Volume 1, Issue 13
SE&M Solutions LLC publishes The In-Brief to help keep government and industry leaders aware of important issues in the personnel security, suitability, Trusted Workforce 2.0, background investigations, adjudications, counterintelligence, industrial security communities, and emerging technologies.
Articles of Interest
28K Exchange Servers Remain Unpatched
Security Magazine reports that as of August 1, 2025, over 28,000 Exchange Servers remain unpatched despite an April warning from Microsoft. This prompted an August 7, 2025 emergency directive from CISA to negate a vulnerability that allows a cyber threat actor with administrative privileges to escalate privileges and exploit vulnerable hybrid-joined configurations.
Navy Admiral Brad Cooper Takes Over at U.S. Central Command
Military Times reports Navy Admiral Brad Cooper took command of USCENTCOM on August 8, replacing the outgoing commander, Army General Erik Kurilla. Admiral Cooper previously served as deputy commander at USCENTCOM. Admiral Cooper is the second Navy admiral to lead the combatant command since Admiral William Fallon held the position in 2007.
Documents Detail China’s AI-powered Propaganda Push
Defense One reports the Chinese government is enlisting a range of domestic AI firms to develop and run sophisticated propaganda campaigns that look far more lifelike than past public manipulation efforts, according to a cache of documents from one such company reviewed by Vanderbilt University researchers.
Why ‘Low-Skill’ Doesn’t Mean Low Risk: Iran’s Cyber Threat to the Defense Industrial Base
According to a report by Federal News Network, Iran-affiliated cyber actors remain dangerous despite garnering less attention than their Chinese or Russian counterparts. While their campaigns are often labeled as lower sophistication, make no mistake: Low-skill does not mean low-impact. From wiper malware to phishing and supply chain compromise, Iranian actors continue to exploit the weakest links in U.S. defense networks — often when attention is focused elsewhere.
Why Financial Institutions Can’t Afford to Ignore Quantum Readiness
Quantum Insider notes the financial services sector is especially relevant in the emerging field of quantum computing. While most applications remain in the research and early testing phases, several high-value areas are already being explored, including risk modeling, portfolio optimization, fraud detection, and high-frequency trading. These applications are still developing, but their alignment with finance’s data- and compute-intensive challenges makes the sector a natural early adopter. Institutions investing in quantum exploration today are positioning themselves to better understand—and potentially shape—the trajectory of this emerging capability.
NSA: Small Defense Firms are Tempting Targets for Nation-State Hackers
NSA’s head of defense-industry security recently highlighted that smaller defense firms are attractive targets for nation-state hackers because they often hold sensitive technical data, intellectual property, or access credentials linked to U.S. military and intelligence systems. Small contractors, which account for 80% of contractor workforce, can serve as entry points into the broader defense ecosystem, making them a key focus for espionage campaigns. More from Defense One.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition
8/27-29/2025
Walter E. Washington Convention Center | Washington, D.C.
NDIA’s flagship Emerging Technologies Conference explores the innovations that will shape national security for the next century. Hear directly from technology leaders in government, defense industry, the commercial sector, and academia on cutting edge developments, operational needs, and business opportunities in critical mission areas.
2025 Intel Summit
10/2/2025
Hilton-McLean | McLean VA
The Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Inte
l Summit will bring together the Intelligence Community’s top leaders to provide their insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the IC today and into the future.
https://www.potomacofficersclub.com/events/2025-intel-summit
About SE&M
SE&M Solutions LLC is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Harrisburg, PA. We are experts in personnel security, continuous vetting, Trusted Workforce 2.0 (TW2.0) policies, processes, information technology, and emerging quantum photonic technologies. We offer professional services and IT support, including staff augmentation, consulting, planning, and implementation for clients in the federal, state, local, and commercial sectors. For more information, contact SE&M at info@semsolutionsllc.com.