Still on Windows 10? Why Not Upgrading is a Serious Security Risk for Businesses
Christopher Souza | CEO As of October 2025, Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10, ending any new security updates, patches, or protection against newly discovered vulnerabilities. Despite this, millions of systems are still running on outdated software, presenting a considerable direct and indirect risk to organizations like yours. With extended support available ending on October 13, 2026, now is the time to take action to update these imminently vulnerable systems. Why…
Impacted by NeoSystem’s Dissolution? We’re Here to Help!
Christopher Souza | CEO The reported dissolution of NeoSystems has sent shockwaves across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and the broader CMMC ecosystem. Public reporting has alleged that NeoSystems terminated staff and ceased operations on May 1, 2026 without advance notice to clients leaving many organizations uncertain about access, documentation, data, and a clear path toward CMMC. For organizations working toward CMMC, this is more than a vendor disruption. It…
TSI Employee Spotlight: Joseph Gutto
Joe Gutto is TSI’s Network and Cloud Services Manager/Azure Architect and is our newest addition to the team! With over 26 years of experience in the IT sector and a career of system administration to leading quality assurance and cloud infrastructure projects, Joe is already making waves through the cybersecurity field, and we’re thrilled to feature him in this month’s employee spotlight. 1. Tell us what inspired you to get…
L3 Harris Is Requiring CMMC Proof from Suppliers: A Sign of What’s Coming
Christopher Souza | CEO Across the defense industrial base (DIB), prime contractors are now issuing direct supplier requirements tied to CMMC, complete with firm deadlines and documentation requests. Recently, L3Harris notified suppliers that organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must provide a CMMC Level 2 assessment report from a C3PAO along with proof of certification by July 30 to avoid potential disruption to operations. This is not a warning, but…
CMMC’s 2026 “Deadline” Explained: Why It’s Not a True Deadline and What Actually Drives Compliance
Christopher Souza | CEO There is a growing misconception across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that November 2026 is a universal deadline for CMMC certification. It is not. CMMC does not operate on a single, universal compliance deadline. Instead, requirements are introduced through contract awards as the program rolls out in phases. For most organizations, the real timeline is not driven by a date on the calendar, but by when…
CMMC Mock Assessments vs. NIST SP 800-171 Self-Assessments
Christopher Souza | CEO For many defense contractors, one of the biggest CMMC mistakes is assuming that an internal NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment is enough to prove readiness for a C3PAO certification audit. It is not. A self-assessment is an important internal management exercise, but it is not the same as demonstrating readiness under the pressure and scrutiny of an independent third-party review. That distinction matters even more in 2026,…
Elevated Cybersecurity Risk Amid U.S. and Iran Conflict
Christopher Souza | CEO A cyber advisory issued by our partners at Sophos highlights an increased global cyber risk environment due to escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Sophos assesses the current threat level as elevated, with the greatest risk occurring in the immediate to short term, ranging from days to several weeks. During periods of geopolitical instability, cyber threat activity commonly increases as nation state…
The Self-Assessment Era Is Over! CMMC Is Now Mandatory
Christopher Souza | CEO As of February 1, 2026, the DoD implemented significant updates to DFARS and FAR cybersecurity clauses as part of its FAR Overhaul initiative. While certain DFARS “Basic” self-assessment requirements have been removed at the federal clause level, this does not reduce your cybersecurity obligations. It marks a clear transition away from self-attestation and toward formal CMMC verification. For years, the industry operated in a self-assessment era that is…
Fortinet Firmware Advisory
Christopher Souza | CEO Fortinet has released a security advisory regarding a recently identified vulnerability affecting certain Fortinet devices configured to use FortiCloud Single Sign-On (SSO). While this issue has received attention, it’s important to note that there is currently no evidence of active exploitation, and Fortinet has already taken proactive mitigation steps to protect customers. What Fortinet Has Done To reduce potential exposure, Fortinet has taken proactive steps at…
How the Venezuela Operation Puts U.S. Cybersecurity at Higher Risk
Christopher Souza | CEO On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces conducted Operation Absolute Resolve to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas. According to cyber professionals and public statements from U.S. leaders, cyber tools were used in advance of the raid to disrupt Venezuelan power and communications infrastructure. President Trump indicated that the city’s lights were “largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,”…
Cyber Security Policy Starter Kit:
10 Critical Policies That Every Company Should Have in Place
