other essential services is a major source of concern as growing internet connectivity has increased their vulnerability to malicious hackers. Last month, an unidentified actor’s attempt to manipulate the chemical content in a Florida water treatment plant to dangerous levels provided a prominent example of how poor visibility into systems can cause not just digital, but physical harms, of tremendous scale.
Bug Bounty – 10 Things You Should Know
Bug Bounty has become a buzz phrase lately. With unprecedented cyber breaches and attacks, it's no surprise that many companies and institutions are turning to bug bounty programs.
What is Bug Bounty?
According to AT&T Cybersecurity, creator of Open Threat Exchange, the largest crowdsourced computer security platform, "Bug Bounty programs allow white-hat hackers and security researchers to find vulnerabilities within a corporation's (approved) ecosystem and are provided recognition and/or monetary reward for disclosing them."
Read More at US Cybersecurity Magazine
MISI and the Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership Execute a CMMC Compliance Agreement
COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – MISI and the Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Purdue MEP) executed an agreement to offer MISI's sensor grid and AWS GovCloud hosted CMMC continuous cybersecurity compliance and threat monitoring solutions to Purdue MEP customers.
MISI and the Purdue MEP collaborated for several months to test MISI sensors and its AWS GovCloud hosted Jensie continuous cyber compliance threat monitoring solution with several Purdue MEP defense industrial base (DIB) manufacturing suppliers.
DHS, NSA creating reusable pieces to zero trust foundation
An analysis by Bloomberg Government from last summer showed agencies have spent only $500,000 on zero trust architecture tools and services since fiscal 2017.
To be clear, that research only looked for specific mentions of what has become a buzzword mentioned at every conference and vendor white paper over the last two years.
BGov readily acknowledges that there are hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars spent on components that would go into a zero trust architecture.
Read More at Federal News Network
Northrop Grumman names spacecraft after NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Northrop Grumman has named its NG-15 Cygnus spacecraft after NASA mathematician and Newport News resident Katherine Johnson.
It is the company's tradition to name each Cygnus spacecraft after an individual who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight.
Johnson overcame barriers of race and gender, and whose work was critical in sending the first Americans to space. Johnson's hand-written calculations were critical for John Glenn's successful orbital mission around the Earth.
Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations
January 28, 2021 — The protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) resident in nonfederal systems and organizations is of paramount importance to federal agencies and can directly impact the ability of the federal government to successfully conduct its essential missions and functions. This publication provides agencies with recommended security requirements for protecting the confidentiality of CUI when the information is resident in nonfederal systems and organizations; when the nonfederal organization is not collecting or maintaining information on behalf of a federal agency or using or operating a system on behalf of an agency; and where there are no specific safeguarding requirements for protecting the confidentiality of CUI prescribed by the authorizing law, regulation, or governmentwide policy for the CUI category listed in the CUI Registry. The requirements apply to all components of nonfederal systems and organizations that process, store, and/or transmit CUI, or that provide protection for such components. The security requirements are intended for use by federal agencies in contractual vehicles or other agreements established between those agencies and nonfederal organizations.
Department of Defense funds $1.465 million for cybersecurity education at The Citadel
January 26, 2021 — The Citadel and the nation's five other Senior Military Colleges (SMC) are all developing aligned, Department of Defense Cybersecurity Institutes, funded by the federal government. The Citadel Department of Defense Cyber Institute and the other SMC cyber institutes will address the critical national security need for a larger cybersecurity workforce.
Read More at Global Banking and Finance
A DISCUSSION WITH THE CMMC-AB AND DOD JANUARY TOWN HALL
January 26, 2021 — This Town Hall was hosted by Wayne Boline, who also gave Opening Remarks and Rules of Engagement. Welcome message delivered by Karlton Johnson, Chairman with a message from Katie Arrington, DoD CISO. Pilot Overview by Dian Knight, DoD.Training and Credentialing delivered by Jeff Dalton and Ben Tchoubineh. ISO 17011 Accreditation Body Update by Jeff Dalton. Q&A moderated by Wayne Boline. Wrap Up and Thank you from Karlton Johnson.
