VBT Author Spotlight: Diane Griffin

Author Bio: Diane Griffin, President and owner of Security First & Associates, says her motivation for writing Everything You Wanted to Know About the Security Clearance Process, But Are Afraid To Ask: Professional Guidance for Obtaining and Maintaining a Security Clearance came from the more than two decades of people she has assisted, both in her role as a private security contractor, and as the head of personnel or security within major governmental contractors, in finding their way through the complicated security clearance chain. Diane, is nationally recognized as an expert in the design and delivery of security throughout the intelligence community and has worked with a variety of clients throughout the US Government and industry. Diane is a past membership chairperson and current secretary of the National Classification Management Society (NCMS) and is active in several professional security organizations.





Diane received her B.S. degree in Human Resource Manager from Colorado Christian Univ. and MBA degree in Management from University of Phoenix. Author of several articles on Security and she volunteers with shelters, collecting used Cell phones for Women of Domestic Violence. In addition, volunteers with the foster care program, creating a program called Bags & Bears for Foster care, collecting pack backs and teddy bears for children in the foster care program. Diane is single again and has one child.









Book Synopsis: If you have plenty of time to click around through myriad government websites and the patience to cut through red tape and make sense of confusing bureaucratic talk, you may be able to find some of the answers to your questions about the security clearance process,” Griffin says. “Chances are, however, that you will still be left with some of your questions unanswered, because there are some questions that the government just doesn’t address. So, unless you know someone who is well acquainted with the process from a first-hand perspective, good luck.
“What I sought to do was compile all of these answers into one easy-to-read compendium of advice and guidance, giving my readers signposts along the way to assist them in navigating through the clearance process. I believe I’ve come up with a volume that will greatly help its users, and being able to assist folks in working through this process is extremely gratifying to me.” GROUNDBREAKING SECURITY CLEARANCE EBOOK A ONE-STOP KNOWLEDGEBASE FOR THOSE CONFUSED BY THE SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCESS







Business owners are smart to want to protect their sensitive, propriety information, yet are not exactly sure how to protect it. Applicant pre screening is one way you can find out who a person is, before they become a part of your team. Why is that important? Ask yourself, what do e-mail lists, proprietary information, customer contact lists, employee records and financial information all have in common?


The Answer: They are the Top 5 things stolen by freelancers, bookkeepers, even employees after leaving a job or when the job is completed - according to a recent survey conducted by the Ponemon Institute, a Tucson, Arizona-based research group whose survey was reported on by The Washington Post.


Having everyone that you do business with sign a NDA, (Non-Disclosure Agreement), is more important than ever. With economic agents putting emphasis on business secrecy, you must strive to protect your information through a series of tools. One such tool is the non disclosure agreement, generally understood as an agreement signed by company employees, prospective employees, business partners, freelancers and so on, in which they agree not to disclose company-related information.


Also, you may want to start with the standard pre-screening process. This includes checking references. You will want to thoroughly check with all of the references, as well as verify your applicant’s education. You may also want to check personal references. You will gain valuable information that can tell you a lot about a person. A more intense pre screening process may be in order for your type of business. There are great security firms out there that will help you define what your needs are and help you establish a plan for athe dequate screening of any applicant. You may need to do a background check to ensure that they do not have a criminal record. You may find that this disqualifies many applicants and save yourself from a great loss in the future.


Applicant pre screening and NDA’s are tools that any business owner should use to ensure they choose the most trusted people to do business with. Much of the pre screening process is not as intense as you may think. If putting these processes in place prevents problems before they occur, you will have a business that will stay secure. Present in a multitude of business relationships, non disclosure agreements are highly common in outsourcing operations. It’s simply smart business for even smalles to ask their business partners and freelancers to sign NDA agreements.







Everything You Need to Know About the Security Clearance Process, But Are Afraid to Ask is now available for $19.95, from my website, amazon & lulu.





Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Actionable guidance in 65 pages, June 14, 2010
By L. Evans "collaborative-action" (Pacific NW) -
This review is from: Everything You Need To Know About The Security Clearance Process But Are Afraid To Ask (Kindle Edition)
When I read an instructional book, I'm looking for help. That means it needs to be easy to understand and formatted in a way to quickly find what I'm looking for.

Diane Griffin's book, "Everything you need to know about the security clearance process, but are afraid to ask" does this and more.

She even adds a bit of humor that may address some people's real fears about the security clearance process.

... all in a fully-packed 65 pages of actionable instruction. Well done!

-Lori Leavitt Evans, Performance & Risk Management Expert
Abrige Corp. ([...]) & C-Secure Systems ([...])


5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Guide On The Security Clearance Process- Highly Recommended!,June 12, 2010
By CFH "chillnhill" (Blue Ridge Summit, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Everything You Need To Know About The Security Clearance Process But Are Afraid To Ask (Kindle Edition)
"Everything You Need To Know About The Security Clearance Process But Are Afraid To Ask" is an excellent resource for individuals and companies that need to understand the often intimidating process of obtaining a security clearance. Back in the early 1990s I went through the Security Clearance process to get access to DoE and FAA facilities in order to work on Data Networks and truly wish that Diane Griffin's comprehensive book was availible to me at that time!

The book is easy to read, leaving out unnecessary jargon, and covers all of the questions that an applicant will have and many that I didn't think of on my own. The inclusion of sample forms was very helpful but most importantly, the chapter containing the "odd" questions Diane has been asked will likely put a few minds to rest about what will and won't be a considered an impediment to obtaining a clearance.

Highly Recommended!

CFH