Benefits – AIS Home | Assured Information Security

Beyond Benefits: Legacy of Security at AIS

A1Sadmin — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:54:03 +0000

By Heather Callahan,
Benefits & Compensation Specialist
Four minute read

In the fast-paced realm of cyber and information security, attracting and retaining top talent is a priority. Many companies, including AIS, offer impressive benefits to distinguish themselves from competitors. Our benefits at AIS, however, go beyond a recruitment strategy; they are deeply rooted in the personal journey of our CEO, Charles Green.

When Charles co-founded AIS in 2001, creating a robust benefits package was not just about gaining a competitive edge. It was about providing genuine care and support to employees—a sentiment originating from his own experiences. Having left previous employment with minimal investments in his 401(k), Charles understood the importance of financial planning and wanted to ensure that AIS employees never faced the same uncertainty.

Charles’ commitment manifested in a bold decision—to automatically contribute a significant 7% to employees’ 401(k). This move, more than double the average employer contribution in the United States, reflected his dedication to securing the financial futures of his team and their families.

This vision was not merely about corporate success; it was about creating opportunities for every member of the AIS family to achieve success in their own lives. Recognizing the importance of holistic well-being, our benefits extend even beyond an outstanding retirement plan. Our employees have free, high-quality medical coverage and AIS contributes to their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), limiting the burden of healthcare expenses. In addition, AIS offers a competitive life insurance policy, free access to expert financial advisors, generous paid vacation and holidays, flexible hours and so much more.

A Continued Commitment

We work diligently every year to not only maintain our benefits package, but to expand our offerings and find the absolute best rates, vendors and resources for our staff. Recently, we added a sabbatical leave benefit to encourage our employees to innovate, gain knowledge, focus on self-development or pursue their interests (e.g., volunteer, travel, research, publish or other such activities).

We’ve also started a monthly Lunch & Learn series with our financial wellness partner, Crown Risk Management. In these sessions, the experts at Crown Risk provide valuable insights and strategies to help employees establish a lucrative financial infrastructure in their lives. Topics include navigating retirement and Medicare, investing, emergency savings, life insurance and more.

While our benefits undoubtedly contribute to our competitiveness in the market, they serve a more profound purpose—to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the security and wellness of our employees and their families while offering careers they are proud to have.

But Don’t Take It From Us…

Explore more of our benefits here.

My First DEFCON Experience

Chris P — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:34:58 +0000

By Aaron, Reverse Engineer
Six minute read

Since the first time ever hearing of DEFCON, I have wanted to attend. I love working on all the crazy systems we come across here at AIS, and I always imagined DEFCON being an extension of this environment. A place were the latest technologies and security discussions took place.

After finally getting the privilege to attend DEFCON, which took place August 10 through 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, my expectations were certainly surpassed. From learning from some incredibly talented individuals and teams to watching seas of hackers compete in a variety of Capture the Flags (CTFs), DEFCON was a truly amazing experience. It’s almost indescribable the variety of security fields and levels of technical skill encountered. If there’s a field of security you’d like to know more about, it’s nearly guaranteed there’s a group in attendance eager to share and learn.

The Overwhelming Atmosphere

Just stepping off the plane in Vegas is a sensory overload. Flashing machines, towering buildings, and massive pieces of artwork towering over the city. While overwhelming at times, it was an experience in itself. Present across several casino and conference buildings, DEFCON was in full force with a sea of people in flashing LED badges down every hallway. Following these streams, you’d find yourself at many of the famous DEFCON villages.

The vast array of villages was something to behold. If I wanted to physically hack on a car, such as a Tesla, there was a village for that. If I wanted to hack into a security system thermal IR camera, there was a village for that. If I wanted to pick locks, use AI in hacking, hack a satellite, learn about biohacking, or even where to start with monitoring police communications, there was a village for that.

On top of the vast diversity of topics covered at DEFCON, it would be an easy task to spend all of DEFCON in a single village. Each village was a treasure trove of knowledge in each niche of the industry, with relevant talks and seasoned professionals wherever you look. DEFCON was, in the best way, an overwhelming experience for security minded individuals.

The Mind-Blowing Talks

From outstanding technical skill demonstrated by Google Red Team engineers to hilarity surrounding social engineering skills, DEFCON certainly brings fantastic industry talks. It is a surreal experience being in a room with hundreds of listeners tuning into the same security talk as you in the growing industry of cyber security. Be it learning how some crazy mathematicians subverted multi-key cryptographic implementations to incredibly proficient security engineers identifying and deploying wireless exploits against smartphone cellular modems, DEFCON truly has amazing talks for everyone. It’s hard not to feel like a student again surrounded by such talented individuals presenting their latest findings.

