Markesman is proud to announce the formation of Tuple, a mentor-protégé joint venture with HII.

Together, Markesman and HII form a unified team to accelerate next-generation cybersecurity solutions for the defense marketplace.  

Tuple was formed under the U.S. Small Business Administration mentor-protégé program, which allows eligible small businesses to gain capacity and win government contracts by partnering with more experienced government contractors like HII, which serve as mentors.

The Tuple joint venture will leverage HII’s information warfare domain and Markesman Group’s unique cyber operations expertise to support the Department of Defense’s cyber mission as it pertains to force transformation and multi-domain operations. Combined capability areas include offensive and defensive cyber operations; vulnerability analysis and risk assessment; cloud and software development; and enterprise IT operations, architecture and engineering support.

“HII and Markesman will accelerate the development and deployment of cyber capabilities for operations and systems critical to national security,” said Grant Hagen, president of the Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Space business group in HII’s Mission Technologies division. “This joint venture will combine our unique mix of skills and domain expertise to support warfighters where and when they need it.”

“By creating the Tuple joint venture, our two companies are able to bring experts together to fast-track new concepts, prototype them and enable a path to faster operational execution while optimizing mission outcomes,” said Alex Wang, chief operating officer and co-founder of Markesman Group.

Learn about Tuple at: https://www.tuple.one/.   

About HII:
HII is a global, all-domain defense partner, building and delivering the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships and technologies that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. As America’s largest shipbuilder and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national defense, we are united by our mission in service of the heroes who protect our freedom. HII’s diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business professionals. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

• HII on the web: hii.com
• HII on Facebook: facebook.com/TeamHII
• HII on Twitter: twitter.com/WeAreHII
• HII on Instagram: instagram.com/WeAreHII

About Markesman Group: 
​Markesman Group is a service disabled-veteran owned small business providing information warfare solutions for our customers in the federal government across the digital domain. Markesman Group leads by inspiring its people to dare to think about tomorrow’s solutions today. In pursuit of information superiority, we recognize the integration of information, technology and capabilities as our decisive advantage in defending our nation and shaping our client’s everyday mission. With the agility of a small business, the value of knowledge and capabilities within each unique individual, we deliver to our customers the ability to reach and exceed the mission and goals.

• Markesman Group on the web: https://www.markesman.com/
• Markesman Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkesmanGroup/
• Markesman Group on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MarkesmanGroup/
• Markesman Group on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MarkesmanGroup/

Using Strong ​Passwords
​Having unique, long and complex passwords is one of the best ways to immediately boost your cybersecurity. Yet, only 43% of the public say that they “always” or “very often” use strong passwords. Password cracking is one of the go-to tactics that cybercriminals turn to in order to access sensitive information. And if you are a “password repeater,” once a cybercriminal has hacked one of your accounts, they can easily do the same across all of your accounts.

Password Tips:
One of the first lines of defense for keeping your information safe online is the use of a password.

​Some password tips are as follows:

• ​Use different passwords on different accounts. One of the leading causes of unauthorized access to accounts is the reuse of login credentials (see National Cyber Awareness System Tips—Choosing  and Protecting Passwords).
• Use the longest password allowed. The longer and more complicated a password is, the harder it will be for someone to access your accounts. Use 11 characters or more, a short sentence or a mix of letters, symbols and numbers to strengthen your passwords.
• Reset your password every few months. Reset your passwords regularly, especially when these passwords allow access to confidential accounts, such as banking or medical data. It is vital to reset passwords as it takes most companies an average of six months to notice that a data breach has happened. By the time a data breach is reported, a threat actor could already be using and/or selling your data.
• Use a password manager. With just one master password, a password manager can generate and retrieve passwords for every account that you have – encrypting and protecting your online information, including credit card numbers and their three-

Using A Password Manager:
One of the biggest reasons that individuals repeat passwords is that it can be tough to remember all of the passwords you have. Fortunately, by using a password manager, individuals can securely store all of their unique passwords in one place. Meaning, people only have to remember one password. In addition, password managers are incredibly easy to use and can automatically plug-in stored passwords when you visit a site.

​Concerned About Cyber?
4 Easy Steps for Staying Secure in 2022
​
Cybersecurity has become one of the biggest hot topics both inside and outside of technology circles over the last two years. From securing learning devices due to a rise in digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, to coping with the fallout of high-profile breaches of national infrastructure such as the Colonial Pipeline, there is a seemingly endless newscycle dedicated to cybersecurity mishaps and concerns.
 
And with this onslaught of negative news, it can be easy for everyday individuals to become overwhelmed and to feel powerless in the face of the “insurmountable” threats posed by cybersecurity. But in actuality nothing could be further from the truth.
 
