NIST 800-63-3 is a set of guidelines published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for digital identity management and authentication. These guidelines provide recommendations for digital identity proofing, authentication protocols, and federation models. NIST 800-63-3 is widely recognized as a valuable resource for organizations looking to improve the security of their digital identity systems and reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.

It is also essential for government agencies because it works. For instance, state governments using solutions aligned with NIST Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) standards saw a significant decrease in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment claims. Whether adapting to changing mandates or incorporating industry standards such as NIST 800-63-3, Karsun has a solution to ease the adoption of security best practices during modernization.

The NIST 800-63-Standard

NIST 800-63-3 was released in June 2017. The guidelines were intended to improve online identity verification’s security and usability while addressing new threats and challenges that have emerged in recent years.

The guidelines are organized into three parts:

1. Digital Identity Guidelines: Guides establishing digital identity proofing and authentication procedures.
2. Authentication and Lifecycle Management Guidelines: Describes implementing and managing identity credentials and authentication.
3. Federation and Assertions Guidelines: Provides guidance for federated identity systems and how to use assertions to share identity information between systems.

Since introducing NIST 800-63-3, these standards have become industry best practices for identity management. In addition to NIST 800-63-3 compliance, agencies are prioritizing Zero Trust as a key component of securing the User and App pillar. For example, the FAA’s 2022 AIT annual report states, “[its] network environment now operates within a Zero Trust security model, which requires users to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated to be granted access to a network, system, or application.” The agency’s cybersecurity-related improvement activities support the transition to Zero Trust, as well as its implementation of a new multi-factor authentication (MFA) service for users who would like to access the FAA’s network, systems, and applications.

Complementing Secure By Design Architecture

At Karsun, incorporating NIST 800-63-3 standards is part of designing secure digital architecture. Incorporating these guidelines into a secure by design architecture involves creating systems and applications with security considerations at every stage of the development process, from design to deployment.

The guidelines recommend using risk-based authentication (RBA) to assess the risk associated with each access attempt. We design systems and applications with RBA in mind and implement automated risk assessment tools to make real-time decisions about access requests.

Key to our solutions is NIST 800-63-3 adherent identity proofing. This process involves verifying user identities using multiple sources of data. We incorporate these guidelines into the design process to ensure that user identities are verified before granting access. We also consider federation and assertions. We integrate NIST 800-63-3 standards into the design process if the system or application interacts with other systems or applications.

In addition, NIST 800-63-3’s guidelines on digital identity proofing can help organizations implement identity verification procedures consistent with the zero trust principle of “never trust, always verify.” By using a risk-based approach to identity proofing, organizations can better assess the trustworthiness of each user and device and limit access to sensitive data and applications only to those users and devices verified to be trustworthy.

We design systems and applications with secure coding practices in mind and follow best practices for secure coding throughout development. In our implementation, we automated mobile testing via functional testing tools like Appium. We used code scanning and container image scanning tools to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities earlier and address those issues before deployment.

By incorporating NIST 800-63-3 guidelines and a zero trust framework into a secure by design architecture, agencies can develop systems and applications that are secure by default and can better protect sensitive data and resources.

Complexities to Implementing Authentication

While adhering to these standards is essential to building a secure application, it introduces added complexity to modernization projects. The standards specify appropriate authentication approaches based on different risk levels. Each has extensive rules, and the requirements for various authenticators may be overwhelming, unclear, ambiguous, and conflicting. Addressing each of these Authentication Levels across devices effectively can hinder the successful adoption of the security standards.

Identity Reference Framework

To meet this challenge, Karsun introduced an Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM) reference implementation. We customized the Keycloack open source tool via a specific Service Provider Interface (SPI) to address the complex NIST authenticator requirements while accelerating the adoption of those standards. Our team began with a risk based assessment, identifying the authentication workflows and their requirements based on risk level.

Next, using Keycloak, we created custom implementations for each workflow. Using these workflows, we created custom templates for new user sign-up forms. We also adapted these custom templates to adhere to US Digital Services (USDS) standards. This approach created a repeatable identify framework we could implement as a plug-in that can be deployed over an open source Keycloak container. 