DISA Call for White Papers!
July 15, 2020 — Technologies, and technology-based companies, advance so rapidly that the Department of Defense is finding it difficult to contractually engage, collaborate, and do business with high-tech companies. In an effort to make this process easier, DISA will periodically post Requests for White Papers inviting companies leading innovation to submit their solutions to the Agency's capability gaps, problem statements, or areas of interest.
Global Position System (GPS) Based Clutter Loss Measurement (BCLM)
Due Date: 17 August 2020 at 2:00PM CDT
Project Number: DISA-OTA-20-R-BCLM
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Emerging Technology (EM) Directorate through the DISA Procurement Services Directorate (PSD) is seeking the development of prototype systems, software, and processes that can be used to operationally measure clutter loss using Global Position System (GPS) signals across multiple satellite constellations.
This Request for White Paper (RWP) is being issued to conduct research, development, and testing activities associated with GPS Based Clutter Loss Measurement (BCLM) activities. This request meets the statutory requirements of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) (10 U.S.C. 10 U.S.C. §2371b) for the development of a GPS BCLM prototype.
The Department of Defense (DoD), Military Services and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Defense Spectrum Organization (DSO), each developed transition plans to support the migration of DoD systems leaving the 1755-1780 megahertz (MHz) band and to facilitate increasingly less restrictive spectrum sharing arrangements for early entry of commercial Advanced Wireless Services-3 (AWS-3) systems in support of the new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) rule making for AWS-3.
DISA Call for White Papers!
July 6, 2020 — Technologies, and technology-based companies, advance so rapidly that the Department of Defense is finding it difficult to contractually engage, collaborate, and do business with high-tech companies. In an effort to make this process easier, DISA will periodically post Requests for White Papers inviting companies leading innovation to submit their solutions to the Agency's capability gaps, problem statements, or areas of interest.
Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) that incorporates Spectrum Access Systems (SAS) and Environmental Sensing Capabilities (ESC)
Due Date (EXTENDED): 07 July 2020 at 8:00am EST
Project Number: DISA-OTA-20-R-TardyS3
DISA DSO is planning the procurement of tools/systems/capabilities, which will assist and enhance the dynamic spectrum sharing environment fielded for CBRS. DISA DSO seeks industry feedback on the projected acquisition approach.
The Government desires an Agile and DevSecOps approach to deliver an initial, minimum viable product (MVP) for the spectrum scheduling system within six months of award and delivering a second MVP for the interference prevention, detection, and resolution capability within nine months of award. Improvement, productization, and operational implementation of these capabilities through the year 2025 are planned. DISA DSO expects the performing vendor(s) to play a critical role interacting with key stakeholders including DOD operators, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and CBRS users within the target band.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
Congratulations, Armando Seay!
June 25, 2020 — Armando Seay, Director of DreamPort is recognized as a 2020 Individual Honoree at the Cybersecurity Impact Awards. These awards are dedicated to shining a spotlight on Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia-based companies for their leadership and innovation within the cybersecurity industry.
Call for Interns!
February 10, 2020 — DreamPort continues to grow and flourish, we are on the look out for some helping hands! If you are a student living in the Columbia area (or don't mind driving there), and have a love of (more like an obsession with) technology and innovation, this might just be your dream internship!
New this year is the MISI Cyber Leadership Academy, ad we will also have both college, and high school internships available.
Read More and Learn How to Apply Here
First Implementation of CMMC Available!
You can now request the initial implementation of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) v1.0, which includes several changes to the standard. This version was published January 30, 2020. Also available are the Version 1.0 Appendices, and the public briefing documents!
