Discover how Max Aulakh leverages 15+ years of DoD cybersecurity experience and Air Force Information Security leadership to help organizations achieve federal compliance through Ignyte, a FedRAMP-accredited 3PAO.
Military Foundation: Air Force Information Security Leadership
Max Aulakh's journey to becoming a leading authority in federal compliance began with his distinguished service in the United States Air Force. During his military career, he served as an Information Security leader, responsible for maintaining and testing critical security functions across both classified and unclassified networks. This hands-on experience with the most stringent security requirements in the world laid the foundation for his deep understanding of government compliance frameworks.
Department of Defense: 15+ Years of Cybersecurity Excellence
Following his Air Force service, Max spent over 15 years working in Department of Defense cybersecurity roles, where he led Information Assurance programs that protected critical government systems and data. His extensive DoD experience provided unprecedented insight into the security frameworks, audit processes, and compliance requirements that federal agencies demand from their technology partners.
A2LA Executive Consultant: Shaping FedRAMP Accreditation
Max's expertise was further recognized when he served as an Executive Consultant for A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation), the organization responsible for accrediting Third-Party Assessment Organizations (3PAOs) under the FedRAMP program. This role gave him unique visibility into the accreditation process and the standards that 3PAOs must meet to assess cloud service providers.
Founding Ignyte: A FedRAMP-Accredited 3PAO
After years of working within the government compliance ecosystem, Max Aulakh recognized a critical gap in the market. Organizations needed more than just consulting—they needed a platform that could automate and streamline the entire compliance process while being backed by a FedRAMP-accredited 3PAO with true insider knowledge.
In founding Ignyte, Max combined his Air Force security expertise, DoD compliance experience, and A2LA accreditation insights to create a comprehensive solution. Ignyte is now a FedRAMP-accredited Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO), uniquely positioned to guide organizations through the authorization process with both technical platform capabilities and official assessment authority.
Recognition and Impact
Under Max's leadership, Ignyte has achieved significant recognition in the cybersecurity industry. The company secured a $200,000 grant from Ohio Third Frontier and won the Gold Winner award for Risk Management at the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards in 2019. More importantly, Ignyte has helped dozens of organizations achieve FedRAMP authorization faster and more cost-effectively than traditional approaches.
The Ignyte Advantage: Insider Knowledge Meets Innovation
What sets Max and Ignyte apart is the combination of insider government knowledge with modern automation technology. Having worked on both sides—as a government security professional and as an accreditation consultant—Max understands exactly what agencies and assessors are looking for. This insight is built directly into the Ignyte Platform, helping organizations avoid common pitfalls and accelerate their path to authorization.