With all of the jargon that is typically thrown around in relation to cybersecurity there is a longstanding misperception that cybersecurity is beyond everyday people and that it should be left to the professionals. Moreover, there is a prevailing sense among the public that breaches are simply a fact of life and that we should just learn to deal with them. But this just isn’t true. In fact, everyday people have a huge role to play in cybersecurity threat prevention, detection, and remediation. For example, according to IBM, 95% of breaches have human error as a main cause. Therefore, everyday day technology users are very much the first line of defense when it comes to thwarting cybercrime. Unfortunately though, many individuals are not aware of some of the best practices for boosting cybersecurity and how easy they are to use.
 
With that, here are a few key best practices that everyday people can implement today to enhance their own cybersecurity and create a more secure world for everyone.

Part 1: Watch Out For Phishing

​Phishing – when a cybercriminal poses as a legitimate party in hopes of getting individuals to engage with malicious content or links – remains one of the most popular tactics among cybercriminals today. In fact, 80% of cybersecurity incidents stem from a phishing attempt. However, while phishing has gotten more sophisticated, keeping an eye out for typos, poor graphics and other suspicious characteristics can be a tell tale sign that the content is potentially coming from a “phish.” In addition, if you think you have spotted a phishing attempt be sure to report the incident so that internal IT teams and service providers can remediate the situation and prevent others from possibly becoming victims.

Phishing attacks in data breaches increased 11% from 2019 to 2020. It went from 25% to 36% based on
analysis of confirmed breaches. (Verizon) Phishing attacks have become an increasingly common problem for organizations of all sizes and can be very difficult to spot. 30% of small businesses consider phishing attacks to be their top cybersecurity concern. It’s important for every individual to stop and think before clicking on a link or attachment in a message and know how to spot the red flags. Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022 will give individuals the tools they need to recognize a phish and report it to their organization or email provider.

Additional Facts and Figures:

• Only 60% of adults could define what “phishing” is. (Google)
• Nearly 3 out of 4 companies experienced a phishing attack in 2020 (Symantecs).
• 72% of respondents reported that they checked to see whether messages were legitimate (i.e. phishing or a scam) compared to 10% who reported not doing so. (NCA)
• Nearly half of the participants (48%) reported phishing emails to the sender (e.g. the real person the cyber criminal tried to impersonate by sending the phishing email). (NCA)
• 42% of the participants said they used the reporting capability on a platform (e.g. Gmail) “very often” or “always”. (NCA)

Markesman Group Announces Commitment to Growing Global Cybersecurity Success by Becoming a Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022 Champion
Building on annual success Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022 is set to highlight the growing importance of cybersecurity in our daily lives and look to empower everyday individuals and business to take cybersecurity steps by making cyber more accessible
 
October 1, 2022 —  Markesman Group today announced that it has signed on as Champion for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022. Founded in 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held each October, is the world’s foremost initiative aimed at promoting cybersecurity awareness and best practices. The Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champions Program is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations and individuals committed to the educating others on online safety.
 
From mobile to connected home devices, technology is becoming more intertwined with our lives everyday. And while the evolution of technology is moving at the speed of sound, cybercriminals are working just as hard to find ways to compromise technology and disrupt personal and business life. Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to highlight some of the emerging challenges that exist in the world of cybersecurity today and provide straightforward actionable guidance that anyone can follow to create a safe and secure digital world for themselves and their loved ones.
 
This year, the Cybersecurity Awareness Month’s main focal areas revolve around four key fundamental cybersecurity best practices:

• Recognizing and reporting phishing – still one of the primary threat actions used by cybercriminals today.
• Understanding the benefits of using a password manager and dispelling existing myths around password manager security and ease of use.
• Enabling multi-factor authentication on personal devices and business networks.
• Installing updates on a regular basis and turning on automated updates.

 
Now in its 19th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to build momentum and impact with the ultimate goal of providing everyone with the information they need to stay safer and more secure online. Markesman is proud to support this far-reaching online safety awareness and education initiative which is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
 
For more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022 and how to participate in a wide variety of activities, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/. You can also follow and use the official hashtag #BeCyberSmart on social media throughout the month.
  
About Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is designed to engage and educate public - and private-sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity to increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since the Presidential proclamation establishing Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004, the initiative has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments and leaders from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/ 
 
About National Cybersecurity Alliance
The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization on a mission to create a more secure, interconnected world. We advocate for the safe use of all technology and educate everyone on how best to protect ourselves, our families, and our organizations from cybercrime. We create strong partnerships between governments and corporations to amplify our message and to foster a greater “digital” good. National Cybersecurity Alliance’s core efforts include Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October); Data Privacy Week (Jan. 24-28th); and CyberSecure My Business™, which offers webinars, web resources and workshops to help businesses be resistant to and resilient from cyberattacks. For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org. 

