26 October 2006

Confused by C&A? Allow CygnaCom Solutions to help

CygnaCom hosting DoD seminar to help 'demystify' DIACAP perceptions, challenges

MCLEAN, VA - Comprehending the many changes to the standard Certification and Accreditation (C&A) process for Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, departments and branches can be daunting.  With a goal to help educate and inform government authorities, managers, vendors and contractors, CygnaCom Solutions will host the "Demystifying DIACAP Workshop: Certification & Accreditation for Department of Defense" Nov. 15 in Vienna, Va.

DIACAP is the new Department of Defense Information Assurance C&A Process that replaces the DoD Information Technology Security C&A Process (DITSCAP). The day-long seminar is an intensive presentation and workshop presenting principles for implementing the C&A process for DoD information systems previously accredited using DITSCAP, transitioning to DIACAP or initiating a DIACAP accreditation effort.

"We recognize the challenges that defense agencies face during the implementation of the new DIACAP standard, and we're committed to informing, educating and assisting during this transition," said Peter Bello, President, CygnaCom Solutions. "The Demystifying DIACAP Workshop is an exciting opportunity to gather real-world feedback and concerns, and provide answers and guidance to assist with conversion to the new C&A standard."

The seminar will feature dialogue, exercises and detailed presentations concerning the elements of the C&A transition, led by speaker Jenifer Wierum, a Senior Systems Security Engineer and the C&A Technical Lead within CygnaCom Solutions. Wierum, an expert in C&A processes, is a U.S. Army Electronics Intelligence (ELINT) Analyst Veteran and has been working as a DoD contractor for 16 years.

The primary objective of DIACAP - and the process it replaces - is to protect and secure information systems and other elements that comprise the Defense Information Infrastructure. DIACAP applies to any DoD system that collects, stores, transmits or processes unclassified, sensitive or classified information during the lifecycle phases of acquisition, operation and sustainment.

The DIACAP is not an upgraded DITSCAP, rather it is an entirely new process designed to fulfill the needs of the entities comprising the Global Information Grid (GIG). It also establishes a DoD-wide configuration management process that considers the GIG architecture and risk assessments that are conducted at the Department and the DoD-component level according to Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which mandated that federal agencies are required to develop, document and implement agency-wide programs to provide security for their information systems that support operations and digital assets.

About CygnaCom Solutions
CygnaCom Solutions, a subsidiary of Entrust, Inc., has provided professional information security services and cryptographic solutions to government and business clients since 1994. CygnaCom, with headquarters in McLean, Va., provides a wide range of consulting services and customized solutions to help clients develop, implement and maintain information security programs, policies and strategy. Through its accredited laboratories, CygnaCom is also a one-stop provider of comprehensive U.S. standards-based security testing and evaluation services for IT and cryptographic products.

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