Part 3 of the “Accountability in Cybersecurity is Broken” Series The Day I Learned the Truth The first time I realized politics was a dirty business was in 1998. Our U.S. Representative came to visit our workplace. At one point, he asked us: “What do you think my #1 priority is in Washington?” Naively, I answered: “To represent your constituents at the Federal level.” He…
It’s Not Real Until It Hurts: Why No One Demands Change If nobody is going to hold you accountable, why be accountable? Believe it or not, some people will claim that we’ve made progress in cybersecurity. Sure, there are more tools, more frameworks, more professionals, and more funding than ever—but let’s be honest. When you zoom out and look at the full picture, we haven’t…
Let’s not waste time. Yes, accountability in cybersecurity is broken. Badly. In fact, it’s been broken for a long time. We talk a big game in this industry about “responsibility” and “doing the right thing,” but when something goes wrong–when someone gets hurt, when data is stolen, when systems fail–who’s actually held accountable? Rarely the people who should. And that’s the problem. Responsibility ≠ Accountability…
There’s a big difference between data and information, and frankly, not enough people get it. In cybersecurity–and life–that misunderstanding isn’t just annoying. It’s dangerous. Here’s the short version: Data is raw. It’s messy, unfiltered, and full of potential. Information is processed. It’s someone else’s version of the story. And given the choice, I’ll take the data. Every single time. The Problem With “Information” When someone…
Every year, the fireworks go off. Flags fly. The grills fire up. People post red, white, and blue selfies with captions about freedom, bravery, and patriotism. And every year, I find myself feeling a little… conflicted. Don’t get me wrong—I love this country. I’m incredibly grateful to have been born in the United States. There’s a lot to admire here: our ideals, our innovation, our…
There’s no shortage of AI “experts” out there touting all the amazing things AI can do for you. AI is everywhere, and it’s not going away. But somewhere between the hype, the fear, and the magical thinking, we’ve lost touch with a very simple truth: AI is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less. How much you can rely on AI depends on what you’re…
Some nights I sit back, sip my coffee (or whatever’s strong enough to keep me from flipping tables), and let the question roll around in my head like it owns the place: Does any of this actually matter? I’ve been in this game long enough to know how the sausage is made. Security programs built on duct tape and prayers. Execs who think “acceptable risk”…
Mental Health Without the Bullsht – Entry #11 IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT a mental health professional. If you need help, I STRONGLY encourage you to seek it, and you can start here. This series of blog posts is me candidly sharing my deeply personal experiences with you (with some tears along the way). We’ve Never Been More “Connected”—and More Alone We’ve got smartphones, group…
Let’s cut through the bullshit. AI is not your friend. It’s not your therapist, not your priest, and it sure as hell isn’t your soulmate. It’s a tool. A powerful, sometimes brilliant, sometimes dangerous tool. And when you start thinking it’s something else, when you start confusing output with empathy, you’re walking into a trap. Stop Hugging the Table Saw You don’t fall in love…
Mental Health Without the Bullsht – Entry #10 IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT a mental health professional. If you need help, I STRONGLY encourage you to seek it, and you can start here. This series of blog posts is me candidly sharing my deeply personal experiences with you (with some tears along the way). Here’s the Lie We Were Sold If you want to lead,…