Camaraderie is a feeling of friendliness, goodwill, and familiarity among people in a group, which we believe is so important in the workplace.

​In early May, I visited the JETS team in Columbus, Ohio. We met up at Top Golf for a night of food, drinks, fun, and comradery. Great times and a lot of laughs were had as we witnessed Jerod’s long drives (only person to hit the end of the range), Joe’s sniping shots that hit a lot of the targets, and everyone also accidentally stealing Joe’s turn. We played a couple of rounds, competition was fierce, and I was lucky to hack my way on top the first round. Some say they let me win. The second round went to Olivia and Joe, who tied for first place.
 
I always enjoy visiting the JETS team and I look forward to our next event!

Chris Ortega
Markesman Program Manager

Population surveys show that in the U.S., nearly 4% of men and 10% of women will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime. Although this is only a small portion of people who have gone through a trauma—about 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lifetime—this rate of prevalence accounts for about 8 million adults with PTSD in any given year.

About 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lifetime - this rate of prevalence accounts for about 8 million adults with PTSD in any given year.

While suffering from PTSD can be an isolating experience, it’s important to know that you are not the only one who feels this way, and there are resources available to help you get back to leading the life you want. PTSD can happen to anyone and is not a sign of weakness. PTSD helplines are a non-judgmental, safe first step in the right direction for receiving treatment.  ​

​As Memorial Day approaches, many of us will have the great privilege of spending time with our loved ones. As a community, it’s important to continually remind ourselves of the meaning of this day.
 
While scouring through the Medal of Honor Museum citations, you can’t help but feel heartbreak for the sacrifice these men and women made and the heartbreak their families must continue to endure. Simultaneously, you can’t help but feeling an overwhelming sense of pride in our nation. While not perfect, we continue to strive for it. So much so that over 1 million men and women have laid their lives down for it.  

Woodrow Wilson once said,
“There is this peculiar distinction belonging to the soldier, that he goes into an enterprise out of which he himself cannot get anything at all. He is giving everything that he hath, even his life, in order that others may live, not in order that he himself may obtain gain and prosperity.”
 
Below is the citation for TSgt John Chapman who died March, 4th, 2002.
​He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.
 
Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as an Air Force Special Tactics combat controller, attached to a Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Team conducting reconnaissance operations in Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2002. During insertion, the team's helicopter was ambushed causing a teammate to fall into an entrenched group of enemy combatants below. Sergeant Chapman and the team voluntarily reinserted onto the snow-capped mountain, into the heart of a known enemy stronghold to rescue one of their own. Without regard for his own safety, Sergeant Chapman immediately engaged, moving in the direction of the closest enemy position despite coming under heavy fire from multiple directions. He fearlessly charged an enemy bunker, up a steep incline in thigh-deep snow and into hostile fire, directly engaging the enemy. Upon reaching the bunker, Sergeant Chapman assaulted and cleared the position, killing all enemy occupants. With complete disregard for his own life, Sergeant Chapman deliberately moved from cover only 12 meters from the enemy, and exposed himself once again to attack a second bunker, from which an emplaced machine gun was firing on his team. During this assault from an exposed position directly in the line of intense fire, Sergeant Chapman was struck and injured by enemy fire. Despite severe, mortal wounds, he continued to fight relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. By his heroic actions and extraordinary valor, sacrificing his life for the lives of his teammates, Technical Sergeant Chapman upheld the highest traditions of military service and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
 
As always, I appreciate you all, 
Dan, CEO

On Mother's Day, let's not only celebrate our mothers and the mothers of the world but let's celebrate all women in our lives who have helped us become the person we are today. These women are everywhere. Perhaps they are our favorite teacher, our aunt, grandmother, stepmother, neighbor, coworker, or a friend.

We celebrate mothers and motherhood for a simple reason:
​moms have a tremendous impact on the world we live in. 
​
​Mothers and mother-figures are indispensable. They’re likely the first people we ever know when we enter the world, and they love and care for us as we grow up. Once a year, we celebrate Mother’s Day – a day dedicated to all mothers, so that we can show our appreciation. Rooted in different traditions and enacted by individuals who recognize how important it is to commemorate them. Every country that celebrates Mother’s Day does so in varied and gratifying ways to celebrate the job they do, the sacrifices they make, and most of all, the love they give.

Thank you to all mothers - you are appreciated!

