Aspire Cyber

Derrich was thrilled to have facilitated a Cyber Attack Simulation for the fantastic staff at D'Youville University, in partnership with NYSERNet! It was incredible to see everyone fully engaged and actively participating in the simulation. President Lorrie Clemo, PhD participation was truly commendable, demonstrating exceptional leadership. Huge gratitude to Joseph Gunnells, Sr., the CIO at D'Youville University, whose forward-thinking vision made this event truly exceptional. If your organization is looking to transform cyber incident response training from a snooze-fest to an engaging and realistic experience, Aspire Cyber is here to help! Let's work together to turn your team into cyber superheroes! P.S. What elements would you like to incorporate into your cyber incident response training?

Aspire Cyber & DOI University: Advancing Responsible AI Use in Government Aspire Cyber is honored to once again partner with DOI University to deliver our "Benefits and Risks of AI" course for federal employees. This marks the second consecutive year Aspire Cyber has been selected to deliver this critical training, underscoring our commitment to ethical AI implementation in federal operations. ?? Register link in the comments ?? This foundational course is designed to equip federal employees with the knowledge they need to responsibly and ethically harness AI's potential. Through a blend of lectures, case studies, and interactive exercises, participants will explore how AI can enhance productivity while addressing the associated risks. The Course Covers: - Key AI concepts and their historical development. - How to leverage AI for increased productivity and innovation. - Identifying and mitigating security, ethical, legal, and operational risks. - Best practices for the responsible use of AI in federal settings. ?? Target Audience: Federal employees across all sectors who seek a solid understanding of AI applications, risks, and best practices—especially those in IT, cybersecurity, policy, and management roles.

Harness the Collective Power of Community for Enhanced Cybersecurity Excited to announce that Aspire Cyber's Founder and President Derrich Phillips, will be the opening keynote speaker at the EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference! Join Derrich on Monday, May 19, 2025, from 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM ET in the Grand Ballroom VI-X, 3rd Floor, for my presentation: Beyond the Firewall: How Community Strengthens Cybersecurity in Higher Education. Link to register is in the comments ?? In this session, I'll draw from my experiences as the Founder and Executive Director of the CMMC Professionals Network (CPN), sharing insights into building a vibrant and inclusive community for cybersecurity professionals. We’ll explore how the principles of community building can significantly enhance cybersecurity and privacy practices within higher education institutions. What You'll Learn: - The crucial roles of mentorship and hands-on training in bridging the cybersecurity talent gap. - Strategies to foster engagement and sustain participation within professional communities. - Methods to enhance cross-departmental collaboration for tackling privacy and security challenges. - Practical tips for cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration in cybersecurity at higher ed institutions. Looking forward to seeing you there and exploring how we can strengthen our defenses together through community! #CybersecPrivacy25

Congratulations to Our CMMC in Action Player of the Month: Mark DeBry In our recent Mock CMMC Level 1 Assessment on February 20, 2025, we took a bold new approach: showing what happens when the Organization Seeking Assessment (OSA) is completely unprepared. Missing controls, undisclosed systems, and questionable transparency led to a “fail” scenario—which is exactly what we wanted to demonstrate. Link to view the recording is in the comments ?? Why This Matters ? Real-World Stakes: Sometimes an OSA isn’t ready, and the assessment grinds to a halt. ? Authentic Learning: Watch how incomplete docs and late-discovered systems throw the entire process off track. ? Practical Takeaways: See how vital preparation and honesty are for any CMMC journey. If key elements are overlooked, “fail” can happen fast. A big thank you to Mark DeBry, our February Player of the Month, for pushing us to think outside the box and deliver this eye-opening mock assessment. If you want to see how a “bad OSA” scenario plays out—and learn how to avoid it—this one’s for you! Join me in celebrating Mark’s innovative approach and commitment to realistic, hands-on CMMC training!