Yet even with many of the very impressive technical talks, DEFCON hosts even more talks open to those beginning in security or simply looking for a means to share their latest hacking story in an entertaining fashion. From the social engineering vishing competition to reconnaissance presentations on public data streams, it is easy for one to find something they find both interesting and digestible.

Learning From the Pros

It’s nearly impossible not to feel humbled by the shear technical depth that many at DEFCON possess. That said, DEFCON was a truly welcoming experience. Every presenter and village participant I spoke to was quite happy to answer the questions I had. There was a sense of inclusion rarely felt in large gatherings like this, where everyone regardless of background was welcomed and encouraged to learn and share their insights. If you’re looking to learn more about a niche field of cybersecurity, or even break into new areas you’re completely unfamiliar with, DEFCON provides a hospitable environment to do so.

Capture The Flag (CTF) Challenges

While I knew CTFs were a large part of DEFCON, it was truly an experience to walk past hundreds of participants all hacking away at various CTFs. From hacking an actual satellite in orbit to wreaking havoc on a miniature city’s infrastructure, water works and all, there was hardly a dull moment. Most notably, many of these CTFs were quite inviting, with exceptional staff and various levels of skill encouraging all to participate.

Ethics and Responsibility

I asked ChatGPT what DEFCON was, and was happy to see this final paragraph:

“Started in 1993, DEFCON has grown into a significant event in the cybersecurity and hacker communities. It takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and attracts thousands of participants from around the world each year. While DEFCON provides a platform for education and networking, it’s important to note that the event also emphasizes responsible and ethical behavior in the realm of hacking and cybersecurity.”

Rarely is hacking portrayed as ethical and responsible in media, but DEFCON does an excellent job in highlighting the need for this. Every talk I attended began or covered their disclosure process and emphasized the importance of doing so. Better yet, there were full legal talks on how to properly disclose vulnerabilities, and villages dedicated to cybersecurity policy. It was comforting to see such a large space of the industry and community share our goal of creating a better and safer digital world.

Closing Remarks – Thank You AIS

My first DEFCON experience was everything I had hoped for and more. So many interesting topics and people, expanding my love for hacking both professionally and personally. While I may not have walked away with a coveted black badge, I did leave with a sense of community and means of further development. I hope that one day I may return to DEFCON, both as a participant and contributor to our industry.

Attending DEFCON has also given me a greater appreciation for my time at AIS. Many of the main stage talks and villages had a sense of familiarity due to the plethora of systems and technologies we come across in our day-to-day work. While it was certainly humbling learning the latest techniques and methods the best of the best employ, I was still able participate and actively apply what I learned here. It felt as though DEFCON was a seminar and industry engagement to extend my knowledge rather than build it. That is why I wish to say thanks to AIS and the SAE team I am happily apart of, for keeping us at the forefront of the cybersecurity industry.

Learn more about other components of our company culture at AIS here.

The Power of Recognition

A1Sadmin — Tue, 30 May 2023 15:26:59 +0000

By Cheryl Valenti,
HRBP Relationship Manager
Three minute read

In today’s competitive cybersecurity landscape, organizations strive to attract, engage and retain top talent. Competitive salaries, benefits and career growth opportunities are crucial for supporting employees and ensuring they feel taken care of, but another incredible way to thank and reward your workforce is through an effective employee recognition program.

At AIS, our recognition program has evolved and modernized over the years to align with corporate strategies and employee feedback, but one thing has remained the same: we want a program that recognizes employees for going above and beyond and rewards them in a meaningful way for their contributions.

AIS Recognition

STARs Awards: The Special Thanks And Recognition (STARs) Award is given to employees who exemplify one or all of the five AIS values. Recipients of the STARs Award receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

STRIPEs Awards: The Success Through Recognizing Incredible Performance by Employees (STRIPEs) Award is given to employees who demonstrate outstanding customer service. Customers can be both external and internal. Recipients of a STRIPEs Award receive $1,000 through payroll.

Leadership Kudos: The Leadership Kudos Award gives all employees the opportunity to recognize and thank leaders at AIS.

Key Components of our Recognition Program

It’s Timely

Each month employees can submit nominations for their co-workers through a quick and simple form. They select which award they are nominating an employee for and provide a brief write up explaining their contributions. At the end of the month, all the winners are sent out company wide.

It’s Meaningful

The nomination write ups are sent out for the entire company to see so employees know why they won and who wanted to recognize them. Employees are given a tangible award through a $100 Amazon gift card or $1,000 via payroll.

