MAD Security

09/02/2026

Are you ready to strengthen your organization's maritime cybersecurity leadership?

Learn more and register through the link in the comments!

Join Cliff Neve and Scott Dickerson for a two-day virtual Cybersecurity Officer (CySO) Training on September 9–10, 2026, designed to help maritime organizations build practical cybersecurity knowledge and strengthen their programs.

During this training, you will gain practical knowledge on:
✅ Cybersecurity Plan development and management
✅ Incident response and reporting
✅ Cybersecurity risk assessment and vulnerability management
✅ Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity
✅ Practical approaches to supporting Coast Guard cybersecurity requirements

Build the knowledge needed to manage cyber risk, strengthen operational resilience, and support your organization's cybersecurity efforts.

Prepare your team. Build expertise. Strengthen resilience.

09/02/2026

Most people will never see what happens inside a 24/7 Security Operations Center.
On September 16, you can.

🔗 Reserve your spot through the link in the comments.

STEP INSIDE A CMMC LEVEL 2 CERTIFIED 24/7 SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC).
MAD Security is opening the doors to our headquarters and giving invited guests a behind-the-scenes look at the people, processes, decisions, and discipline behind our work for the Defense Industrial Base.

This is your opportunity to go beyond the capability statements and see the operation for yourself.
Come inside and:
• Tour approved areas of our 24/7 SOC
• Meet the analysts and leaders responsible for the work
• See how security operations, compliance management, and incident response work together
• Ask serious questions about the standards, processes, and accountability behind the operation
• Connect with leaders and professionals supporting the defense mission

If your work supports the Defense Industrial Base, protects sensitive information, or helps organizations remain ready for the mission, we want you in the room.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Arrival, check-in, and breakfast: 8:30–9:00 a.m. CT
Private SOC experience: 9:00–11:00 a.m. CT

MAD Security Headquarters
5021 Bradford Drive NW, Huntsville, Alabama

Your invitation includes one guest, and breakfast is covered.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot by 5:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, September 8.

🔗 The private RSVP link is in the comments.

09/02/2026

NEW BLOG ALERT!

Storing Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in a secure cloud platform such as Microsoft GCC High or PreVeil does not automatically remove employee laptops and workstations from Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) scope.

Read the blog through the link in the comments below to learn why where CUI is processed matters just as much as where it is stored, and what this means for endpoint security, assessment boundaries, and CMMC Level 2 readiness.

Many defense contractors assume that moving CUI to secure cloud storage is enough to reduce their assessment scope.

However, when users view, edit, download, print, or otherwise interact with CUI from an endpoint, that device may still be considered a CUI Asset and remain within scope.

Understanding how CUI is stored, processed, transmitted, and protected can help your organization establish a more accurate and defensible assessment boundary.

09/01/2026

Understanding CUI requirements in government contracts isn’t always straightforward and ambiguity can create real compliance risk.

We break down when contract language, regulatory changes, non-compliance concerns, or subcontractor relationships may warrant legal or compliance expertise; the link to the full blog is in the comments.

Knowing when to bring in the right expertise can help your organization interpret CUI handling requirements correctly, address potential gaps, and better understand obligations flowing through prime contracts and subcontracts.

Want the complete picture?

Read the blog TODAY, then download our guide for practical guidance on analyzing contracts for CUI references and handling requirements.

09/01/2026

Cyberattacks are more relentless and sophisticated than ever.

Learn how MAD Security can help strengthen your cybersecurity and compliance posture. Click the link in the comments to learn more.

At MAD Security, we don’t just check boxes; we defend your mission.

As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned cybersecurity firm and a CMMC Registered Provider Organization (RPO), we deliver proactive, compliance-driven protection built on the NIST framework.

Trusted by government contractors and defense industry leaders, we simplify cybersecurity so you can focus on what matters most: operational excellence and mission success.

What makes MAD Security different?
🛡️ 24/7 SOC Coverage: Real-time monitoring, detection, and response aligned with CMMC, DFARS, and NIST
🛡️ Veteran-Built Solutions: Purpose-driven cybersecurity for the Defense Industrial Base, maritime, and federal sectors
🛡️ Proven Mission Success: Top 250 MSSP, perfect SPRS scores, and experience helping organizations strengthen CMMC Level 2 readiness

Whether you are completing a CMMC Level 2 self-assessment, strengthening NIST SP 800-171 compliance, or defending critical assets, we’re ready to help.

