What's up with conferences in October?

I've had to turn down 3 speaking engagements the weeks of October 10th & 17th because I'm, well, speaking at other shows those weeks. Maybe it's something about the weather that time of year? Perhaps discounted meeting facility rental rates? I suspect the real reason is that all the top-notch security speakers are busy then so the conference organizers are reaching out to second stringers like me.



BTW, my apologies for being silent on my blog over the past week...will be re-engaging soon. Have a great weekend!

Read More

My webcast/Q&A today on managing network threats

Join me today in TechTarget's SearchCompliance.com virtual tradeshow:

Enterprise Risk Management: Mitigation Strategies for Today's Global Enterprise



My presentation "Managing Network Security Threats with an ERM Strategy" starts around 3pm ET and I'll be doing a live Q&A just after.

Read More

Steve Jobs' ridiculous iTunes interface

I just spent 6.5 minutes cracking a family member's laptop password in order to demonstrate the dangers of not having whole disk encryption. I then went on to spend 20 minutes+ of my life trying to sync some new music to an iPod Touch with the unbelievably difficult iTunes interface.... After investing a lot of time (that I'll never get back, mind you) I still didn't get the music synced.



What's wrong with this picture!?



Apple and Mr. Jobs: Ask any IT professional what they think about iTunes and it'll echo my experience. We all dislike it in the same way. What gives?

Read More

You're the sum of your choices

Here's a 67 second video that defines the essence of where we are in life, our careers and even in information security today:



I really like what John Wooden said:
"There's a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end the choice you make makes you."

I also love what John Maxwell says:
"It's your personal choices. If they're good, it's going to help make you. If they're bad, it's going to be the unmaking of you."

Indeed, we must use wisely our power of choice...Great stuff.

Read More

Digital distractions take top priority

Be it texting while driving, browsing Facebook while in a meeting or checking emails while having lunch with a friend, it seems that there's always something better for us to be doing. It's so much easier being somewhere else rather than in the moment. That's the essence of this well-written piece on Gizmodo:
The Epidemic of Digital Distraction

You see there's a human epidemic that not many people really care to acknowledge or talk about. It's the dangerous desire for instant gratification. Those who don't have the ability to think long term create many, many problems in their own lives and many, many problems in society (think big government). I believe it also contributes to people goofing off on the job.

Don't get me wrong, the desire for instant gratification is in us all. We just have to be disciplined enough to make the right choices. If you're interested in finding ways to slow down and live in the moment, you must read The Speed Trap:



It helped solidify this concept and made me realize I need to focus on the things that count.

Read More

The difference between "No" and "How"

Here's a humorous and thought-provoking post by my friend Pete Lindstrom that you should check out:
Dr. Laura as Information Security Officer

It's so easy for people to say "No" to information security rather than "How"...similar to how many people - children and adults alike - say "I can't!" rather than "How can I?".

People are always going to take the path of least resistance...if you let them.

Read More

Indeed, many executives are insulated from reality

Here's a piece where I, Richard Stiennon, Andrew Baker and others weigh on executive management's involvement in information security:

Focus Experts’ Briefing: How CEOs Can Prepare for and Respond to Cyberattacks

Unless and until executives get on board with security - across the board - I'll continue reciting one of my favorite quotes:

“Many executives are insulated from reality and consequently don’t know what the hell is going on.” -James Champy

Read More