When beginning your search for a CSfC trusted integrator your main concern is finding one that you can trust to complete your specific project. CSfC customers, such as yourself, are technically not required to use a trusted integrator, although it is strongly recommended. By making the choice to use a trusted integrator you can rest assured that the integrator has satisfied all criteria outlined by the NSA, but you still need to find one that is the right fit for your specific project. We have outlined a few questions that will assist you in further vetting an NSA CSfC trusted integrator.
Have you ever worked on projects similar to this?
The first question you want to ask is if the trusted integrator has ever worked on projects with similar requirements before. Learning more about their previous experience is vital to understanding if they will be a good fit for your project. The architecture and security requirements for each Capability Package are different. In order to meet your deadlines you want to be reassured that they have crafted similar solutions in the past, and by taking on your project there wouldn’t be any guesswork or trial and error. Past experience reduces the potential for mistakes or delays.
A follow-up question you should ask is if they have ever encountered any problems with projects like yours before.
If so, what was their solution? What went wrong? How did they solve it? By learning more about previous challenges, you can not only make sure that your project won’t encounter similar difficulties but also identify any potential issues early on in order to avoid them altogether.
📽️ Watch Now: How to Choose the Right NSA CSfC Trusted Integrator
Have you worked on a project of this scale before?
You want to be sure that you are working with an organization that has the resources and experience to deliver on your project's requirements. For example, if you are needing 5,000 pre-configured secure laptops like the Archon ZV you want to make sure the trusted integrator has the resources and experience to deliver. If they have only ever fulfilled orders for 50 laptops at a time before, they may not have encountered the kinds of complexities that come with scale. This could lead to unanticipated delays if you were to select them for this project.
After we build this, then what?
This question is a great way to test their ability to anticipate future needs and scale as the project potentially grows. You want to confirm that this trusted integrator really understands the process. For these types of projects, when complete, you almost immediately go into a recertification phase. You will want a trusted integrator that can explain that to you and support you through it. As a customer and future user, you must ask trusted integrators questions about not only what you need today, but what you may need in the future, as well.
Can you provide references for similar projects you have completed?
The best way to verify a trusted integrator's capabilities is to check their references. Ask for a contact from a previous project that you can reach out to. Talking with a previous client will allow you to find out what it is like to actually work with this trusted integrator. Here are a number of questions to ask previous clients:
- How was the communication with the trusted integrator?
- How long did it take from start to Final Operating Capability?
- Did they meet the deadlines set at the beginning of the project? If not, what caused the delays?
- How large of a scale was your project?
- Did the trusted integrator have enough resources to fulfill the requirements of your project?
- Would you work with this trusted integrator again in the future?
Can you explain back to me what our requirements for this project are?
At the end of your conversation with a trusted integrator, you should ask them to explain back to you what your needs and goals are. The CSfC trusted integrator should be able to clearly articulate their understanding of your business, your needs and goals for this project, as well as how those needs align with their capabilities as an organization.
Finding a trusted integrator that understands your requirements from a user perspective is imperative for a successful project. You want to make sure that the trusted integrator can not only solve the engineering challenges, but also has the customer’s experience in mind when crafting that solution. They must understand what you do and who the end-users are. In the end if the solution doesn’t work for the user then it doesn’t work at all.
As a Trusted Integrator ourselves, we’re here to help, whether that’s setting up a secure infrastructure, establishing endpoints, or partnering with you to pursue bold new solutions. Contact us today to learn more!