Selecting a cyber security partner could be one of the most important decisions your organization ever makes. Choosing the right cyber security firm could mean the difference between a knowledgeable partner who keeps your mission-critical IT assets protected, and a poor IT security posture that exposes you to a devastating cyber attack.
In light of these concerns, government, military, and defense organizations must prioritize factors such as performance and experience when choosing a cyber security partner. Below, we’ll discuss why Cyber Security past performance and experience are essential, and how Cropper Federal Security fulfills these needs for our clients.
3 Reasons Why Governmental Organizations Need an Experienced Cyber Security Partner
1. Cyber security is a complex and nuanced necessity
Cyber security is a broad, in-depth, and technically demanding field. Cyber security professionals need to constantly stay abreast of the industry’s news and best practices. The more experience your cyber security partner has, the easier it will be to stay on top of these constantly evolving issues.
This is why all Cropper Federal Security personnel have gained previous experience in the IT field before entering cyber security. Our IT security professionals have a comprehensive understanding of not only general IT operations and management but also the vast range of cyber security operations and solutions.
2. Excellent IT security goes unnoticed
Nowhere is the mantra that “no news is good news” more true than in cyber security. When administered correctly, cyber security should go practically unnoticed within the client organization. The goal of your cyber security partner is to neutralize potential issues before they become real problems. Conversely, poor cyber security can be measured by the number and impact of the attacks on your organization.
To enforce the highest standards of cyber security performance, Cropper Federal Security employs ISO 9001 standards that ensure our clients are satisfied with our IT security services and that is reflected in our Contract Performance Annual Reports (CPARs). Our team of skilled, knowledgeable cyber security experts ensures that the client’s organizational mission is always front and center during the relationship.
3. Cyber security and cyber intelligence are critical to our nation’s defense
According to a May 2021 White House executive order, “the prevention, detection, assessment, and remediation of cyber incidents is a top priority and essential to national and economic security.” Recent cyber attacks and attempted attacks, such as the September 2021 Port of Houston incident and a Chinese hacking campaign against U.S. defense and technology firms, underscore the urgency of cyber security.
The importance of cyber security highlights the necessity for in-depth knowledge and experience from your choice of IT security partner. Cropper Federal Security hires only personnel with degrees, certifications, and security clearances who have experience in both IT and cyber security. More than 90 percent of our team members are military veterans, with decades of combined experience in IT security. These strict hiring guidelines ensure that our customers receive the most comprehensive and cutting-edge cyber security services and thought leadership.
About Cropper Federal Security
Cropper Federal Security is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded by a former U.S. Air Force commander and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. We provide an extensive suite of IT strategy consulting, cyber security, engineering, and mission support solutions.
Cropper Federal Security maintains an active security clearance, with years of experience supporting classified programs. For the past 26 years and counting, Cropper Federal Security leadership has been involved in numerous critical C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) programs for the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense — from Squadron to Combatant Command (COCOM) levels.
Our suite of operational and technical expertise includes:
- IT strategy consulting: CIO/CTO/CISO support; cybersecurity; waterfall, agile, and lean processes; strategic planning and road mapping; leadership and mentorship; etc.
- Cyber security operations and solutions: system engineering and integration; engineering analysis; cross-domain solutions; cyber security architecture and design; public key infrastructure (PKI); Risk Management Framework (RMF) implementation and management; etc.
- IT operations and management: information management/information technology (IM/IT) solutions; portfolio management; telecommunications; information assurance (IA); etc.
At any given time, Cropper Federal Security Information Systems Security Engineers (ISSEs) have an average of 33 Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) packages in the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process within the Xacta cyber risk management solution suite. This is dramatically higher than most other ISSEs, which typically only process 3 to 7 packages.
The in-depth experience of our ISSEs, and our team’s ability to standardize approaches, are fundamental to the high volume of Cropper Federal Security's Approvals to Operate (ATOs). We ensure that our cyber security team is in constant communication with the Designated Approving Authorities (DAOs), the Project Managers (PMs), and the rest of the Integrated Product Team (IPT) and/or Scrum Team.
In the next article in this series, we’ll discuss how military experience is another invaluable asset for cyber security firms. To learn more about how we can help improve your cyber security posture, get in touch with our team today to schedule a talk about your needs and objectives.