Off to Boston to perform a client’s CMMC Level 2 mock assessment. ?? Derrich Phillips, Lead CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA)

Achieving CMMC Compliance with AWS GovCloud Join the CPN Weekly CMMC Roundtable as we welcome Travis Goldbach, Global Head of CMMC Go-To-Market at Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this session, Travis will break down how defense contractors can leverage AWS services to meet CMMC compliance requirements while enhancing security and operational efficiency. Register today- https://lnkd.in/gZSunZDn Key topics: ? How AWS supports CMMC compliance for defense contractors Secure cloud solutions for managing Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) ? Best practices for implementing AWS GovCloud in the defense sector AWS tools and resources to streamline security and compliance efforts Whether you are an IT leader, consultant, or assessor working with defense contractors, this roundtable will provide valuable insights into using AWS to meet DoD cybersecurity standards. Bring your questions for Travis and join the conversation. Mark DeBry

Get CMMC Assessment Ready in a Week for Under $1,500 Checkout this snippet from our interview with Zach Walker, co-founder of ATX Defense, an Authorized C3PAO. Discover how their revolutionary CMMC solution is helping small defense contractors avoid the CMMC expensive nightmare. What We Cover: ? 100% Control Inheritance: Learn how ATX Defense's solutions offer complete inheritance of all CMMC controls, dramatically simplifying the compliance process. ? Cost-Effective Alternative: Find out why their services are a fraction of the cost compared to traditional solutions like Microsoft GCC High, providing an affordable option for small businesses. ? Rapid Compliance: Hear how clients can prepare for a CMMC Level 2 assessment in less than one week, with no long-term contracts required and a flexible month-to-month option. Ideal for small defense contractors that don't handle physical CUI. P.S. Will you adopt or reject this CMMC innovation?

Becoming a C3PAO: What You Need to Know Before You Start Join us for an open conversation with Zach Walker, co-founder of C3PAO ATX Defense, a seasoned national security expert with 20+ years of experience across the NSA, CIA, Army, Air Force, and Defense Innovation Unit. Register to attend- https://lnkd.in/gTQmHyeU As a Federal 100 awardee with deep expertise in commercial innovation and national security, he brings a unique perspective to the evolving CMMC landscape. In this session, we’ll dive into the hard-earned lessons from ATX Defense’s journey to becoming a C3PAO. From navigating compliance hurdles to unexpected challenges, he’ll share what he wishes he knew before starting the process—insights that can help any aspiring C3PAO, consultant, or defense contractor better prepare for their own CMMC journey. Key Takeaways: ? Lessons learned on the path to becoming a C3PAO ? Common pitfalls and how to avoid them ? Cost and time considerations ? Understanding the liability of becoming a C3PAO Whether you’re considering the C3PAO journey or just want to gain insights from a leader at the intersection of commercial innovation and national security, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Bring your questions and join the conversation.

How Google Workspace Supports Defense Contractors in Meeting CMMC Requirements CMMC compliance has been a hot topic in the defense sector, especially since the recent legislation ramped up urgency for contractors working with the U.S. government. Jeff Brown, Google US Public Sector, Workspace Lead, breaks it down simply: ?? If your company provides goods, services, or hardware to the federal government, you need to meet CMMC requirements to continue operating in the defense industrial base. So, how can Google Workspace help? - Secure collaboration for teams handling sensitive data - Compliance-ready solutions designed for government contractors - Proven track record (formerly Google Apps for Government / G Suite) With security and compliance built into its core, Google Workspace enables defense contractors to trade data securely and streamline compliance - so they can focus on their mission. Is your organization ready for CMMC? Let’s talk about strategies to get there. ?? #CMMC #CyberSecurity #GoogleWorkspace #DefenseContractors #Compliance #PublicSector #Security #GovTech

When a CMMC Level 1 Self-Assessment Flops: The “False Start” Edition Mark and Michael delivered a masterclass in handling a defiant, unprepared organization that clearly wasn’t ready for a CMMC assessment. Link to the recording is in the comments ?? Aspire Cyber's CMMC in Action Mock Assessment series is make learning about CMMC simple and fun. We’re on a mission to shake up the ecosystem and show how hands-on scenarios can make compliance both engaging and practical. The player are revealing how real (and sometimes messy) CMMC assessments play out. P.S. What would you like to see demonstrated in future mock assessments? Mark DeBry Michael Council, MS Cybersecurity, CISM,CISSP,CCP,PMP, CEH