USC Kicks Off 50-State Election Cybersecurity Trainings on Jan. 28 in Maryland
Newswise – The University of Southern California on Tuesday will kick off its nonpartisan, independent, 50-state election cybersecurity training initiative in Maryland. The initiative will feature daylong workshops in each state, designed to train state and local election and campaign officials how best to fortify against digital attacks. Participants will also learn best practices to protect against misinformation and disinformation and crisis communication strategies.
DOD Plans to Take Comments Before Finalizing Rule on Certifying Contractors' Cybersecurity
A sweeping plan to conduct independent third-party cybersecurity audits of prospective Defense Department contractors' management of sensitive information will be subject to a formal rulemaking process, but the department and the nonprofit organization being established to train and approve certifiers are still moving at a quick clip.
How the MISI DreamPort Team Accelerates the Path towards CMMC Compliance for DoD Small Businesses
The MISI DreamPort team has been testing and evaluating solutions that cater to small and medium-sized businesses but also very specific solutions that meet the unique compliance challenges of small and medium-sized manufacturing Defense Industrial Based (DIB) companies.
New Draft of CMMC Available
You can now request the draft of the new (v0.6). Draft Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) v0.6 is now available, and includes several changes to the standard. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense released the draft on November 8th to allow industry a look at what it can expect when the final CMMC revision is published.
Small Business Lunch and Learn Hosted at USCYBERCOM's DreamPort
The chapter's Small Business Committee led by VP of Small Business, Angie Lienert, vice president of small business and president and CEO of Intelligenesis, arranged an event hosted at the DreamPort in Columbia, Maryland, where members of the Maryland Department of Commerce and Military spoke about various benefits and programs available to Small Businesses working with U.S. Department of Defense installations and agencies.
Read more at AFCEA's Signal Site
Fort Meade: Military hacking convention doubled in attendance in one year
The sky is the limit for AvengerCon.
After attracting about 330 people to McGill Training Center last year, the event doubled in size and moved to DreamPort, a tech and cyber collaboration facility in Columbia on Oct. 17 and 18…
AvengerCon IV
October 18, 2019 — The first AvengerCon was started in 2016 by members of A Company (nicknamed "the Avengers") of 781st Military Intelligence Battalion to provide a venue for hackers in the formation to come together and share interesting ideas in a day of thought-provoking presentations.…
Mrs. Katherine G. Johnson to be honored at MISI's IMAGINE Event
October 16, 2019 — The Directors of MISI and DreamPort, IMAGINE event Chair Reggie Van Lee, Chief Transformation Officer The Carlyle Group and the Host Committee are pleased to announce that NASA legend, Mrs. Katherine G. Johnson and her daughters have graciously accepted our honoring her at our inaugural IMAGINE bespoke salon dinner highlighting women in STEM.…
DISA Call for White Papers!
October 14, 2019 — Technologies, and technology-based companies, advance so rapidly that the Department of Defense is finding it difficult to contractually engage, collaborate, and do business with high-tech companies. In an effort to make this process easier, DISA will periodically post Requests for White Papers inviting companies leading innovation to submit their solutions to the Agency's capability gaps, problem statements, or areas of interest.
Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)
Due Date: November 5, 2019 no later than 2 PM (CST)
Project Number: DISA-OTA-20-R-ICAM
This request for White Paper (RWP) is being issued to conduct research, development, and testing activities associated with Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) activities. This request meets the statutory requirements of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) (10 U.S.C. §2371) for the development and deployment of a DoD Enterprise Identity Service that will create a single user record, consolidating all pertinent data associated with the individual under one account, and automatically deleting such accounts when they are no longer required. The objective will be to establish a federated identity service for DISA, its mission partners, non-CAC holders (such as authorized guests and visitors), and non-person entities that mitigates current inefficiencies, facilitates strong authentication to current state-of-the-art cloud services, provide authorization services with role-base access, and enables audit of users and resources; using non-traditional defense contractor solutions per 10 USC §2302(9), which defines a non-traditional defense contractor as "an entity that is not currently performing and has not performed, for at least one year preceding the solicitation of sources by the DoD for the procurement or transaction, any contract or subcontract for the DoD that is subject to full coverage under the cost accounting standards prescribed pursuant to 41 USC §1502 and the regulations implementing such section."