Not only does this approach reduce complexity, but it is also a more secure implementation. It allows the user, when appropriate, to use authentication other than a simple password. When using an authentication type such as FIDO2, the user enters a PIN or uses biometrics to authenticate successfully, then the authenticator uses the key in the device to sign the challenge from the identity provider. Thus the key never leaves the device. Using this highest-level-without-password/passwordless approach was more secure while simultaneously providing a better user experience.

Additionally, by using Keycloak to build our own identity reference framework library, we addressed a common concern with implementing open source tools. Using a template library created a clear separation between Keycloak and our ability to update the plug-in. We designed the library to keep the templates up to date and maintain the application’s security rather than relying on Keycloak itself.

Accelerating Identity and Access Management Adoption

Like many Karsun toolkit components, these identity reference framework resources are available to our team members to use through our InnerSource library. Evolving from an Innovation Center research and development project to a validated implementation, it can now be used as one of our readymade toolkits. All Karsun teams now have access to these vital resources and ensure that our teams can accelerate the implementation of emerging identity and ICAM standards in your agency’s modernization efforts. 

Content from this post initially appeared from Pavan Kurkal as part of Karsun’s Monthly Innovation Town Hall series. These events present innovative solutions from our delivery teams across Karsun. Pavan is an engineer with the Karsun Innovation Center specializing in identity and access management.

As wildfires, tornados, flooding and other climate disasters threaten our nation, now is the time to improve the climate resiliency of our communities. The number of disasters totaling over a billion dollars has risen considerably over the past five years, with nearly 18 events a year. In some communities, the impacts of this rising rate in large-scale disasters resulted in the disruption of critical services, depressed property values, soaring insurance rates, and long-term infrastructure damage. By helping build resilient infrastructure before major disasters, climate resiliency aids diverse communities in weathering the impacts of accelerating climate change.

Karsun’s grants management modernization work supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) includes its Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) platform. This project enables FEMA to more efficiently deliver resiliency grants such as the Building Resilient Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance. Improving climate resiliency through grants and other programs supports diverse communities in several ways.

Diverse communities are often the most vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Improving climate resiliency can help reduce the impact of these events, which can help protect these communities from the economic and social costs of natural disasters. It can also protect the history of those communities for future generations. We previously shared how resiliency grants helped preserve the history of Princeville, North Carolina, one of the first towns formed by African American citizens in the United States.

Beyond preventing the harms caused by natural disasters, resilient infrastructure projects bring many benefits to communities. Improving climate resiliency might include planting more trees and creating green spaces. This helps mitigate the urban heat island effect and provides a range of other benefits, such as improving air quality and supporting biodiversity. This may also involve promoting sustainable agriculture, supporting local food systems, and implementing practices that help communities adapt to changing weather patterns. This, in turn, may increase access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Additionally, climate resiliency may introduce measures to reduce air pollution and promote active transportation, such as walking and cycling, which can help improve public health outcomes.

Overall, improving climate resiliency supports diverse communities by reducing their vulnerability to climate change, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing their overall well-being. The work done by Karsun grants management teams at FEMA support these efforts. Builders, experimenters, and innovators looking to Find Your Next while solving difficult challenges may apply for open roles at KarsunCareers.com.

Governments and corporations alike have adopted fleet electrification as a cornerstone of their plans to curb carbon emissions and head off climate change. As part of a pledge to make the federal government carbon neutral by 2050, an executive order from President Joe Biden targets an all-electric fleet by 2035. That is a fleet of 645,000 vehicles driving a whopping 4.5 billion miles a year. 

Electric Fleets: Beyond Environmental Impacts

Among our fleet management projects, Karsun supports the modernization of GSA’s Advanced Fleet Platform. Karsun is proud to participate in this vital work preparing our nation for a changing climate. By using an electric fleet, governments can reduce their carbon footprint and help combat climate change. Electric vehicles also produce fewer pollutants than traditional vehicles, which can lead to improved public health. By reducing air pollution, governments can help prevent respiratory illnesses and other health problems associated with poor air quality.  Moreover, electric vehicles can be powered by a variety of sources, including renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. By using an electric fleet, the government can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and increase its energy security.

