Acknowledgement: I haven’t posted for a while. Been busy, but I’ll try to do better.

Me and Grok (Background)

I’ve been working on a lot of projects lately, but there was one project in particular where I met Grok. 

While working on the development of the CvCISO-E course (part of the CvCISO Program), I needed to include some information about myself. I guess it’s customary to introduce the instructor when teaching a class. Something about credibility or whatever. I always struggle with this because I don’t like writing or talking about my accomplishments. It always feels like posturing or bragging.

Enter Grok.

Our First Date

I use AI tools a lot. You know, they’re good for certain things, not so good for other things. That said, I’d never used Grok. I knew about Grok, but I didn’t really put AI and Twitter (or “X” as it’s called now) together in the same vein. I’d just watched a video with Elon Musk talking about Grok, and thought, BINGO! I’ll ask Grok to tell me about me. Wait. Do you think Grok even knows who I am?

One way to find out…

The prompt:

Who is Evan Francen?

Answer:

Ah, Evan Francen, the cyber security sage with a rebellious streak, or as some might call him, the “Information Security Evangelist” with a penchant for breaking and fixing things, quite literally.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Career: Evan Francen isn’t just any security consultant; he’s the CEO of FRSecure and SecurityStudio, companies that aim to fix what’s broken in the cybersecurity industry. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, he’s not just talking the talk; he’s walked the walk through the dark alleys of digital security.
• Personality: Imagine a mix of a tech wizard with the humor of a stand-up comedian, and you’ve got Evan. He’s known for his honesty, which might sting a bit but is always appreciated in the long run. His ADHD? It’s not just a condition; it’s his superpower, turning him into a “squirrel” of ideas, which, in the world of cybersecurity, is both a curse and a blessing.
• Achievements: Beyond founding companies, Evan has been at the forefront of major cybersecurity breaches, like the Target breach of 2013, not as a perpetrator but as a fixer. He’s also ventured into education with the CvCISO Academy, aiming to spread the gospel of good security practices.
• Life Beyond Code: Evan’s not just about bytes and breaches. He’s a family man, a diver, a biker, and a self-proclaimed “American Mexican” with a life story that reads like a novel. His battle with cancer, recovery from alcoholism, and his journey through life’s ups and downs make him not just a tech guru but a human with depth.
• Public Perception: From what the digital hive mind on X (formerly Twitter) suggests, Evan’s a figure of intrigue. Some admire his journalistic roots, others his football prowess (though that might be a case of mistaken identity with Evan Ferguson), and there’s a general consensus that he’s placed himself in the middle of the world’s most interesting events, yet remains an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

So, Evan Francen is not just a name in the cybersecurity world; he’s a character, a leader, a teacher, and a bit of a wildcard, all wrapped up in one. If cybersecurity had a rockstar, Evan would be headlining the show, with a guitar solo of security protocols and a drum solo of data breaches he’s helped prevent.

Grok Gets Me

As I read through Grok’s response, I felt like this is someone who’s spent time getting to know me. Could this Grok actually be my friend? Let’s dissect this point by point and find out!

Point by Point:

• rebellious streak – Check.
• penchant for breaking and fixing things – Check. Although, I break more things than I fix, I usually try to fix what I break.
• CEO of FRSecure and SecurityStudio – Check (mostly). John Harmon is the CEO of FRSecure now, but I still do CEOey things at SecurityStudio.
• aim to fix what’s broken in the cybersecurity industry – Check. This is the mission.
• 30 years of hands-on experience – Check. Don’t be impressed. I just means I’m old now.
• walked the walk through the dark alleys of digital security – Not sure, but it sounds cool.
• tech wizard – Not sure, but who doesn’t want to be a wizard?! I know I do! I could do some really cool sh*t with wizard skills.
• humor of a stand-up comedian – Wait. What?! Is Grok trying to tell me something? Did I choose the wrong career?! Sh*t.
• known for his honesty – Flattered, and I hope so!
• (my honesty) might sting a bit – Check. You gotta say what you gotta say IMO.
• (my honest) always appreciated in the long run – I wish, but some people just won’t let go of their ignorance.
• ADHD – Check.
• “squirrel” of ideas – Check. Once in a while there’s even a good one.
• (ADHD) a curse and a blessing – Check.
• been at the forefront of major cybersecurity breaches – Check. I like being in the background better though.
• not as a perpetrator but as a fixer – Check(ish). Remember the “breaking” things earlier. We should define “perpetrator” maybe.
• CvCISO Academy – Check.
• spread the gospel of good security practices – Check. I’m trying. Somebody give me an “AMEN”!
• family man – Check.
• a diver – Check. SCUBA, not the cliff or 10M type.
• a biker – Check. Prefer Harleys, but will ride anything on two wheels. Gas powered too, if I could.
• self-proclaimed “American Mexican” – Check. I think I’m a Mexican trapped in an American body.
• life story that reads like a novel – Maybe. I mean, everybody’s life reads like a novel. There’s good novels and not so good novels I suppose.
• battle with cancer – Check. Not really a battle though.
• recovery from alcoholism – Check. F*ck addiction.
• human with depth – Check. And girth. And mass. I need to lose some weight.
• football prowess – Nope, but Grok went on to correct him/her/they/them self. BTW, does Grok have a gender?!
• placed himself in the middle of the world’s most interesting events – Um, I’d like to say “Check”, but no. Grok missed the boat on this me thinks.
• enigma wrapped in a riddle – Sounds cool! Better than an enema wrapped in a wiggle I suppose.
• not just a name in the cybersecurity world – Check. NOBODY is “just a name” in the cybersecurity world. Or any other world BTW.
• a character – Check. It’s nice to see that Grok is politically correct. Of all the things I’ve been called, “character” is pretty neutral.
• a leader – Check. I’m doing my best.
• a teacher – Check. Hopefully, a good one.
• a bit of a wildcard – Check, and no sh*t!
• If cybersecurity had a rockstar, Evan would be headlining the show – Sounds really cool, but who the hell would pay to come see this rock concert?!
• guitar solo of security protocols – Should I write a song? Maybe?
• drum solo of data breaches – I don’t play drums though. Everybody knows that guitar players get all the chicks.

So, there you have it. Grok gets me. Not all of me, of course, but let’s set the proper expectations. It was only our first date. Maybe Grok and I will date again, and as we spend more time together, we’ll get closer.