216: Unveiling Cybersecurity Empowerment: Blueprint for Small Enterprises with Adam Austin

Today, we had the privilege of hosting Adam Austin, the Cybersecurity Lead at Totem.Tech, a minority veteran-owned Prime DoD contractor. With a decade of experience safeguarding classified, unclassified, and HIPAA-environment US Government IT systems, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with prestigious institutions like NASA, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and all branches of the Department of Defense. Adam holds a Master's in Information Assurance from Capitol Technology University and boasts certifications such as ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). His mission is clear: to utilize his extensive background and education to aid small businesses in regulatory environments in implementing cost-effective, compliant, risk-based cybersecurity programs. During our conversation, Adam shed light on his current endeavors at Haight Bey/H-Bar, where he spearheads cybersecurity and systems integration services for a US Air Force weather information system. Moreover, he shared insights into the concept of "Cybersecurity Empowerment" for small businesses, alongside the development of Totem™, a lightweight GRC tool designed to facilitate cybersecurity assessments for small enterprises. With a specialization in security and software integration within the Aerospace industry, particularly in UAS and satellite ground control systems, Adam is well-versed in Windows and Linux operating systems, as well as various commercial and government-off-the-shelf software products. Notably, he has led multi-million dollar tactical systems through DIACAP/RMF certification and subsequent maintenance activities, serving in pivotal roles such as an IASO (ISSO) and technical lead. Adam's passion lies in information system risk assessment, assessment and authorization (A&A), and the formulation of risk mitigation strategies, security policies, and vulnerability remediation packages for networked systems, both in military and commercial settings. His expertise spans a broad spectrum, encompassing certifications like ISACA CISM, CISA, CompTIA Security+, and Core Impact Certified Professional (CICP), along with proficiencies in scripting languages for automation and constructing Windows group policy objects for enhanced domain security. As we wrap up today's episode, we extend our gratitude to Adam Austin for sharing his invaluable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity and his dedication to empowering small businesses in navigating regulatory complexities. Stay tuned for more enriching conversations with industry luminaries on GovCon Giants Podcast! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-austin-cybersecurity/  Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/totem-tech/  Website: https://www.totem.tech/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TotemTechnology/   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYKT-JYV0jqkvxFp-yUTjwg  Twitter: https://twitter.com/totem_tech