CounterMeasures Version 8.1 Released
February 20, 2007 - Alexandria , VA - Alion is proud to announce the release of Version 8.1 of the CounterMeasures® risk management product line. New features in Version 8.1 enhance the analysts’ ability to provide meaningful risk-based assessments of their facility and allow them to create and maintain a repository of facility documents, procedures, images and plans.

Pictures - In order to document the quality of countermeasures, users now have the option of uploading pictures in the “Countermeasures” tab for each item assessed. The uploaded images serve as references to better describe a countermeasure and to display how well a countermeasure has been implemented.

Documents - Users are now able to upload up to five images and five documents in the “Comments” tab of the survey module. Examples include current security plans, evacuation plans, blueprints and personnel rosters. The five images serve as a visual memory cue of the surveyed facility and its environment for the analysts and can also provide timely assistance to first responders. The documents can be uploaded in Microsoft Word (.doc), MS Excel (.xls), or PDF formats.

Countermeasure Cost - Quite possibly the most economically beneficial new feature is the CounterMeasures costing module. The costing module allows the analysts to input the costs associated with the implementation and maintenance of a proposed countermeasure that will, in turn, be used for calculations in the cost benefit analysis. These calculations will better equip the analyst to prioritize security expenditures based on the best value.

For more information on CounterMeasures and the new Version 8.1 software, visit our products page or call 1-800-754-4204.

CounterMeasures Version 8 Released
January 9, 2006 - Alexandria , VA - Alion releases Version 8 of the CounterMeasures® risk management product line. Version 8 has important new features that enhance the customer's ability to make meaningful risk-based decisions, while maintaining the look and feel of previous versions.

Powerful new screens have been added to the analysis module that allows users to prioritize their risk in a variety of ways. Countermeasures/controls can now be sorted on-screen by cost, effectiveness, or return on investment. A similar feature has also been added to allow the analyst to determine which threats are causing the greatest risk and which vulnerabilities are they exploiting to do so. As the analyst selects possible options, the result of each option can be viewed on-screen.

For organizations that have more than one inspector or analyst, the Enterprise Program is now compatible with a network installation. This means that the program can be installed on a server, and multiple users can concurrently access/update the same database. This eliminates the need to transfer data between workstations, since the data for all users is stored in the same database on the server. Password protection for each survey ensures that only the appropriate persons view each file. A single license allows for one analyst “seat” and an unlimited number of survey or inspector “seats”. Customers may purchase additional licensed analyst seats as necessary.

Those clients who do not need the Enterprise Platform can now choose CounterMeasures® - Standard Platform or CM-SP. This new product in the CounterMeasures line is designed to support smaller offices. CM-SP has the same premier analysis and reporting capabilities, but has trims some of the integration and customization features that are not needed by smaller clients, and CM-SP is available at about 1/3 of the cost of the Enterprise Platform.

To make security/safety data from CounterMeasures more portable to other programs, a "risk repository" has been added in the Enterprise Platform of Version 8. The repository stores the results of completed surveys and allows the user to search, query, and report across all stored surveys. This also allows customers who wish to use the data in other programs or who wish to use third-party ad-hoc reporting tools to do so.

For more information on CounterMeasures® and the new Version 8 software, visit our products page or call 1-800-754-4204.

Risk Analysis Software chosen as part of DHS Program December 12, 2005 - McLean, VA – Alion’s CounterMeasures® risk analysis software has been chosen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP).

CEDAP is a federal program to assist smaller communities in acquiring and using commercially available equipment to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorist attacks. The program makes CounterMeasures® available at no cost to certain law enforcement, emergency response and related organizations. Successful applicants will receive the software along with all the training necessary to develop a basic level of proficiency.

CounterMeasures® addresses vulnerability and risks associated with both safety and security efforts in a variety of environments including; physical security/OSHA, critical infrastructure, information security and seaport security risks. It can assess, analyze, report and manage the risks associated with assets of an infrastructure.

