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PC Krause and Associates, Inc. (PCKA) was formed in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1983 specializing in the numerical simulation of electrical power systems associated with military and commercial aircraft, shipboard, and terrestrial platforms. The company has expanded into the design, proto-typing, and testing of various power-electronic-based devices and controls.

Situation:

PCKA is a collection of high-level engineering researchers that were accustomed to some level of flexibility when it came to IT resources. Assistance was needed in designing and implementing formal cybersecurity controls using industry best-practices.

Solution:

Purdue MEP arranged for TCC Software Solutions to perform a cybersecurity gap analysis and to provide recommendations on remediation actions. The focus of the remediation was on key controls that could be implemented with the most immediate impact.

Results:

PCKA is now positioned to maintain our present Department of Defense funding. Approximately 20% of the DoD funding would have been in jeopardy. If that funding had been lost, 15% of the company’s workforce would have been affected. In addition, all future DoD funding is expected to be contingent on the DFARS compliance, as outlined by NIST.

“With the help of Purdue MEP and TCC, PCKA is now making significant strides towards NIST 800-171 compliance. It will be a long and difficult process, but we are confident that the practical guidance we are receiving will lead to a cybersecurity posture that not only meets the new DoD contract requirements, but also protects PCKA intellectual property in general. One expected benefit of the improved IT-security controls is an advantage when competing future contracts against slower-adopting contractors.”

– Eric Lucas, PhD, Director of Computer and Networking Services