Envisioning the Future: Empowering Local Communities

Fleet electrification is a unique opportunity to provide tangible impacts and community impact while addressing our changing climate. Federal agencies can lead by example and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by committing to all electric fleets. This can inspire other constituents and localities to follow suit and make similar changes. 

As an expert in both fleet management modernization and grants management, Karsun offers a unique opportunity for agencies to lead from the front on these initiatives. Our fleet and grants experts can help agencies modernize their systems to flow down grants to their constituents to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and other initiatives. Connect with us to learn more about our Fleet Management solutions or schedule a conversation with one of our enterprise modernization experts.

Remote work is no doubt popular with employees as demand for remote positions continues to grow. We have previously written about our commitment to flexible work environments, including remote work. Not only are remote and hybrid arrangements great for employee work-life balance, but they can also be great for the environment too. As part of our series this April examining the impact of Karsun’s work on the environment, we examine the ways in which remote work builds a healthier future for our communities and team members alike.

Remote work can conserve the environment in several ways. To begin with, by working remotely, employees can eliminate or significantly reduce their daily commute. That means fewer cars on the road, reduced traffic congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. Remote and hybrid also reduce business travel, which is a significant source of carbon emissions. By using video conferencing and other remote collaboration tools, companies can reduce their carbon footprint. Teams in the Karsun Innovation Center support these goals by continually adding enhanced tools for remote collaboration to our Karsun Konnect employee application.

Adopting a flexible approach to remote work reduces energy usage and other waste. It moderates energy usage in buildings since fewer people are working in the office. This can lead to lower electricity and water consumption, as well as reduced HVAC usage. Karsun also uses a hoteling system as part of our Karsun Konnect app to better anticipate facilities and operational needs. This allows our onsite teams to act more efficiently to conserve resources when not in use.

Overall, remote work can help reduce the environmental impact of work and improve sustainability. But creating a better environment is also about encouraging a healthy and happy working environment too. Karsun commits to flexibility, work-life balance, and an open, collaborative culture as part of its employee-centered workplace.

Creating a Healthier Remote Work Environment

Remote work can offer several health benefits for workers. Remote work can reduce the stress of commuting and dealing with office disruptions. Workers can also have more control over their work environment, such as the temperature, lighting, and noise level, which can lead to less stress. Additionally, monthly Karsun Wellness newsletters offer tips and suggestions for reducing stress while creating a healthier work environment at home. 

Flexibility is a core tenant of our approach to work. Whether that’s the flexibility to explore new technology or pick the best spaces to collaborate as a team. Remote and hybrid work offered at Karsun allows our team members to have more flexibility in their work schedules. Likewise, flexible work options improve work-life balance by allowing workers to spend more time with their families, pursue hobbies, and engage in self-care activities, which can reduce stress and improve mental health.

Working from home can also encourage a healthier lifestyle, as workers have more time for exercise and healthy meal preparation. In fact, we actively encourage our team to use Karsun resources to focus on their health throughout the work week. Our team members may tune in to weekly remote exercise and fitness groups through our Karsun Konnect. 

At the same time, giving our team members the opportunity to work remotely when appropriate can also reduce exposure to illness. Workers that have the option to work remotely can reduce their proximity to others who may be sick. We also ensure our team members remain healthy throughout the year with award-winning benefits and generous paid time off. 

Overall, remote work can offer a range of health benefits for workers and a healthy environment for our communities. This contributes to improved well-being and quality of life for all. Those looking for a healthier environment where happiness thrives can check out career opportunities at KarsunCareers.com.

Resiliency is about more than protecting our current possessions, it’s about preserving our past. As we enter Black History month this February, we are reminded of the importance of preserving our historic sites in areas threatened by climate change. Karsun proudly supports the work of African American communities preparing for the future by building resiliency now. Our grants management modernization program supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) platform. Through this platform these communities may apply for resiliency grants and save critical historic sites.

