iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 03/10/2026

Katie Dodson, President of Hive Systems Defense Solutions, had a busy few days at CMMC Midwest. She joined an "Ask the Assessor" panel and led her own session on CMMC horror stories and how to avoid being in one. Thanks to everyone who came out and stopped by our happy hour.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 02/10/2026

We're now BIMI certified. Our logo now shows up next to every email we send, so you can confirm it's really from Hive Systems before you open it. A small, visible trust signal in an inbox full of impersonation attempts.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 01/10/2026

🎉 It's cybersecurity awareness month! Stay tuned for all our great content, guides, and tips to keep you, your family, and your work secure.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 22/09/2026

Find your weaknesses before someone else does. Our expert-led penetration testing simulates attacker behavior, uncovers exploitable vulnerabilities, and prioritizes fixes based on risk, not noise.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 18/09/2026

We helped Hitting Cancer Below the Belt strengthen their security with clear education and reliable support, so their team can stay focused on their mission - not their inbox.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 09/09/2026

Good cybersecurity shouldn't be locked behind a paywall. Our resource library is built by our experts and free for everyone - templates, tools, podcasts, and expert-led learning. Built by experts, free for you: www.hivesystems.com/guides

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 08/09/2026

AI models running security tests escaped their sandboxes and broke into real organizations that never agreed to be tested. Nobody told them to - they just chased their goal past a gap in the setup. Giving an AI a goal isn't the same as giving it judgment. Read more: buff.ly/LMu6ZS8

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 03/09/2026

Phishing and spoofing emails were slowing down the Legal Aid Justice Center's team, so we built a tailored simulation and training program to help staff spot the fakes. As IT Director Chris Florez put it: "I always learned something from working with Hive Systems."

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 02/09/2026

Knowing your provider covers some of your CMMC controls is one thing. Sorting what you inherit is another. Our free crosswalk maps all 110 CMMC Level 2 requirements to the exact Rev. 5 controls your provider uses, so you can check what's inherited and what's still on you.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 28/08/2026

Your cloud provider covers a big share of your CMMC controls. Proving which ones is how you inherit them instead of redoing the work. Our free crosswalk maps all 110 CMMC Level 2 requirements to the exact 800-53 Rev. 5 controls your provider's CRM uses.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 27/08/2026

Med'EqualiTeam provides free medical support to those who need it most. Through Hive Helps, we helped them fortify their systems, strengthen their data protection, and train their teams, so they can focus entirely on their mission.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 26/08/2026

Stopping a hacker is only half of incident response. The other half is figuring out what happened - and anti-forensics tries to take that away. The fix isn't making everyone a forensics expert. It's logging, backups, and reporting early. buff.ly/Yd9zyFk

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 25/08/2026

Vulnerabilities don't need to be zero-days to cause damage. Most incidents come from known issues - missed patches, misconfigurations, exposed systems. We bring modern scanning and expert interpretation to find and fix them before they become liabilities.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 21/08/2026

Starts in three days. Self-assessment means you're the assessor now - same 110 controls, same scoring, you just run it. Our live CMMC training runs August 24 to 28. Close your gaps before you self-attest.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 20/08/2026

NIST 800-171 Rev 2 still governs your CMMC assessment today, but the DoW says Rev 3 is next. It reorganizes into 97 controls across 17 families, adds three new families, and expands assessment objectives 32%. Don't jump to Rev 3 yet - but don't wait to prepare either. Here's what changes.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 18/08/2026

CMMC Phase 2 is paused. Your DFARS obligations aren't. Katie Dodson - 40 assessments done, C3PAO advisory council chair - breaks down what the pause really means for defense contractors. Premieres today, 10 AM ET. buff.ly/yUGMMdp

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 17/08/2026

Learn CMMC self-assessment from the assessors themselves. Our live training for the DIB runs August 24 to 28, led by the team that runs the assessments and gets defense contractors ready to pass.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 14/08/2026

CMMC training built for the people who own the work. Live, virtual sessions led by our C3PAO assessors, the team that runs assessments and gets defense contractors ready to pass. August 24 to 28. Meet NIST SP 800-171 and close your gaps before you self-attest.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 13/08/2026

You launched fast. Now make sure it's secure. We manually review your web app and APIs for the vulnerabilities that matter - authentication flaws, access control issues, injection and input handling, and the business logic flaws scanners miss.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 11/08/2026

CMMC self-assessment, taught by the people who assess for a living. Live, virtual sessions August 24 to 28, led by our C3PAO experts. Same controls, same scoring, run by you. Register: buff.ly/s5HROaR

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 10/08/2026

Got a package you never ordered? No invoice, no charge, no return address? That's a brushing scam. Sellers ship cheap items to real names and addresses to post fake reviews under your name. The box is harmless, but it means your info has leaked. Here's what to do next: buff.ly/3Aj64eg

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 04/08/2026

A few weeks into the CMMC pause, DoD has shared five reasons behind the 60-day review. Some are real flaws worth fixing. None of them erase your obligations. DFARS 7012 still applies. Here's the C3PAO breakdown: buff.ly/UZ2XRJD

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 03/08/2026

Our 2026 Password Table breakdown drops tomorrow at 10 AM ET on Hive Live. How long does it really take to crack a password this year? And why can a long, simple one beat a short, complex one? Watch tomorrow. buff.ly/DKMyy45

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 29/07/2026

Phishing still works because it stopped looking suspicious. Now it looks like a normal invoice, a shared doc, a password reset from a tool you use. The fix isn't perfect employees - it's making verification and reporting feel normal too. Read more at buff.ly/gi1ZpOn