DreamPort a place for cyber collaboration between government, industry
August 29, 2019 — Columbia's DreamPort, opened last year, has developed as a place for the cyber industry to work collaboratively with the government to address pressing cybersecurity issues. The 17,500 square-foot facility is nonclassified, cutting out a lot of the red tape that could potentially get in the way of the private sector helping to develop cyber solutions with…
CISA, DOD Weigh in on Protecting the Nation's Most Critical Infrastructure
August 16, 2019 — Federal agencies are taking cues from industry for some of their most pressing cybersecurity challenges.
One challenge for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's National Risk Management Center includes the threat model that has shifted in the past few years.
DISA Call for White Papers!
August 1, 2019 — Technologies, and technology-based companies, advance so rapidly that the Department of Defense is finding it difficult to contractually engage, collaborate, and do business with high-tech companies. In an effort to make this process easier, DISA will periodically post Requests for White Papers inviting companies leading innovation to submit their solutions to the Agency's capability gaps, problem statements, or areas of interest.
Mobility Enablement Prototype
Due Date: August 12, 2019 by 9:00 AM CST
Project Number: DISA-OTA-19-R-MEO
This request for White Paper (RWP) is being issued to seek vendors capable of fulfilling the technical objectives outlined below related to Mobility Enablement in order to conduct research, development, and testing activities to stand up an environment capable of supporting the development of secure mobile applications (apps) and streamline the security approval process to properly vet the apps for use on Department of Defense (DoD) mobile devices.
USCYBERCOM Small Business Industry Day Slides Now Available
Request to download the USCYBERCOM Small Business Industry Day Slides from the July 16, 2019 event.
Georgia economic leaders paid a visit to Maryland cyber centers
February 21, 2019 — Building on a big presence from the federal government's cybersecurity force, a state is looking to expand commercial research and training activities that can become a force in the region.
Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore
Defense Industrial Base Outreach
Call of Automated Cybersecurity Posture Determination
Information Session: June 28, 2019 at 1:30pm
Responses Due: July 19, 2019
Prize: $25,000
Send Questions to: contact at misi dot tech
Companies should also fill out the NIST-SP-800-171_800-53_Mapping v1 matrix and email it to contact at misi dot tech – This is a matrix that we recommend each potential vendor complete to demonstrate their capability maps to all policy and technical controls.
DISA Call for White Papers!
Quantum-Resistance Cryptography Prototype
Due Date: June 14, 2019 by 9:00 AM CST
Project Number: DISA-OTA19-R-Quantum
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Emerging Technology (EM) Directorate through the DISA Procurement Services Directorate (PSD) is seeking information from Industry to evaluate the use of quantum-safe algorithms and cryptographic solutions that can defend Department of Defense (DoD) Information Technology (IT) infrastructure from malicious cyber activities.
Call for Interns!
April 30, 2019 — DreamPort continues to grow and flourish, we are on the look out for some helping hands! If you are a student living in the Columbia area (or don't mind driving there), and have a love of (more like an obsession with) technology and innovation, this might just be your dream internship!
We are offering a 4-week internship to energetic, hard-charging students. We seek qualified rising High School Juniors to come out to DreamPort and learn what it might be like to work in the IT/cybersecurity field, but all applications will be reviewed.
CAPT Ed Devinney, USN Donates Flag and Plaque to MISI at DreamPort
March 27, 2019 — Captain Ed Devinney, USN, generously presented a flag from the USS COLE and commemorative plaque to Karl Gumtow and MISI's DreamPort Facility on March 27th, 2019.