It’s Fair

All nominations are sent to a committee that takes time to review all submissions to ensure fairness and credibility.

A well-designed employee recognition program has the power to unlock the potential within individuals and teams, fostering a culture of appreciation and driving organizational success. Beyond that, a recognition program is the ultimate way to say ‘thank you’ to your all-stars and to continue to boost morale and motivation.

Learn more about other components of our company culture at AIS here.

Flexible Hours at AIS

A1Sadmin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 14:53:44 +0000

We all know how difficult it can be to find the balance between work and daily life, but at AIS, we’re committed to supporting our employees as they find that ever-so-difficult balance. Our benefits package was developed to ensure our people are taken care of at every stage of life. From 100% employer-paid medical insurance and an employer sponsored health savings account, to our 7% 401k contribution and tuition reimbursement, we’re incredibly dedicated to the success and happiness of our team.

One benefit that has had a major impact on the lives of our employees is our flexible hours benefit. Check out how having flexible hours has helped our employees improve their work/life balance.

Jackie, Subcontracts Team

“I’ve been a Boom Operator for the US Air Force Reserve for about eight years. Our wing has several flights per week against different receivers for training. My role as Boom Operator is to fly the Boom and connect it to the receiver as they fly up behind us.

My favorite part of the role is the view from the window. I also enjoy the travel that accompanies this position and that it is a unique experience. Occasionally I need to sign up for day flights for currency requirements. I try to schedule those far enough in advance so I can make sure my workload is covered. My supervisor, team and the flexible schedules at AIS have been amazing when it comes to balancing my time between my career and flying.”

Noah, Operations/Engineering Team

“I have a medically fragile daughter that was born over a year ago and requires 24/7 trained medical care. Aside from occasional temporary help, my wife and I are her sole providers of care, which means we take shifts to make sure she’s covered day and night. Because of the complexity of my daughter’s medical needs, we have frequent visits to the doctor. I would not have been able to keep this job if it weren’t for the ability to work from home on a flexible schedule. We’re extremely grateful for that.”

Tiffany, Operations/Engineering Team

“I take advantage of the flex schedule that AIS offers, and I can’t explain how much it makes a difference in my life. Not only do I have two children, but my 84-year-old grandmother lives with our family at our home, as she cannot live on her own. The flexible schedule was a significant factor in choosing a company to work for because it allows me to be productive, while also ensuring I have a schedule that works best for my family. I also live at our camp for the summer, so having flexible hours allows for nice breaks during the day to take a dip in the lake with the kids on those hot summer days.”

Daniel, Operations/Engineering Team

“I live on the west coast which would make working east coast hours difficult if I were to try working alongside my co-workers all the time. There is also no public transport for my daughter’s school, so I take her since my wife’s work hours are not flexible. I typically start my day after getting her to school and take a nice break when I pick her up for some catch-up time. With our line of work, there are times where I need to step away from the computer for a while and then get back to it with fresh ideas to try. This arguably makes me more productive; there are individuals who work well under pressure and I’m not one of them. I totally capitalize on our flexible schedule to take advantage of down times in the day for activities like DMV runs and drugstore pickups, without thinking twice about my schedule.”

Teresa, Operations/Engineering Team

“Having flexible hours allows me time to take care of life’s necessities without stressing about burning paid time off to get the little things done. Dealing with car repairs, being a health advocate for a grandparent or having a contractor at the house, are all things you can accomplish with less stress thanks to having flexible hours. Flexing your time allows you to work when you’re at your best. If you’re not a morning person, and your peak productivity doesn’t kick in until late in the day, there’s no reason to start at 8am. But if you are that morning person and want to start at 6am, go for it. Having trouble making it through a full day, or want a three-day weekend? Adjust your hours. I’m passionate about sailing – I sail, race sailboats and I officiate sailboat racing. I’m able to flex my time to participate in regattas like our annual Hospice Regatta, which raises money for hospice care. Having flexible hours is an amazing way to find the right balance that works for you, your life and your needs.”

Andrew, Operations/Engineering Team

“I take frequent walks with my wife in the middle of the workday, and because I have a flexible schedule, I can make up for that early in the evening. On my team, we have what we call the ‘gremlin shift’, where folks that have other commitments and such log back on after around 7pm to bust out whatever they were working on and make up the hours. We do not pride ourselves on weird schedules or working late, but as a team lead, I defend everyone’s right to use that flexibility whenever they want and for whatever purposes they deem fit – no questions asked.”