Company: PeopleTec, Inc. Huntsville, AL
Company Description: Founded in April 2005, PeopleTec, Inc. is an employee-owned small business dedicated to cultivating a people-centric workplace while providing technical excellence to the defense community in support of the warfighter. With 600 employees, PeopleTec provides emerging technologies, engineering solutions, cybersecurity, and mission operations to Defense Department and Federal sectors.
Nomination Category: Technology Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Technology Department of the Year
 Nomination Title: Cybersecurity Experts
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated technology organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022, OR an essay of up to 650 words? (Choose one):
An essay of up to 650 words
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
- If you are providing an essay of up to 650 words, place it in the following space:
Total 490 words used.
Today’s global cybersecurity domain is rife with challenges, with adversaries continually evolving and technology adapting to mitigate these threats. Group K from PeopleTec is diligently handling cybersecurity and pioneering in advanced space technologies for myriad government clients on the frontline of this ever-evolving battlefield. The significance of their efforts was substantiated recently when they discerned a novel class of stealth cyberattacks, a finding sometimes called a “zero-day” event and one significant enough to find its place in the National Vulnerability Database.
The implications of their discovery in May 2023 were alarming. Their cyber report highlighted vulnerabilities across technological behemoths – Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple – potentially compromising around 8 billion voice-activated devices globally. Such household platforms as Siri, Alexa, Samsung, and Cortana systems came under this purview. Furthermore, underscoring their commitment to national defense, they identified and reported a bug in the Department of Defense's blue force tracker, Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK), a system pivotal for 250,000 personnel spanning 15 commands. The gravity of this vulnerability was acknowledged by the government's own National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which classified the threat severity as High, assigning it a notable score of 7.6 out of 10.
Additionally, Group K's value proposition extends beyond just cybersecurity—its adeptness in transitioning cybersecurity work to the US Space Force. One of the origins of simple letter designations for each department was encouraging company collaboration and removing barriers to branch out creatively with new business opportunities outside of any preconceived scope.
While steadfast in its pursuit of technical excellence, Group K also recognizes the importance of growth and expansion to meet the dynamic demands of cybersecurity and advanced space technologies. This year, under its leadership, the group expanded its workforce by an impressive 30%, attesting to its business growth and its commitment to infusing new talent and perspectives into its operations. This surge in personnel amplifies Group K's operational capabilities and fosters a diverse ecosystem of skills and expertise poised to address a broader range of challenges.
Furthermore, Group K's dedication to process optimization and quality assurance is epitomized by its achievement to reach the Capability Maturity Model for Services and Development Level 5 rating from the CMMI Institute. This accomplishment isn't just a testament to its rigorous approach to process improvement and quality management, placing it in an elite category. Out of the Fortune 500 companies, only 12 globally have secured this certification. For Group K to spearhead the corporate goals to be among these esteemed ranks speaks volumes about its commitment to delivering quality in every project and initiative. The CMMI Level 5 certification is more than just recognition; it assures its clients and stakeholders that Group K and the company generally operate with quality standards and continuous process improvement.
Group K's accomplishments underscore a blend of technical skills, strategic agility, and a commitment to cybersecurity, making them a candidate for the Best Technical Department of the year award.
- In bullet-list form, provide a brief summary (up to 150 words) of up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of the nominated technology organization since the beginning of 2022:
Total 148 words used.
- Stealth Cyber Attacks Detection: Identified a new class of stealth cyber attacks, contributing to the National Vulnerability Database.
- Global Report Filing: Successfully filed a groundbreaking report in May 2023 with tech giants including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple, highlighting vulnerabilities affecting 8 billion voice-activated devices.
- DoD Bug Bounty: Identified and filed critical vulnerabilities in the DoD's blue force tracker (ATAK) system, benefiting 250,000 personnel across 15 commands.
- NIST Ranking: Achieved an independent High severity ranking (7.6/10) from the government's NIST for their vulnerability report.
- Proposal Strategy: Leveraged third-party validations like NIST rankings to enhance cyber proposal submissions, aiding in acquiring both defensive and offensive operational contracts.
- Contract Acquisitions: Successfully transitioned the SMDC congressional add work, securing a $13M+ contract under USSF funding.
- Subcontracting Opportunity: Positioned PeopleTec as a subcontractor for AvMC OTA, aiding the Microelectronics Security and Protective Technologies lab with potential funding up to $12M.
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