DreamPort Hosts CEO Networking Event Sponsored by COPT
March 19, 2019 — DreamPort hosted a CEO Networking Event sponsored by COPT to provide the tech CEOs from the area information on MISI and the Dreamport mission. COPT invited many of their customers. Captain Ed Divinney made remarks on the concept behind Dreamport and the rapid pace of activity since its opening in December 2018.
General Nakasone visits DreamPort
March 13, 2019 — General Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service visited the DreamPort facility for a briefing.
New DreamPort center bringing small business cyber help to federal sector
November 2, 2018 — U.S. Cyber Command tracks and confronts some of the most dire cybersecurity threats facing our country. But it needs a little help sometimes, so there is a new facility in Maryland dedicated to seeking private industry input on government cyber problems.
Read more at Baltimore Business Journal
An innovative partnership could help Cyber Command fight malware
October 26, 2018 — A new public-private partnership recently concluded its first hackathon-type rapid prototype event to help discover new techniques or tools that can be applied to problems or challenges facing U.S. Cyber Command.
Cyber Command partners for a cyber prototyping environment
September 7, 2018 — U.S. Cyber Command is standing up a cyber version of SOFWERX, the public-private partnership run through Special Operations Command to foster greater innovation for rapid solutions.
DreamPort, run by the Maryland Innovation and Security Institute through a partnership intermediary agreement with Cyber Command, is described as a state-of-the-art facility where companies can bring in their capabilities to be worked on.
Cybersecurity Innovator Selects COPT's Columbia Gateway for Headquarters Location
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Corporate Office Properties Trust ("COPT" or the "Company") (NYSE: OFC) has executed an 18,000 square foot lease with The Maryland Innovation and Security Institute ("MISI") in the Columbia Gateway Business & Innovation Center in Columbia, Maryland.
Columbia innovation center will work with Cyber Command on new technology
June 19, 2018 — A Baltimore-based nonprofit is working with U.S. Cyber Command to bring business, government and academic leaders together to work on new technology.
Read more at Technical.ly Baltimore
USCYBERCOM Awards Cyber Innovation Contract to MISI
Baltimore, MD, June 12, 2018 — The Maryland Innovation and Security Institute (MISI) has been awarded a five-year Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) by United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) to innovate new technologies in an unclassified, state-of-the-art facility located in Columbia, MD.
As part of the PIA, MISI will engage small businesses, entrepreneurs, academia, traditional businesses and others to build an innovation, collaboration, and prototyping facility called DreamPort. This facility will foster collaboration and prototyping in highly configurable laboratories, co-working spaces, project rooms, and conference facilities. Once established, the DreamPort will host collaborative, technical interchange meetings, monthly rapid prototyping events, and provide daily access to their cutting-edge facilities. The DreamPort will also host two STEM events annually to inspire future cyber warriors and defenders.
MISI will also assemble a network of cyber organizations and professionals referred to as the Partnership Network, and deliver an information portal, DreamFinder. The synergism of the DreamPort, Partnership Network, and DreamFinder will accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions to USCYBERCOM.
"We are honored to establish and operate this USCYBERCOM innovation facility," said Karl Gumtow, the MISI Director, "I am most excited about accessing the innovative solutions created when small businesses and academia are engaged, even though these are not normally used in US Government solutions. The community doesn't have to wait until the physical facility is completed to engage. They can go to our website and sign-up to learn more about the DreamPort as well as register to be a cyber-subject matter expert for upcoming collaboration and prototyping events."
MISI's startup partners include several community innovators such as SINET, FBC, CyberPoint, the Johns Hopkins University, University System of Maryland, and the George Washington University.
Learn more about the DreamPort at dreamport.tech or contact Karl Gumtow at kgumtow@misi.tech.
About MISI
MISI is a non-profit formed exclusively to further and promote charitable, educational, and scientific purposes including, but not limited to, furthering innovation in cybersecurity through education, global technology partnerships, investment, and community engagement to create a collaborative network of subject matter experts and cyber professionals. To learn more, visit misi.tech.
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