Linqs Group

What exactly is ITAR? The US government's International Traffic in Arms Regulations is a collection of rules. To maintain security, it regulates the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of defense and military-related items, services, and technology included on the United States Munitions List (USML). It's rather hefty! It appears to be connected to missiles and nuclear weapons, but there is more to it.   The bulk of categories in the USML are actually defense things, such as rifles, guns, explosives, and tanks. But it isn't all. As you scroll down the list, you'll see that the categories begin to merge with commercial things such as electronics, chemicals, and satellites. The USML also controls the blueprints, schematics, pictures, and other material required to produce ITAR-controlled military gear, in addition to military hardware. ITAR refers to this information as "technical data." Physical items are easy to restrict; restricting access to digital data i...

Do you deal with the federal government, or does a firm you work for? The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) contains some crucial information about your personal data. NIST 800-171, also known as NIST SP 800-171, became fully operational on December 31, 2017: even if you are not subject to NIST 800-171 compliance , the core competencies are still effective data security principles.     What does NIST 800-171 stand for? NIST is a non-regulatory Federal body tasked with developing standards for federal agencies on a variety of areas, including cybersecurity. NIST 800-171, a companion document to NIST 800-53, lays out how Federal agencies' contractors and subcontractors should handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) — it's tailored to non-federal information systems and organisations. NIST SP 800-171 originated as Executive Order 13556, signed by President Obama in 2010, instructing all Federal agencies to protect their CUI and establishing a single s...

It's no secret that training is a crucial investment for any organisation, and your ISO Certification is no exception. The following are five advantages that ISO training might provide for you and your management system:   EMPLOYEES WITH SKILLS A competent employee possesses the essential skills, experience, and knowledge, and training plays an important role in accomplishing this goal. Your staff will have a better grasp of your management system, how it may be incorporated into everyday activities, and what role they play in its success through Export control . Your management system is likely to suffer if they don't buy-in. SATISFACTION OF CUSTOMERS HAS IMPROVED Employees will be better able to do their duties and have a greater influence if they receive ISO training. Employees that have been taught and know what is expected of them operate more professionally and productively. Your employees' morale and motivation will be enhanced, and your customers will notice. RISKS...

"Do we really need to be ITAR compliant?" many individuals in your sector or those touched by ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) are undoubtedly asking themselves. or "Are we required to have ITAR certification?" Learn how to be ITAR compliant and what ITAR certification means for your business in this blog.   ITAR Certification: Who Needs It? First and foremost, we must dispel a lie concerning ITAR certification: it does not exist. ITAR certification is not given by anybody. Instead, you follow ITAR guidelines. You must also register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) in order to get permission to import and export items, data, and services that are subject to the ITAR laws. So, if you hear "ITAR certification," it's most likely just a reference to ITAR compliance. Simply put, if you intend to import or export anything from the USML (United States Munitions List), you must first obtain DDTC clearance. The certificatio...

ITAR stipulates that only US residents have access to physical materials or technical data connected to defence and military technologies. How can a corporation ensure that only US nationals have access to and use data on a network while being compliant with ITAR? It's simple to restrict access to physical objects; restricting access to digital data is more difficult.     ITAR Compliance Is Required For Whom?   ITAR compliance is required for every entity that handles, produces, creates, sells, or distributes commodities on the USML. The list of companies that can deal with USML goods and services is managed by the State Department's Directorate of Defence Trade Controls (DDTC), and it is up to each company to adopt policies to comply with ITAR certification requirement. Wholesalers & Distributors Providers of computer software and hardware Suppliers from outside the company Contractors ITAR compliance is required of every company in the supply chain.    Re...

Customer satisfaction has evolved into much more than a metric; it's now a valuable, difficult-to-copy competitive advantage. After all, keeping consumers happy means you won't lose them to your competition; at the same time, your customers may become brand ambassadors, assisting in the acquisition of new customers through recommendations.   Even so, many businesses struggle to focus on customer happiness on a regular basis. Even if the company is growing because of a satisfied customer base, maintaining that level of satisfaction as the company expands can be difficult. That's where implementing and getting ISO 9001:2015 certification may help!     ISO 9001:2015, also known as the Quality Management Systems standard, provides a framework for your company to deliver products and/or services that consistently meet customer demands and expectations through continuous improvement procedures.   Customer focus is one of the standard's seven important concepts, emphasising...

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-profit organisation that develops standards for institutes in over 159 nations throughout the world. The ISO's headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. In basic terms, ISO certification is granted to a company to show that it has high standards and communicates effectively with its staff and consumers. The International Organization for Standardization is a private organisation, not a government agency. It serves as a link between the private and governmental sectors, establishing high standards for a wide range of organisations in many industries. For the aerospace sector, AS 9100 certification is a widely used and standardised quality management system.     The ISO publishes a large number of standards. The ISO 9001 certification is one of the standards. The purpose of ISO 9001 certification is to guarantee that a company has a competent quality management system in place and can prove it to its customers. A...