National Volunteer Month in April celebrates the impact volunteers have on our lives and encourages active volunteerism in generations to come. Today, we would like to highlight one of our own here at Markesman Group, our Technical Account Manager - Corey Barnard.

​Corey Barnard volunteers at the American Legion Post #17 in Edgewood, Maryland, the same post his grandfather was a lifetime member of.  Corey is passionate about volunteering at the Legion, his dad is an Air Force Veteran, his uncle served in the Navy, and his grandfather served in the Army during Vietnam.  The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization aimed at advocating patriotism across the U.S. through diver programs and membership benefits.   Corey helps organize and manage events such as car meets, trick or treating, shrimp nights and bingo. He also volunteers in the kitchen cooking food, as well as behind the bar serving drinks. 
 
"Being able to give back to a community that has always given so much to me is something I really enjoy!" 

National Volunteer Month in April celebrates the impact volunteers have on our lives and encourages active volunteerism in generations to come. Today, we would like to highlight one of our own here at Markesman Group, our HR Manager - Bobby Williams.

​With all that is currently going on in the world, a pandemic, war, political discord here at home, and all the other uncertainties, I find that the urge to volunteer more important now than ever before. I have been a part of the Boy Scouts of America family now for over 10 years. This organization is one that I fully support and have seen the benefits for the youth that have been in the program. I myself, am a proud parent of an Eagle Scout. This program instills in these impressionable young minds to accept their civic responsibility, to always look out for other people before themselves, to leave the world a better place than they inherited, and to honor the values taught at home, school, and in scouting. I have the privilege to witness a diverse group of young people from completely different race, social, economic, political, and religious backgrounds come together to achieve great things. Things that not only they will benefit from, but also fellow Scouts, families, and their communities. It is through these experiences that I truly find hope for the future. This program helps to shape the minds of our youth to become the leaders for tomorrow through the Scout Oath. 

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. 

There have been a few occasions that I have seen some of these young men struggle with life after graduating school, moving out on their own, and after aging out of the program. They struggle to find their way in this world and to understand who they are as a person and the person that they want to be. We hope that they will remember the life skills and tools taught by their parents, teachers, and adult leaders from scouting. We patiently wait on the sideline to assist them when needed and to see them apply the skills and tools learned. As they begin to apply the life lesson taught from their parents, the knowledge poured into them from teachers, and the skill and tool provided by scouting, we have the honor of seeing these young men turn their life around and become responsible productive members of society. There is a lot to be said about the Scout Law, which has 12 points. It is the goal of all Scouts to live up to the Law every day. Each Scout will find that living by the Law everyday can be hard and challenging.

A Scout is;

TRUSTWORTHY. 
Tell the truth and keep promises

LOYAL. 
Show that you care about your family, friends, Scouts leaders, school, and country.

HELPFUL. 
Volunteer to help other without expecting a reward.
​
FRIENDLY. 
Be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you.

COURTEOUS. 
Be polite to everyone an always use good manners.

KIND. 
Treat other as you want to be treated. 

OBEDIENT. 
Follow the rules of your family, school, and pack. Obey the laws of your community and country.

CHEERFUL. 
Look for the bright side of life. Cheerfully do task that come your way. Try to help others be happy.

THRIFTY. 
Work to pay your own way. Try not to be wasteful. Use time, food, supplies and natural resources wisely.

BRAVE. 
Face difficult situation even when you feel afraid, Do what you think is right despite what others might be doing or saying. 

CLEAN. 
Keep your body and mind fit. Help keep your home and community clean. 

REVERENT. 
Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs if others. 

Volunteering for Boy Scouts of America is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. From weekly meetings, monthly weekend camping trips, summer camps, or the occasional overnight hiking trip in the mountains, I have the ability to spend time with these amazing young men. Young men that will one day be faced to solve the problems that were created by our generation. To see them mature from adolescence into men with the skills necessary to achieve great things. The ability to spend time and connect with them allows me to stay connected and to continue to learn and grow as a person. It affords me the opportunity to gain a little glimmer of what are future has in store from this generation of young people. 

Volunteering is something that is important to me and very close to my heart. It is a selfless act to give to worthwhile causes, organizations, or people in need and not expecting anything in return. Not only does it give you a sense of accomplishment, but also strengthens our local communities. If you have never volunteered or have not in a while, I strongly encourage you to find an organization or charity that you can share your talents. I can guarantee that you will leave the experience feeling a sense of fulfillment, purpose. In keeping with a time-honored tradition when closing a meeting or camping trip we recite the Scout Vesper.

May the Great Scoutmaster of all Scouts be with us until we meet again. ​