Although we strive to get others on our side, here's a good reminder from the late Richard Carlson that applies to IT and information security that we should always keep in mind:"The sooner we accept the inevitable dilemma of not being able to win the approval of everyone we meet, the easier our lives will become". Speaking of building your confidence and independence, here are some new articles I've written ...
Continue Reading...I always love bringing philosophy, leadership, and personal responsibility into the information security discussion and here's one of the best quotes I've come across that resonates across all industries and businesses large and small:"To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage." - ConfuciusWhat can you say to that...?Let this be the fire within that you use to get (and keep) the right people on ...
Continue Reading...Time management expert Alec McKenzie once said what could be the most profound statement ever that applies directly to what we do (or don't do) in information security:"Errant assumptions lie at the root of every failure."How's your security program looking today?...
Continue Reading...Ever have a psychopathic executive (in IT or otherwise) try to force you to do something you simply can't support, railroad you down the wrong path, or attempt to make you feel inferior? You're not alone - I see and hear about this a LOT. There are many people pretending to be leaders who are simply insecure in their jobs so they try to flex their muscle to put up ...
Continue Reading...Here's a great quote by Jay Abraham that resonates with IT, information security, politics - you name it:"An amazing thing, the human brain. Capable of understanding incredibly complex and intricate concepts. Yet at times unable to recognize the obvious and simple."...
Continue Reading...I reference "heads in sand" quite often regarding information security but no subject better summarizes this concept than people's willingness to let the government tell them when and where they can defend themselves and their families from criminal thugs. This graphic (source unknown) says it all:Ask anyone who's against self-defense, personal responsibility, and free will if they'd consider putting a sign in their yard or on their door that says ...
Continue Reading...If you can't convince them, confuse them. That's what Harry Truman once said and it reminds me of many IT and information security professionals. They struggle to communicate effectively so they just take the lawyer route and attempt to make things even more confusing...and we wonder why many people outside of IT don't take us very seriously....
Continue Reading...Every time I browse the Chronology of Data Breaches and read the headlines coming out from Dark Reading, threatpost, and the like, I can't help but shake my head. What is it really going to take to get people - mostly management, but some in IT - to fix the stupid, silly, low-hanging fruit that's plaguing so many networks today...? Well, here's a new piece I wrote for the nice ...
Continue Reading...Here's a great point to remember regarding information security:"A mediocre person tells. A good person explains. A superior person demonstrates. A great person inspires others to see for themselves." -Harvey Mackay...
Continue Reading...If the person who heads the CIA can't keep his "secrets"; nothing's secret. It's as simple as that.What are you doing to ensure your intellectual property is protected?Lawyers will claim their contracts are enough. Management will leave their heads in the sand and claim their IT folks are handling it. Neither are enough.Fix the silly/ridiculous/inexcusable low-hanging fruit on your network and then put the proper technologies and procedures in place ...
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