I’ve heard other authors exclaim that at the end of the writing process, it felt as if they were ready to give birth — and couldn’t wait for this labor of love to be done…. Now that I’m nearing the home stretch of this book, I’m starting to understand…Into the Breach: Why Companies Fail to Protect Data and What We Need to Do About It has been under development long enough! I have distilled the problem and presented a careful and easy-to-follow solution that will help companies improve their top line, protect their bottom lines and manage people, risk and information more efficiently. I am writing a book for business leaders to understand the fundamentals of how to unmask our human problem and take simple steps to reduce the chaos…. Seriously, though, my best friend lives in Charlotte – and he and some other good friends have suggested that we consider moving our base of operations to the Carolinas. The more the tell me about the region, the more I’m inclined to agree, so I decided it would be a good time to take 10-12 days to head down and check it out, while wrapping up the book.I could use your helpIf you live or do business in Charlotte – I would love to speak with you, or even meet with you in the next two weeks. I’m seriously considering moving our business there — and I’d like to learn about the business climate, partnership opportunities (or companies looking for a partner), family environment and the like…. I’m happy to share.When you will get the bookI plan to have the galley copies out by the end of the month to my review team…. I promise I’ll do what I can to get this information to you and into the hands of decision makers as soon as I can.I also am offering a limited number of my Information Protection Program to companies that want to implement the suggestions in the book to reduce the risk of breach, while reducing the cost of compliance.
Into the Breach is in the home stretch; I’m headed to Charlotte to finish it up
Do you dance in the rain?
Along the way, stopped at a red light, I saw a group of middle-school children dancing and laughing in the rain. It was a sharp contrast from the adults I saw a few blocks back scurrying away….I stopped and wondered – would I dance in the rain, or would I scurry to get out of it?… Watching the kids, thinking about my life and the example I want to set for my children, I realized:I would dance in the rain; I will dance in the rain. You might call me crazy (if I wasn’t crazy, I would be insane – thanks Jimmy Buffett) – but absorbing and celebrating the moment is where passion is born…. All-too-often, we’re so concerned with what people think, what they say, how we’re perceived that we focus all our energy of being someone or something else…. In the US, we’re heading into a long holiday weekend that marks the end of summer and the return to work, to projects and to our efforts…. Find your own way to dance in the rain (or sing in the shower).Renew your passion for security. When you come back, I’ll be here with ideas and will share my research and experiences to support your organization, and to support you. We can dance in the rain together and change the way people protect information!
User Awareness Training
According to many, user education is one of the best methods of ensuring adequate protection of your information assets. It’s been eternally touted as one of the requirements of a viable information security program. This article is not about that, though. It’s about knowing your users/customers. Yes, Mr. & Ms. Security Professional, your users are [...]
Do you sell security like a sunset performer?
It’s time to reboot the security industry
It seems that this year has been dominated by negativity: we have focused on month’s of bugs, slammed colleagues and users and even tried to prove through science that people don’t understand risk. In fact, many in our industry seem quick to point out that everything is wrong, nothing works…. and that’s not very comforting. [...]
More proof we need to change our approach
Practice security with less stress (52 different ways to reduce your stress)
Here is an excellent listing of 52 Proven Stress Reducers (from the Texas Woman’s University Counseling Center). The list is actually really interesting and worth the five minutes it will take to read it (hat tip to lifehacker (again) for bringing this to our attention). During the days when we have so much information to [...]
Making your voice heard, constructively (we need to arm the public to take action)
I really enjoyed the thrust of Vote Positively With Your Pocketbook, over at Emergent Chaos. Basically, he builds on the notion of the power of a “consumer” revolt. Then he argues that the answers aren’t boycotts, but taking your spending power somewhere else. His argument, which I whole-heartedly agree with, is that if you don’t [...]
What I learn in the elevator (about you)
I am a visitor to many organizations and locations, and despite my penchant for talking, there are times when I can be absolutely quiet and listen. One of the times I really enjoy stepping back and listening is when I am in the elevator (or lunch room) of nearly anywhere. The topics that people choose [...]
Good explanation of “why panels suck” – and what to do about it
Over at Blogarithms, Doug Kaye writes about “Why panels suck” when we attend conferences. It struck me as a fitting follow-up to the reader question from the other day and the subsequent discussion on the catalyst community forum (registration required, please use: Firstname.Lastname when making a new account). A lot of us are plain unhappy [...]
Engage with Michael Santarcangelo