Services
ISS is dedicated to delivering innovative yet pragmatic solutions that deliver the best value to our customers. We have an uncompromising commitment to providing quality technical products and services, while meeting the highest moral and ethical standards in the performance of our jobs. Quality performance means two things. First, ISS takes considerable pride in satisfying its customers by delivering products and services that meet or exceed specified requirements at the agreed price and within schedule. Secondly, ISS is committed to continuously improving the processes by which products and services are delivered. The practice of continually honing these processes ensures that deliverables meets requirements without error, are completed quickly and are delivered to specification the first time. Customer appraisal of performance and overall satisfaction is critically important to ISS's reputation, and ultimately the key factor in its success.
Architecture & Design
To meet customer needs, a robust approach to the architecture and design of systems is critical. ISS's architecture and design services consist of a disciplined set of processes for the identification and quantification of system functionality and workflow, creation of alternative system design concepts, design trade-off analysis, selection and implementation of the optimal design, verification that the design is properly built and integrated, and post-implementation assessment against pre-defined system goals.
ISS's systems engineering processes are multi-disciplinary and follow commercial best practices to provide a holistic view from a process engineering, development, site installation, training, on-site support, technical support, technical documentation, and other O&M type tasking. ISS understands the unique requirements and challenges required to meet the DoD Net-Centric Data Strategy. This includes expertise and proficiency in Government-directed architectures and frameworks including Net-Centric Enterprise Solutions for Interoperability (NESI), the Air Force Technical Implementation Architecture (TIA), Net-Enabled Command Capability (NECC), and the Defense Information System Agency (DISA) Net-Centric Enterprise Services (NCES). ISS has documented expertise in architecting, designing and delivering SOA components compatible with the aforementioned architectures.
Rapid Software Prototyping and Delivering
The ISS software engineering process uses a documented and proven agile spiral development process to rapidly develop software, and also leverages open source software where appropriate as a tool for innovative solutions design, creation and delivery. This process has proven successful in executing WebTAS and related programs for over eleven years. This unique approach provides multiple incremental builds throughout the life cycle process, allowing requirements to be re-evaluated and added against progressively mature designs. Each increment goes through its own life cycle (planning, requirements analysis and definition, design, implementation, integration and test, operations and support). Within ISS, the combination of agile and open sources does not mean ad-hoc and free-wheeling, rather it means the rapid application of a proven set of documented methodologies and tools which provide the flexibility necessary to adapt to rapidly evolving customer requirements.
Certification & Accreditation (C&A)
Our success hinges on a pragmatic approach to C&A, whereby we incorporate the security requirements early into the development process and continuously test against them as the system matures. In addition, ISS has found that working closely with the appropriate Government PMO as a partner provides a coherent and focused team that maintains up to date expertise and knowledge of current DoD accreditation guidelines and a pragmatic understanding of how those guidelines translate into functional requirements. The primary accreditation team is comprised of a Security Systems Engineer, a Test Engineer, an Integration Engineer, and a Technical Writer with supplemental resources and expertise drawn from across ISS as needed.
ISS has extensive experience with accrediting Government sponsored applications. Over the past 2 years, ISS has accredited more than 15 systems for operation on JWICS and SIPRNET. For JWICS, ISS has received Certification to Field (CTFs) and Authority to Operate (ATOs) under the Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DODIIS) DCID 6/3, Digital Information Infrastructure Guide (DIIG), and Joint DODIIS Cryptologic SCI Information Systems Security Standards (JDCSISSS) guidelines. For SIPRNET, ISS has received Authority to Connect (ATCs) Authority to Connect and ATOs under the DoD 8500.2 and IT Lean Guidebook v5.0 guidelines commonly known as DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP). Recently, ISS has been working to migrate existing C&A strategies over to the new NIST 800-53/CNSS1253 based Risk Management approach (per FIPS and NIST guidance) as they become the new emerging standard under the Reciprocity initiatives taking place across the GIG.
Training Solutions
ISS provides a full range of training services to complement the software we develop, including documentation, classroom, self-paced training and field training services. A dedicated training staff develops and delivers training courses, material and ongoing support. During training development, a range of customized training materials are developed from self-help guides and user manuals, to formal class room materials. ISS trainers provide hands-on and class room training in our facilities in Colorado Springs, Hampton, VA, Arlington, VA and Tampa, FL. Trainers also deploy to military facilities worldwide to provide classroom and over the shoulder training. ISS has dedicated trainers at NTC, JRTC and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
Subject Matter Experts
ISS supplies Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the areas of Command and Control, Intelligence Analysis, Knowledge Management and Program Management to customers worldwide. For example, in the area of Air C2, ISS has numerous SMEs on staff with experience as aircrew, pilots and/or air controllers and with extensive Air Operations Center (AOC) background. The staff has a broad understanding of Air Operations Command and Control and of the current systems used at both tactical and strategic levels. ISS provides technical leadership at the program management level for numerous Air Operations C2 projects.
Knowledge Management
ISS has assisted multiple customers in discovering and documenting their organizational processes for acquisition, representation and implementation of knowledge in support of a unit's mission. Knowledge managers (KMs) can be embedded full-time in a unit or deployed for short-term engagements as needed. Full-time embedded KMs are often needed as business processes change over time. This is especially true when a-priori processes derived from doctrine and TTP meet the reality of the battlespace.
Additionally, different units have different methods on how to implement a process. In Iraq and Afghanistan, ISS has full-time KMs embedded to assist ISAF and IJC in documenting and measuring the business process for planning and C2. These processes change constantly as insurgent threats evolve. ISS has a cadre of experienced Knowledge Managers who understand doctrine, TTP and the realities of battlespace and know how to apply knowledge management best practices to learn and measure the effectiveness the evolving business processes.
Research & Development (R&D)
ISS has a robust research and development group developing new technologies that are relevant to both ISS and the Government. Our R&D group works with DARPA, IARPA and AFRL in the areas of machine learning, knowledge representation, semantic web, visualization, fusion, data mining and predicative analysis. ISS also has a major Internal Research and Development program extending our core software capabilities into new areas in anticipation of customer requirements.
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
ISS understands the complexity of providing technical support to the military for mission critical software. On-site engineering in support of our warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan has been a core part of ISS's business since 2004. This support includes help desk, system administration, database administration, software development, training, and knowledge management services. Forward deployed Field Service Engineers, Trainers and SMEs are supported by CONUS based staff who provide documentation, configuration management, tier-3 technical support and development of training materials. Each customer site is supported by a designated Operational Support Lead to ensure resolution of site issues.
