Company News

On December 14, 2014, The National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College announced the appointment of two new Fellows, Bray Barnes and Robert A. Bell. Barnes is the founder and principal of Security Evaluation and Solutions Group, LLC (SESG). Bell serves as SESG’s Emergency Management Consultant.

Both appointees have extensive expertise in the areas of intelligence analysis, law enforcement, emergency services and homeland security. As Fellows, Mr. Barnes and Mr. Bell are expected to provide regular consultation and thought leadership contributions to the institute’s expanding content platform, which currently includes a webinar series, podcast and blog. In addition, SESG will now offer face-to-face training at NCI’s headquarters in Washington DC in the following areas; intelligence analyst and medical analyst.

“We look forward to both Mr. Barnes’ and Mr. Bell’s contribution to NCI’s growing body of content knowledge and expertise within the vast realm of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Jane LeClair, COO, NCI.

SESG SELECTED TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE

Trenton New Jersey: SESG was selected to testify before the New Jersey State Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee on October 9, 2014. Bray Barnes, Principal, and Robert Bell, both of SESG, provided testimony regarding cyber threats, standards and new technologies, and ways the public can protect themselves against such threats. As reported by State House correspondent Kevin McArdle, Barnes told the Committee that companies, among other things, can better safeguard against attacks by training employees better.

Framingham, Massachusetts On June 19, 2014, SESG conducted a Business Continuity Planning Conference for the Massachusetts Bankers Association. SESG’s Bray Barnes and Bob Bell presented the daylong seminar to compliance officers, IT managers and bank officers from various financial institutions throughout Massachusetts.

Bankers learned about the different types of disasters they could experience such as biological, cyber, power loss and natural disasters. A Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment was shared with attendees along with the lessons learned from both Hurricane Katrina and Storm Sandy.

Regulatory requirements setting forth the need for planning, practice and frequent testing thus assuring that banks are best prepared for a disaster were outlined. SESG emphasized the need for compliance, training, and testing by banks, as well as all businesses, in order to reduce losses.

SESG PRESENTS CYBER SEMINAR TO SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS IN THE UK

Faram, Hampshire, UK: In February, 2014, SESG conducted a Cyber Security and Intelligence conference for about 65 senior law enforcement officers in the UK. Sponsored by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Criminal Records Office (UK) and Southampton Solent University (UK) Bray Barnes, Principal, and Bob Bell of SESG presented the latest in cyber intelligence, how a company or agency can be attacked, intelligence (fusion) centers in the US and the legal and ethical issues to be considered in intelligence and information sharing.

Pictured below (L to R), Robert Bell of SESG, Ian Readhead, former Deputy Chief Constable of the Hampshire Constabulary and Director of Information for ACPO, Bray Barnes, Principal of SESG, and Dr Simon Fox, Professor of Criminology at Southampton Solent University.

SESG SELECTED FOR DHS CYBER FOCUS GROUP

SESG was one of a select private sector companies to be invited by the US Department of Homeland Security Cyber Unit to serve as part of a focus group to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) for the various cyber related job positions as part of the National Initiative Cybersecurity Education (NICE), Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Additionally, SESG was selected to be one of the private sector companies to provide NICE cyber training through the DHS private sector portal.

SESG SIGNS MOU WITH SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY

Southampton, UK: Bray Barnes of SESG is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Southampton Solent University to provide education and training courses for the Criminology School. SESG is a leader in the development and delivery of unique training and education courses in Intelligence Analysis, Cyber Intelligence Analysis and Medical Intelligence Analysis. During the signing of the MOU, Deputy Vice - Chancellor Mike Wilkinson and Barnes stated how pleased they both were to be able to collaborate in the development of unique training and education courses that will be offered to both the students and as part of professional development training.

SESG SELECTED TO PROVIDE MASS PROPHYLAXIS PLAN TO TRENTON

Trenton, NJ: SESG is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the City of Trenton for the third year in a row to provide Emergency Preparedness and Mass Prophylaxis planning, Medical Countermeasure Dispensing and Medical Material Management and Point of Distribution development in compliance with the HHS National Stockpile regulations.

SESG TESTIFIES BEFORE THE NEW JERSEY STATE ASSEMBLY ON CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE

New Jersey State Assembly, Trenton, NJ: SESG was invited to speak before the New Jersey State Assembly, Telecommunications Committee in support of the proposed cyberinfrastructure plan for the State. Bray Barnes, Principal of SESG, and Bob Bell of SESG provided testimony on the importance of such a plan and the need for cyber security for both public and private entities that must be considered as part of the Plan. At the conclusion, Barnes and Bell were asked to provide future testimony to assist the Committee in the development of the Cyberinfrastructure Plan.

SESG HOSTS CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS IN WASHINGTON, DC

Washington, DC: For the third year, SESG hosted Criminology students from Southampton Solent University, UK in Washington, DC. A series of high level briefings were provided to the students on such topics as state and federal law enforcement, Interpol, the role of the federal agent and the political system in the US. The National Cybersecurity Institute was the site of this year’s briefings.

SESG PRESNTS TERRORISM RISK BRIEFING TO INTERNATIONAL RISK MANAGERS

New York City: On September 14, 2013, Bray Barnes and Bob Bell presented a seminar on terrorism, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) and corporate vulnerabilities to international AIG Risk Managers at the AIG headquarters in New York City.

CYBER SECURITY SEMINAR PRESENTED TO RISK MANAGERS AT ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY

St John’s University, New York City: Bray Barnes and Bob Bell presented a seminar on cyber security and the daily cyber risks that are faced by both public and private entities throughout the world. The seminar was part of a weeklong risk management course conducted by St John’s University, Tobin College of Business, for international risk managers. More than 35 risk managers attended the seminar.

CYBER SECURITY VULNERABILITY BRIEFING PRESENTED TO BANKING CEO’S

Massachusetts Bankers Association: Cyber security was the topic of a seminar conducted by Bray Barnes and Bob Bell of SESG for Massachusetts bank presidents at their annual conference held in Rockport, Maine. More than 30 bank CEO’s attended one of two sessions where they received information on the state of cyber-attacks in the US and how vulnerable businesses and financial institutions are in today’s world.

FIRST MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE AWARNESS SEMINAR PRESENTED TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS

Atlanta, Ga.: Bray Barnes, Principal of SESG, participated in the 2013 National Public Health Conference and presented the 8-hour Medical Intelligence Seminar along with Yale New Haven Health Center for Emergency Preparedness to public health directors from the US and Canada. SESG, with input from Yale, developed a medical intelligence awareness course for medical and health officials as well as law enforcement officers. SESG is the only company who has also designed a 40 hour course in Medical Intelligence analysis.

SESG AND YALE NEW HAVEN CENTER SELECTED TO PREPARE USAI MEDICAL SURGE PLAN

Urban Secured Area Initiative (USAI): SESG was selected to participate in the development of a Medical Surge Plan for 35 hospitals located in the northern New Jersey USAI Region. SESG was the subcontractor to Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Management and Disaster Response. After months of preparation and interaction with key hospital Staff a Medical Surge Plan was successfully delivered.