Ever wonder where we got our name? In the cybersecurity world, Aspis is quite the uncommon name. Unlike many of our competitors, our name doesn’t feature any tech-y words like ‘cyber’ or any security focused words like the ‘safe.’
Or does it? Let’s find out.
We wanted to take some time to briefly explain the origin of Aspis. In today’s blog, we go over how we got our name, what it is, and what it means to us.
History
What is an aspis? To make a long story short, an aspis is a shield. More specifically, it is an Ancient Greek shield. An aspis, or porpax shield, was a heavy wooden shield used by infantry soldiers during the time of Ancient Greece. The aspis was a large circular shield with a grip on the edge. If you’ve seen the movie 300, its very similar to the shields you see the spartans utilizing.
(Spartans in 300 using ‘aspis like’ shields.)
In terms of military equipment, the aspis was revolutionary in its innovation. The grip at the edge of the shield allowed for more mobility for the singular soldier. However, this shield was dual purpose. It was also able to support the phalanx, the iconic fighting formation of ancient Greek soldiers.
(A modern illustration of greek soldiers marching in a phalanx, with aspis’)
These shields weren’t just used for waging war. Their convex shape allowed them to be used as flotation devices for soldiers. Alternatively, the large round nature of the shield made it work well as a tool to haul bodies of dead soldiers off the battlefield. In fact, a common phrase spoken by mothers, to their sons on their way to battle was, “Come back with your shield, or on it” as there was much honor in dying on the battlefield.
Modern Day
Unfortunately, due to its design, the aspis does not tend to last for very long. In fact, only one aspis has survived to modern times. This artifact was discovered in Italy in 1803. It called the Bomarzo, or the Vatican Shield, as it currently rests in the Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, in the Vatican.
(The Bomarzo or Vatican Shield)
Why Aspis?
By this point, you’ve probably figured out the metaphor. Much like the Ancient Greek shield, the goal of Aspis is to protect you. Wether you are a commercial business or a government organization, Aspis has you covered. Our team of talented staff are experts in cybersecurity and and professional services. Now, we can’t promise protection from invading Persians in the battle of Thermopylae, but we can promise protection from all kinds of different cyber threats.
Want to learn more?
Who is Aspis?
Aspis is an IT professional services firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, specializing in cybersecurity and management consulting. Our values are Integrity, Community, and Diversity and our vision is to democratize cybersecurity. We make enterprise cybersecurity solutions and professional services accessible to all sizes of organizations from medium-sized businesses to large Fortune 500 enterprises; non-profits; and municipal, state, and federal government agencies. Aspis is an Independent Small Business, Certified HUBZone Small Business Concern, Certified LGBT Business Enterprise, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Certified Virginia Values Veterans, and Better Business Bureau accredit ted company. To learn more about how we can help you with your IT needs check out our website https://aspis.consulting and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up to date on cybersecurity news, company updates, and need-to-know tips.