Princeville, North Carolina is one town protecting their history now as they prepare for future climate conditions. A recent video from the FEMA reveals resiliency efforts here. Founded in 1885 Princeville was among the first towns chartered by African American citizens in the United States. 

At the conclusion of the United States Civil War, former slaves settled in an area named Freedom Hill. Residents named the fledgling community after the high bluff where newly freed slaves announced the Emancipation Declaration. Later the town incorporated, naming itself after ex-slave Turner Prince who built many of the community’s homes. 

For residents of Princeville, resiliency is about more than protecting their homes, it’s about protecting this history. Much of the town is located on swamp land which is particularly vulnerable to flooding during hurricane season. In 1999 the Princeville Dike failed and water rose 23 feet above the streets. It was declared a National Disaster Area, with destruction not only to homes and businesses but also to the historic cemetery located in the town.

Residents are still recovering from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and later Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Nevertheless, as the FEMA clip shows, the residents maintain hope for a vibrant future. Envisioning a town as a historic destination, they dream of sharing their story while growing the town for the next generation. 

In 2020, the town of Princeville was selected to receive FEMA funding, as well as funds from the State and other entities, to support the town’s vision for resiliency and growth. These funds have enabled the residents of Princeville to elevate homes to protect against future flooding, rebury caskets that had washed up from the graveyard, and improve the levees to protect the town from future flooding. 

Karsun is working with FEMA to modernize FEMA’s ten legacy IT systems and 40+ grants programs into a single grants management platform, as part of the FEMA GO modernization. This effort will standardize business processes through a consistent grants management lifecycle, enabling FEMA to more efficiently deliver grants such as the Building Resilient Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance to support relief and reconstruction of towns like Princeville. 

Resiliency grants and other FEMA programs help residents prepare for a better future while honoring their past. Karsun’s grants management modernization experts proudly support this agency’s mission.

Spurred by the mounting cyber threats targeting the country, the White House issued an Executive Order mandating agencies enhance and strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity. Hence, government agencies must continuously strengthen their cybersecurity postures when modernizing. Part of that process is the implementation of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). As a recent analysis in Nextgov suggests, ZTA structured around a service mesh provides a novel and efficient approach to rapidly implementing cybersecurity in legacy applications. Karsun is at the forefront of delivering these service mesh based solutions. 

Zero Trust Architecture

ZTA is a strategic cybersecurity strategy to secure an organization by eliminating implicit trust and continuously validating every stage of digital interaction by verifying people and devices accessing applications, data, and systems.

Based on our extensive experience in modernization, we strongly recommend that any modernization efforts adopt a zero-trust architecture. At the same time, ZTA can be challenging to implement when compounded by the presence of legacy systems and applications that aren’t made for a distributed, cloud-based environment.

An effective way to manage and solve that problem is using a service mesh. A service mesh offers a dedicated domain-agnostic infrastructure layer (abstraction) that you can add to your services for capabilities like observability, traffic management, and security without adding them to your code. While most commonly used for cloud-native capabilities, such as microservices and containers, a service mesh can be the most efficient way to bring legacy systems into the ZTA fold.

Karsun’s Service Mesh Pilot

Our Innovation Center pilots and validates innovative approaches to enterprise modernization through several pathways, including Innovation Weeks, codeathons and delivery-guided pilot programs. In one such pilot program, we introduced a service mesh in a legacy application system. While common for containerized systems, our implementation went one step further, examining the opportunity for ZTA modernization in a non-containerized legacy application. We found a service mesh based approach provides a compelling alternative to lift and shift methods. 

Most service mesh solutions are designed to be used in a Kubernetes environment. In our proof of concept, using HashiCorp Consul we built a service mesh for a non-containerized legacy app. Using a service mesh allowed us to adapt the legacy application to meet the identity management requirements of a zero trust environment.

A core ZTA tenant requires us to verify the identity of resources accessing the system. Combining HashiCorp Vault allowed us to integrate with Google OAuth2 for identity and access management. Users and applications authenticated happens before their request reaches servers or containers. 