Your mission deserves complete MAD Security protection!

08/31/2026

Many defense contractors are not fully prepared to demonstrate that their CMMC assessed environment is accurate, current, and defensible.

Get practical guidance on how to identify significant changes early and keep your certification defensible by reading the blog TODAY! (link in comments)

Waiting until an assessment begins to address significant changes increases risk and often leads to reassessment triggers, delays, and unexpected remediation.

Start by confirming your team can clearly show:
✔️ What has changed since your last CMMC assessment
✔️ How system boundaries and architecture were impacted
✔️ Whether changes affect environments handling Controlled Unclassified Information
✔️ Where updates are documented in the System Security Plan and diagrams

CMMC compliance is not static. Significant changes can occur at any time and must be evaluated as they happen, not during the assessment.

08/31/2026

Navigating CMMC, DFARS, and NIST SP 800-171 can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone. Learn more through the link in the comments.

Preparing for CMMC compliance requires more than checking requirements. It takes the right strategy, expert guidance, and a clear roadmap to sustainable compliance.

With MAD Security's CMMC Consulting services, you can:
✅ Protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) with confidence
✅ Build a compliance strategy aligned with CMMC, DFARS, and NIST SP 800-171
✅ Strengthen your cybersecurity posture and prepare for CMMC Level 2 self-assessment and affirmation requirements
✅ Improve your SPRS score and position your organization for future DoD contract opportunities

Our team has helped defense contractors achieve perfect SPRS scores, prepare for rigorous cybersecurity assessments, and build sustainable compliance programs that support long-term success.

With the right guidance, you can simplify the process, reduce risk, and move forward with confidence.

08/30/2026

Researchers have uncovered two previously undocumented factory implants in firmware used by ZBT routers, potentially allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute commands with root privileges.

🔗 https://hubs.la/Q04vPk3n0

Even more concerning? ZBT technology can be white-labeled and sold under other brands, making supply chain visibility increasingly important.

For DoD contractors and organizations protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this is another reminder that cybersecurity goes far beyond endpoint protection and passing a compliance assessment.

You need to know:
🔎 What devices are connected to your network
📡 What they're communicating with
⚠️ Where vulnerabilities and exposures exist
🛡️ Whether suspicious activity is being detected and contained

MAD Security combines 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) monitoring, detection, and response with NIST-aligned cybersecurity and CMMC expertise to help defense and government contractors continuously reduce risk.

Do you know what's communicating outbound from your network right now?

Connect with MAD Security TODAY and let's talk about strengthening your network visibility, threat detection, vulnerability management, and cybersecurity posture.

Two ZBT router firmware implants enable unauthenticated root command ex*****on, with DARKLANTERN exposed on 203 internet-facing hosts.

08/30/2026

Strong evidence is one of the most important factors in a successful CMMC Level 2 assessment.

Read the blog (link in comments) to understand how sufficient evidence supports a smoother CMMC Level 2 assessment.

Assessors expect evidence that reflects how your controls actually operate at the time of the assessment.

When evidence only shows documentation and not real-world implementation, even well-designed controls can result in gaps, NOT MET findings, or delays.

You must clearly demonstrate how your environment protects Controlled Unclassified Information and how controls function in practice.

This includes evidence such as:

✔️ Policies supported by technical configurations
✔️ Logs showing controls operating over time
✔️ System outputs that validate implementation
✔️ Confirmation that processes are consistently followed

Do not assume assessors will connect the dots for you.

08/29/2026

Most defense contractors think they’re ready for CMMC until they have to prove it.

Download the maturity snapshot and read the blog to identify where your program needs to improve.

Having tools and policies in place isn’t enough. Assessors want to see that your monitoring and incident response processes are consistent, repeatable, and supported by evidence.

This maturity snapshot helps you evaluate where you stand:
📍 Monitoring coverage across systems that store or process CUI
🧱 Alert review processes with defined schedules and escalation paths
🧾 Incident documentation that is complete, timely, and audit-ready
📊 Testing, evidence retention, and leadership oversight to support accountability

Assessment readiness is about ex*****on, not just intention.