“CEDAP was established to assist smaller communities in acquiring and using commercially available equipment to prevent and deter terrorist attacks,” said Warren Lamont, Alion Vice President. “We’re proud that CounterMeasures® was chosen as part of this DHS program, as we firmly believe that we can help these communities manage their risk profiles.”

For more information on CounterMeasures® and the CEDAP program and to apply to purchase the software, visit the CEDAP Program.

CounterMeasures Featured on Fox New Live
“Security expert, discusses relevance of CounterMeasures software to antiterrorism applications.”
December 12, 2005 — Miami , FL – On Fox News Live, Mr. Steven Purl, an internationally renowned security expert and Executive VP of Grand Investigative Security Services (Grand ISS), was interviewed about security requirements for civilian workers in Iraq . During which, he endorsed CounterMeasures® security vulnerability assessment software program and discussed how CounterMeasures can augment standard operating procedures (SOPs) by providing a list of security checklist items that are customized to address risk in a continuously changing environment.

Steven Purl spent twenty-years in British law enforcement, where he worked closely with authorities handling a wide variety of complex investigations and security assignments. He served as a New Scotland Yard Detective and Special Operations Team Leader for the famed SO19 Unit of the Yard’s Specialist Operations Branch, and was tasked with the Royal Family’s personal security detail.  Most recently, Steven played an instrumental role in establishing Special Response Team Training programs for the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and he continues to train a large number of US law enforcement agencies in anti-terrorist tactics. He is the author of two best-selling books and currently speaks as an expert on anti-terrorism, countermeasures, and security vulnerability. He has appeared numerous times on FOX News Network as a commentator, FOX News The O’Reilly Factor, NBC TV and radio, the BBC, and SKY news.

US Army Program Enters Second Phase
September 10, 2006 — Alexandria , VA – Alion began the second phase of its Army-wide implementation of CounterMeasures-based software. The program, which began in 2004, is a three-year initiative to design a replacement program for the Army’s current Security Management System (SMS) for physical security inspectors.

The replacement program uses CounterMeasures as the basis of Version 2 of SMS (SMS v2 ), and in the first phase, CounterMeasures was customized to address the full range of US Army assets, threats, and regulations. Operational testing was conducted at Fort Meyers in Arlington , Virginia and Fort Hood , Texas .

In the current phase of the project, Alion is supporting a US Army regional deployment and is developing a secure web-based ‘executive dashboard’ for Army leadership. The executive dashboard provides leaders at each base, region, or deployed area with an overall picture of the security posture and consequent risk within their area of responsibility.

As the program moves into Army-wide deployment in 2006, Army leaders will benefit from the vital data that they are able to access instantaneously and succinctly from wherever they may be deployed.

Alion Science and Technology Purchases Assets of Countermeasures, Inc.
October 28, 2004 — MCLEAN , VA - Alion Science and Technology today announced it has purchased Countermeasures, Inc, makers of the “Buddy System®” Vulnerability Assessment and Management Software. The purchase gives Alion ownership of this industry-leading technology for identifying, quantifying and managing physical, infrastructure, program and electronic security risks.

The Buddy System, used by numerous government agencies, including the Department of Defense, and commercial organizations, simplifies the process of measuring the vulnerability of facility or enterprise-wide information, then calculates the level of risk. The program can also recommend counter-measures and advice that can significantly reduce the exposure to threats. The system can also measure compliance with rules or regulations.

“This acquisition helps Alion create a more seamless structure for sales, service and support,” said Barry Watson, Senior Vice President and Manager of Alion’s Systems Technology Sector. Watson said that Alion will now be able to quickly create enhancements to the software and enter new markets, as customers will have a direct conduit to the organization that owns and supports the product.

“Alion has provided support and development services for The Buddy System for years. We can now provide an even greater level of responsiveness to customers, both current and future,” he said.