When implementing ZTA, you also should provide the lowest level of privileges possible. In our implementation, the services always start with no trust and no allowed routes. We configured all traffic via policies to ensure only authorized sources get access to the services. We also secured service-to-service communications while controlling outbound communication. With our service mesh, we found we could secure communications between Windows Server hosted applications and Linux based containers operating on Kubernetes through AWS EKS or AWS Elastic Container Service. 

Combining these two tenets ensures a bad actor using compromised credentials does not have the attack surface necessary for great damage to the system. A service mesh like that implemented by our pilot team supports the identity and access management necessary for a true ZTA environment. Moreover, it can be used in both containerized and non-containerized environments. It is a powerful option for agencies looking to build ZTA for greenfield development and legacy application modernization.

Our Zero Trust Architecture Service Mesh is a product of the Karsun Innovation Center (KIC). Want to learn more? Check out the new Getting Legacy Systems Up to Speed With Modern Security report from GovLoop.

It didn’t surprise us that employee experience roles, including Chief People Officer (CPO), topped LinkedIn’s list of fastest-growing job titles for 2022. While these roles may have dominated the professional networking site’s Jobs on the Rise report this year, we long ago made a commitment to an employee-centric culture. We brought in our first CPO this year, Kelly Demaitre, as we continued our investment in our Karsun team. Throughout this year, we continued our journey to building a culture where everyone can Grow with Karsun and Do Extraordinary. 

Creating a Collaborative and Diverse Culture

This year Karsun won its second Best CEOs for Diversity award from Comparably.com. The rating site asks current employees to rank leadership, including our CEO Sundar Vaidyanathan, on traits associated with diverse and inclusive spaces. For the second year in a row, we also won a Best Company Outlook award from the site. Part of our commitment to an open, collaborative environment is facilitating small and large gatherings where Karsun team members ask questions and learn about the future of the organization. This includes our monthly Coffee and Lunch with Leadership programs. Hosted by the Karsun executive team, small employee groups share their experiences and provide direct feedback to the highest level decision makers in our organization for review and action.

Our executives also host recurring All Hands and Fireside chat events throughout the year. For the first time this year, those All Hands events included new Core Value, Do Extraordinary, and Team MVP awards. More than 20 people were recognized for their commitment to excellence, innovation, teamwork, integrity, and incorporating fun while doing extraordinary for Karsun customers. 

Another unique fireside event was this year’s Celebrating Women Leaders session. In this moderated session, women leaders across our company shared their experiences managing large teams, growing their careers, and excelling in the IT industry. This is one of several events Karsun engaged in for Women’s History Month. In addition to the fireside chat, we also sponsored the Future of Work: Pandemic Pivot virtual conference for International Women’s Day and appeared at local events in the Washington, D.C. region, including the Women in Technology Career Fair. 

In addition to special events, Karsun also launched new training and professional development programs this year. As our team members still hone their technical skills through bootcamps and other offerings included in Karsun Academy, we also offered new comprehensive management and people leader training. For those based near our newly reopened Herndon, Virginia office, we hosted offsites with opportunities to collaborate in person.  

While most Karsun roles have the option to work 100% remotely, we are also proud that our local employees continually rate their experience working with us highly. For the second year in a row, Comparably ranked us a Best Company in Washington, D.C. and among the Best Companies for Perks and Benefits. Meanwhile, the Oklahoman named us among the Top Workplaces in Oklahoma. Comparably also described Karsun as a place where we solve interesting engineering problems, encourage flex work, and grew together as we overcame pandemic challenges.

Recognition for our commitment to flexibility and investment in valuable perks and benefits underscores the importance of a good workplace experience for our employees. At a recent All Hands, we announced new benefits for the coming year, including enhanced Paid Leave and new Parental Leave offerings. Maintaining this commitment to the employee experience is essential to our culture and growth. We hope you join us as we discover what’s next together.