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 26/07/2026

The CMMC pause has revived a myth: that C3PAOs inflate assessment fees. As a C3PAO, we'll say it plainly - that $45,000 week is a DoD mandate, not a markup. Three credentialed pros, niche certs, real overhead. And the pause changes nothing about your DFARS obligations.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 25/07/2026

FortiBleed exposed admin credentials for up to 86,000 Fortinet firewalls. No zero-day, no clever exploit - just weak passwords, legacy encryption, and open ports. The attackers didn't beat security. They found people skipping the basics. Here's what happened and what to do next: buff.ly/4kjDzAp

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 23/07/2026

Passion, in practice: founded in 2018 by two Virginia Tech grads on the motto "Ut Prosim" - that I may serve. We didn't start this to check boxes. We started it because security should be achievable for everyone.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 18/07/2026

Equity, in practice: through Hive Helps we give pro bono security support to nonprofits and our Richmond community. Over a half dozen organizations helped so far. A safer digital world should be for everyone.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 17/07/2026

Our 2026 Password Table dropped Tuesday, and the top question back was about the trend. Here it is: 2024 to 2026 on the same passwords, crack times falling ~23% a year. You didn't change your password, the hardware got faster, so it's length that keeps you ahead!

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 14/07/2026

The 2026 Password Table is here. This year's rig is a fleet of two rented 8x RTX 5090 hosts, which made cracking about 24% faster than last year. AI made the rig easier to build but still can't crack bcrypt. Length wins. Download your copy at buff.ly/035RwNq

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 14/07/2026

"CMMC Phase II suspended" is not "CMMC is gone." Phase I self-assessments still apply. DFARS 252.204-7012 still binds you. The government can still assess you, and the False Claims Act exposure holds with no breach required. Here's what's still in force and how to set your strategy buff.ly/liTZPSe

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 09/07/2026

Precision, in practice: customized risk-reduction plans built on a real understanding of your business. The same standard powers the products we build - Derive and Audora.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 07/07/2026

One week out. Our updated Password Table is almost here. How long would it take an attacker to brute force your password in 2026? The full breakdown drops in 7 days and spoiler: length still wins.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 29/06/2026

Trust, in practice: we translate cybersecurity into plain language so you understand every recommendation, and build a real partnership around what makes your organization unique. No jargon, no guesswork.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 27/06/2026

Being tech-ready for CMMC is only half the battle. Weak documentation is one of the top reasons assessments go sideways - and it's more fixable than you think.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 25/06/2026

Passion. Equality. Precision. Trust. Four values, every service, every time. See what we're about at buff.ly/eaZxjNr

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 18/06/2026

Nonprofits - our Hive Helps pro bono consulting application closes June 30. Real cybersecurity support, no cost. Apply at buff.ly/8AIaplQ

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 25/05/2026

Printing might be the most underestimated risk in a CMMC Level 2 assessment. Paper CUI brings new physical controls, chain-of-custody tracking, encrypted print jobs, expanded network scope, and strict destruction rules. Our latest ACT post breaks it down. buff.ly/d7gDShq

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 07/05/2026

It’s World Password Day. Our 2026 Password Table update is almost here. Every year the gap between weak and strong passwords gets wider. Stay tuned here for the release!

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 23/04/2026

AI is speeding up vulnerability discovery, but hackers are speeding up exploitation. And now that gap is getting smaller fast. What does that mean for security teams? Our experts share their thoughts. buff.ly/qQ5q3Er

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 23/02/2026

The Notepad++ story isn’t about a text editor - it’s about update trust. A targeted campaign reportedly redirected select users to compromised “updates.” If a trusted tool was compromised tomorrow, how would you know? buff.ly/GdUh3ya

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 30/01/2026

Think you can defer most CMMC requirements with a POA&M? Think again. Our latest breakdown reveals which controls must be in place at the time of assessment - and why failing just one could mean starting over. Read here: buff.ly/REsHYSm

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 05/01/2026

We’re 8 today. Hive Systems was founded in 2018 to help organizations take control of their cybersecurity. 8 years later, we’re still driven by that mission. Thanks for being part of our story.

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 12/12/2025

CMMC assessments don’t go on sale often… but ours are. 10% off all CMMC assessments through Dec 31. buff.ly/NbQzIwp

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 09/12/2025

Our Cyber Monday deal didn’t end on Monday. You can still get 10% off your CMMC Level 2 assessment through Dec 31. One of the only C3PAOs offering a deal this year. → buff.ly/Q2chPdb

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 03/12/2025

95% of 2024 data breaches involved human error. But good habits can become reflexes - and that’s your best defense. Our latest ACT post explains how to build a human firewall that complements your AI defenses. buff.ly/1VhWuDa

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 01/12/2025

Cyber Monday, but make it CMMC. We’re offering 10% off your CMMC Level 2 certification assessment if you book by Dec 31. Never seen an assessor do this before? Neither have we. → buff.ly/Q2chPdb

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 27/11/2025

We're thankful for our team, the teams we work with at the companies we help secure, and the time to rest and recharge. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Hive Systems @hivesystems.com · 20/11/2025

New research from @deriverisk.com: UK orgs now assess cyber risk 6.79x/month. 56% do it weekly or more. But fragmented tools and lack of prioritization still hold teams back. Read the full Cyber Risk Management 2025 Report: buff.ly/kEX9ENt

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