All too often I receive phone calls from frantic business owners who have a once trusted employee or freelancer threatening to leave the company or behaving in a way that indicates something is very wrong. Yet the business owner is fearful about parting ways for a number of reasons, including the fear of competing against a once green part timer for future business. The solopreneur has trusted said “employee”, taught he or she everything about the business, and, oh-oh, Sally is no longer happy being paid an hourly wage and threatens to go out on her own. What valuable contacts, resources and information might Sally be taking with her?

To see the complete article go to:

http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/are-you-at-risk-of-losing-your-business.html

A trustworthiness investigation is not conducted for a security clearance. It is requested when an applicant is going to have access to sensitive but unclassified Information. For example, trustworthiness investigations are sometimes conducted on those that will have access to a sensitive site (e.g., cleaning crew on a military installation).

I am often asked Who Should I Name as References on my Security Clearance Forms and What Will They be Asked.

Your references should be people who have known you for a significant period. Your references will be asked questions about your honesty, reliability, and trustworthiness, and their opinion on whether you should be given access to classified information or assigned to a sensitive position or position of trust.

Your references will also be asked questions about your past and present activities, employment history, education, family background, neighborhood activities, and finances. During your investigation the investigator will need to know if you have had any involvement with drugs, encounters with the police, allegiance to the US or problem drinking habits, and other facts about your personal history. The investigator(s) will attempt to obtain both favorable and unfavorable information about your background so an adjudicator can make an appropriate determination. 

Do you have a security clearance question that you are dying to ask?

 I am having a Virtual book tour 7/5/10@7:30pm EST.

 http://virtualbooktourcafe.weebly.com/authors-live-chat.html 

 Let’s see if we can get that security clearance question answered.

Spread the word……………………………………………….. 

Diane

Subject interviews are an integral part of most PSIs (personnel security investigations) conducted by OPM. Your participation is completely voluntary. However, without the interview, OPM will be unable to conduct a thorough investigation on your background and an adjudicator may not be able to determine your suitability to access classified information or be assigned to a sensitive position or position of trust.

As a result, you may be denied a security clearance or an appointment to a sensitive position.

Have a Comment,  Please leave one………………………………………………………….

In a recent article regarding cyber-news, it stated that researchers have found that many terrorist organizations, including Hamas, are using their children’s website in order to recruit girls for terrorist activities.

These organizations’ use of female suicide bombers is on the rise, and the shift is directly reflected by an upsurge in website dedicated to female terrorist.  Just as many experts know how to reach target markets, terrorist groups realize that in order to recruit women, they must approach them with specific messages, rather than making do with general websites that primarily target males. 

Do you check your child’s computer activities, if not, may be you should start!

 I live for comments, please leave yours…………………………….

In January, NSI Inc.,  stated that many users of social-networking websites inadvertently put themselves at risk by sharing too much information. Below are a few areas that could cause risk.

• Address and birth date. Disclosing your home address or your place or date of birth could make you a target of an identity thief. Your home address even could attract a burglar or stalker to your home. If you’re throwing a party and need to provide directions, do so through email.

• Year of graduation from high school or college. These can help scammers pretend to be former classmates, a common way to win victims’ trust. Also, potential employers could use your graduation date to estimate your age, then reject you if they consider you too old.

• Business contacts. Professional networking websites typically let people on your contact list see the names and IDs of everyone else on your list. An unscrupulous competitor, dissatisfied customer, or former employee could send a damaging message about you to everyone on the list.

• Mother’s maiden name. Businesses often use your mother’s maiden name to confirm your identity, so it’s prudent to keep that name as confidential as possible. (Keep in mind that pet names are another common security question.)

• Travel plans and schedules of groups you belong to. If you mention the dates of an upcoming vacation on a social-networking website, or that you’ve joined a Wednesday-night book group, you might unwittingly have told a burglar when your home will be vacant.

• Your valuables. Don’t discuss your expensive art, antiques, or jewelry. It could make you a target for a burglar.

• The name of your doctor or dentist. If a scammer learns where you receive medical treatment, he might attempt to obtain your insurance information. This could be sold to someone who lacks health insurance, who would then pose as you to obtain treatment.

This best advice I can give you, especially if you have a security clearance, is that “If you don’t want your parents to know about it”, then don’t share it on ANY social media sites.

Everyone wants everything NOW. Not just you and me, I’m talking about EVERYONE.

Why do you think diet pills are a million businesses? We want instant gratification. NO work, NO exercise, just melt away the fat away.

PRESTO – You can lose 20 – 30 pounds. By taking this little pill 3 times a day. Yeah, Right!

This same philosophy is what everyone seems to want
in the security business. They want INSTANT results with NO work.

Well, it does not work that way. You have to have a good security program; you have to have someone on board that understands the requirements of the NISP – National Industrial Security Program and other safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosure of classified information and how to restrict clearances based on Need to Know.

If you make sure that your security program meets all of the requirements of the National Industrial Security Program operating manual and you have on board a security person that understand the general requirements of the NISPOM, you won’t have be in a panic when you are inspected by DSS.

WIIFM? WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? A sense of relief, that your security program is in compliance and that you are adequately protecting classified information.

Have a Security Question?  Everything you need to know about the security clearance process, but are afraid to ask is ready for purchase.

I live for comments, please leave one………………………………………………

Did you know that if you are employed by the federal government or a defense contractor and you are supporting a contract that requires you to have access to classified information, then there is a possibility you can have your clearance reinstated if the following applies?

• No more than 24 months has lapsed since the date of termination of the clearance;
• There is no known adverse information;
• The most recent investigation does not exceed 5 years (DoD Top Secret/DoE Q) or 10 years (DoD Secret/DoE L); and
• The level of security clearance that is to be reinstated meets or exceeds the scope of the investigation required.

Comments?  Please leave one!

Think about it, if you were going to renovate your house, you could do it your self, but it would be easier to hire an expert. When you have health issues, you hire a expert. And when I need my taxes done, I hire an expert. Security is no different.

 After reviewing the above examples, and If I want something done right, I hire a expert.  I just go to them when I need their services and, at Security First & Associates it’s the same way.

 We have Top Security experts available to work directly with you.  If you need help with your Security programs, JPAS or other security services, we have the appropriate security subject matter experts available. 

 Please read about us on our website and the different types of consulting available. Then call us and we can provide a quotation based on what goals you want to achieve.

I live for comments, please leave yours…………………………….