Excellence in all we do, innovation, teamwork, integrity, commitment, and fun are the core values that guide and inspire us. Throughout our journey, our Karsun Innovation Center (KIC) not only empowers innovative work at Karsun, but also connects our teams, advocates for excellence, and strengthens our commitment to our customers and integrity in our work. Of course, they introduce an element of fun too! 2022 was a year that encapsulated all of these qualities at the KIC. From renewed validation of its quality assurance programs to continuing development for experimenters and innovators at all levels.

The KIC breaks its activities broadly into three components: training through Karsun Academy, research and development, and an employee-centered approach to managing excellence through its Practice Areas. This includes the development of best practices at Karsun and ongoing investment in quality assurance programs. This year Karsun was appraised at CMMI v2.0 Level 5 (DEV). At the time of its assessment, Karsun was among a handful of U.S. companies with the updated v2.0 appraisal. Organizations audited under this new system demonstrated their methodology was optimized using a data-driven approach to development. Karsun’s development toolkit features 25+ health and diagnostic visualizations to help teams improve their practices.

This year the Karsun Academy team announced new study groups, remote workshops, and an evolving set of certification opportunities. It also hosted weekly brown bags. This employee-to-employee format invites team members to share personal experiences on topics from coaching to AI/ML. It also expanded programs for future technology leaders and champions.

Karsun’s internship program added a new cohort this year for high school and early career college students. This junior-level internship class focused on applying emerging technology to real-world problems facing government agencies. These students participated in related codeathons and completed a research project that was presented to Karsun’s senior leadership. Meanwhile, the cohort with more experienced students addressed challenges surrounding personally identifiable information when conducting research. Their work on synthetic data was presented at a company-wide innovation town hall.

Those monthly innovation town halls were also the forum to showcase groundbreaking work from teams across Karsun. Showcased ideas are first submitted to the center’s innovation radar. From there, the research and development unit works in conjunction with delivery teams to prototype, build and test the application of those ideas. Successful implementations are presented monthly, bringing fresh attention to experimenters and builders at Karsun. To date, over 100 ideas have been submitted to the radar for inclusion in this process. This is also the forum where the center announces its Karsun Academy training agenda. 

Karsun Practice Areas drive excellence through the establishment of guidelines, industry certifications, and technology partnerships while enabling teamwork and collaboration among employees. In addition to the ongoing development of toolkits and other assets to guide teams toward best practices, the KIC launched new expert tools in the Karsun Konnect workplace app. These help delivery teams solve problems by connecting them with subject matter experts within Karsun. This proactive approach enables collaboration and helps teams not only maintain their commitment to Karsun customers but exceed their expectations.

Through the Innovation Center, teams also accessed industry thought leaders. The center kicked off its Expert Talks series this year. This interactive session brings in external experts on topics like cybersecurity or AI/ML. Practice advocates and leaders also brought new resources into Karsun teams. Senior Director and Data Practice Lead Srikanath Devarajan continued his ongoing blog series on topics including scoping AI/Ml projects and understanding data mesh. Meanwhile, Karsun experts returned to conferences this year and took the stage for panels ranging from procurement innovation to human centered design. 

Through the KIC excellence and innovation go hand and hand. Entering 2023, the center held its first town hall. Presenters previewed new approaches to microservices and user interfaces and introduced a new brown bag and workshop series. Join us in 2023 to discover what’s next from the Karsun Innovation Center.

Like Peloton bikes and sourdough starters, the pandemic-influenced remote work era might be coming to an end according to a recent Workforce Report from LinkedIn. The report tracked, among other topics, the ongoing conversation around return-to-office initiatives. Using data from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team, the report found employers’ paid remote work posting dropped from 20% in March 2022 to just 14% in November. 

While enforcing a hybrid schedule with a required number of days in the office per week or month increasingly becomes popular for some employers, we found our flexible approach allows our team members to select the workspace format that’s best for them while creating tangible benefits to our organization. Most roles at Karsun enable our team members to work either entirely remotely or in a hybrid approach if based near our Washington, D.C. region headquarters. This is enabled in part by Karsun’s consistent, ongoing commitment to building digital and in-person workspaces that support collaboration, experimentation, and innovation. 

Karsun supports experimentation and collaboration no matter the location. Prior to the pandemic, our Innovation Center launched an online innovation radar where an employee, regardless of whether they were part of a remote or in-person team, could submit an idea for our in-house R&D team to build, test, and validate. Each month these prototypes were demoed at Innovation Town Halls, featuring presenters from across the organization. After we moved to a work-from-home format during the pandemic, we transitioned these to virtual town halls. We embraced this opportunity to record our town halls, building a library promoting ongoing innovation at Karsun. 

Our new flexible workplace helped us grow in other ways. Karsun Academy, our professional development program, offered more recorded training, hosted virtual certification study groups, and increased our virtual lending library. Our employees’ skills and certifications grew even as the majority of us remained remote. 

The report mentions the loss of tribal knowledge as a potential drawback to remote work. Nevertheless, we grew our open-source InnerSource Library, creating 35+ reusable assets for our team. At the same time, our Practice Advocates added new resources for delivery teams to connect with subject matter experts, research solutions, and hone best practices. We found our flexible, employee-first mindset helped us scale our enterprise and helped our teams grow with Karsun. 

We also recognize connections outside of work encourage us to grow as a team. Virtual happy hours, fitness classes, and other employee groups continue even as we reopened our offices. Coffee with Leadership, a popular program where our co-founders chat with and get recommendations from small groups of employees, continues in a remote format. Our Herndon, Virginia offices also have the same pre-pandemic social spaces where teams can connect to play foosball, work out, brainstorm, or host a professional meetup. In this way, our teams connect in the way that works best for them. 

When we celebrated our 10th anniversary at the end of 2019 and shortly before the pandemic, we reaffirmed our commitment to an employee-centric workplace. For us, that includes building flexible environments where our team members thrive. We’re proud to create a space where our teams can work together, create innovative solutions that transform government, and Do Extraordinary. These teams are still growing and imagining the future together. We are currently hiring for remote and hybrid roles at KarsunCareers.com.

With its eighth Inc. 5000 award this year, Karsun claims more than a decade of continuous, award-winning revenue growth. But financial stability is not the only space where it demonstrates excellence. It has received repeated awards for culture, outlook, and leadership. Together, these awards demonstrate Karsun continues to be the premier enterprise modernization company. A place where its modern software development, cloud solutions, and data solutions teams defy assumptions and do extraordinary.

In addition to its Inc. 5000 award, it received other recognition from other organizations for growth. Reflecting its ongoing role as an industry and regional leader, it also won its fourth Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech 100 award. Additionally, the USPAACC honored Co-Founders Kartik Mecheri and Sundar Vaidyanathan with its Fast 50 award, which recognizes the leaders of the fastest-growing Asian American businesses. 

Award-Winning Culture

To supplement this ongoing growth, Karsun continually invests in the employee experience. This year new investments included its first-ever Chief People Officer, updated recognition programs, and a renewed commitment to building an employee-centric, flexible work environment. As a result, it picked up national and regional awards for culture. 

It kicked off the year with its second Best Company Outlook award from Comparably.com. The employer rating site awards Best Company awards to the small and medium sized companies with the highest rankings from employee reviews. Sundar Vaidyanathan, who also serves as Karsun’s CEO, received his second Best CEOs for Diversity award from Comparably. Later in the year, Karsun also won its first Best Perks and Benefits award from Comparably.

The regions with the largest portion of its workforce also honored Karsun as a local leader. In the spring, it was named a Best Company in Washington, D.C by Comparably. Based in nearby Herndon, Virginia, its headquarters reopened for hybrid teams in March 2022. Karsun saw the return of its hybrid innovation town halls, expert talks, all hands and other collaborative activities this year from that location. Meanwhile, based on an independent survey of its Oklahoma City based team, Karsun was also named a Top Workplace by the Oklahoman.

Karsun remains committed to strengthening its employee experience. It anticipates further growth among its teams throughout 2023 and continues nationwide hiring. Most roles are remote, with the option for hybrid in select locations. Interested applicants may view open roles at KarsunCareers.com.