Cybersecurity Simplified

AI fortifies cybersecurity but it also strengthens cyberthreats. How can your company tackle this double-edged dilemma? We're asking our guest, Rob Lee, Chief of Research at the SANS Institute, the go-to leader in cybersecurity training.With more than 20 years of experience in digital forensics and incident response, Rob is dubbed “The Godfather of DFIR.” He's also the co-author of the must-read book, Know Your Enemy.Get ready to learn about … 

When it comes to physical school safety, K-12 districts are generally well-prepared and understand the risks when planning for fires, severe weather, or lockdowns. However, the situation is different when it comes to cybersecurity.As discussed in a previous episode—episode 54 with K-12 Six's national director, Doug Levin—preparation and response plans for cyberattacks across the country are often disjointed and inadequate.In this episode, Ed Vasko joins Susanna Song to explore the data points and anecdotes from episode 54, bringing them to life. Together, they speak with Rabih Hamadeh, Tucson Unified School District's executive director of technology services, who witnessed a threat escalate into a ransomware attack.Listen to Ep. 54 “Lessons Learned: Combating the Growing K-12 Cybersecurity Crisis”: https://youtu.be/CZruo8OyKr4?si=8LrEr94LZfsqr-am Read our K-12 schools cybersecurity success story: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/k-12-schools-leverage-managed-noc-and-soc/To learn about becoming a managed cybersecurity, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To browse previous Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com#k12cybersecurity #cybersecurityinschools #cybersecurity

With K-12 schools going digital, they're in the crosshairs for cybercriminals. Why are they such easy prey, and what's being done to stop it?To answer these questions, we've invited K-12 cybersecurity expert Doug Levin, National Director at K12 SIX, to break it down.K12 SIX is the only national non-profit solely focused on K-12 cybersecurity, offering crucial threat intelligence and support to these vulnerable institutions. Stay tuned to hear Doug's take on:why our schools are at riskthe messy state of cybersecurity in educationand the steps being taken to protect themDon't miss this eye-opening discussion on the future of K-12 cybersecurity and how we can make our schools safer.Read our K-12 schools cybersecurity success story: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/k-12-schools-leverage-managed-noc-and-soc/To learn about becoming a managed cybersecurity, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To browse previous Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com#k12cybersecurity #cybersecurityinschools #cybersecurity

The rules of B2B marketing have changed—traditional plays won't cut it anymore. From AI content overload to dark social, five major disruptors are shaking up the game. Khali Henderson, Chief Content Officer at BuzzTheory, breaks down the new playing field and how cybersecurity partners can bring their A game. Tune in for winning cybersecurity marketing strategies that will keep you ahead of the competition.Interested in more cybersecurity marketing strategies, watch:  https://youtu.be/9PDILYfsnJg?si=gHEJT6QEmXmkWfV3To learn about becoming a cybersecurity partner, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-partners/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To browse previous Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com#cybersecuritypartner #cybersecuritymarketing #cybersecuritymarketingstrategy

We get a lot of inquiries from our viewers about Cybersecurity, but by far one of the most frequent questions we receive is, “How do I get into the cybersecurity industry?” It's a vast and complex field, but today's guest is here to help serve as navigator. Chris Farrell, Overwatch Sales Engineer, had years of experience in a completely different field when he decided to make the switch to a career in cybersecurity, and has found significant success since transitioning. So how did he do it? In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, Chris takes us through his career path, how he got to where he is now, where he sees his future and valuable advice for anyone else beginning their career in cybersecurity.Interested in a career in cybersecurity with High Wire Networks? Apply here:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/careers/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com

Summary:  In this special edition of Cybersecurity Simplified, host Susanna Song takes the global stage in Warsaw, Poland.You may not always hear about cyberattacks or feel the immediate impact, but cyberterrorism on the rise, targeting our very own backyards.  Advanced Persistent Threats or APT attacks are crippling critical infrastructure worldwide, undermining public trust and elections, and spreading disinformation. In parallel, modern warfare today is no longer limited to the trenches on the battlefields, but AI and autonomous weapons and technology are on the frontlines with no geographical boundaries. How can we detect and to respond quickly to cyber threats? How do you recognize disinformation and equip the human mind to distinguish the difference between “good versus bad” information? How can users, businesses, and governments stay proactive and ahead of threats and incidents of compromise, and identify vulnerabilities before the exploit?Join Susanna Song and her esteemed panelists for this 1-hour special of Cybersecurity Simplified.Panelists:Evanna Hu, CEO, Omelas and Nonresident Senior Fellow Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Artur Kuliński, Google Gen. Mariusz Chmielewski, Polish Cyber Command Deputy Commander

SIEM has been a cybersecurity standard as far back as 2005. Its job is to collect, correlate and analyze data from disparate sources for use in risk detection and forensic investigation. Over the last two decades SIEM has evolved to leverage advances like big data analytics and AI to process more data faster.But today's guest says SIEM has a fatal flaw.Chris Jordan, CEO of Fluency Corp., says SIEM's database-centric design causes critical delays in early detection and rapid response.What's the solution? Stay tuned as Jordan shares breakthroughs in streaming analytics and the future of SIEM. Learn how Overwatch Managed XDR is truly the next generation of SIEM in cybersecurity:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/open-xdr/ To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com

Cybercrime is relentless and keeps cybersecurity pros on their toes looking for creative and cutting-edge solutions to secure their operations. Worldwide investment in cybersecurity is now nearly $250 billion a year.   What's behind this huge number? In this episode, we'll discuss the macrotrends in cybersecurity and what they mean for managed security service providers and their business customers.    To help us out, we've invited one of the IT channel's pre-eminent analysts – Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Canalys – to join us today. Stay tuned for Jay's analysis of the current and future state of managed cybersecurity!Platforms are the winners on Wall Street: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/platforms-winners-wall-street-how-do-you-move-from-being-jay-mcbain-bv6oe/    Learn how Overwatch Managed Cybersecurity Services keeps you on the cutting-edge: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/Want to know more about Managed Cybersecurity? Learn more: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/what-is-managed-cybersecurity/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, just issued version 2.0 of its Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), which emphasizes supply chain risk management and puts the C-Suite at the heart of cybersecurity management activities with the new “Govern” function.Today's guest, Cy Sturdivant, cybersecurity expert, certified information systems auditor and director at FORVIS Consulting, will help us get a handle on the important changes and their impact on businesses.The NIST CSF 2.0 signals big shifts in cybersecurity, so you'll want to stick around and learn what it means for you!Learn how Overwatch Managed Cybersecurity Services keeps you ahead of cyberthreats:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/Interested in NIST CSF 2.0? Learn more: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com#nistcsf #cybersecurity #cybersecurityframework 

Let's imagine you have simple lock on your front door. Something a burglar or vandal could easily pick, gaining unrestricted access to your residence. Fearful of the potential loss you add a deadbolt lock to the door, making it much more difficult to enter.In cybersecurity, there's a similar strategy called Zero Trust microsegmentation.Today's guest, Bria Haugli, cybersecurity expert and CEO of SideChannel, explains how Zero Trust microsegmentation can reinforce managed detection and response (MDR) initiatives by enabling tighter access control. And more importantly, by containing the damage from breaches and malware, including insidious ransomware.Don't miss our conversation about this paradigm shift in network security.Learn how Overwatch OT/IoT Security Services can keep you protected end-to-end:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/overwatch-iot-security/ Interested in SideChannel's Enclave? Learn more: https://sidechannel.com/enclave/ To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/For more information about this episode, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-simplified-episode-47-why-reinforce-mdr-with-zero-trust-microsegmentation/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com 

When it comes to cybersecurity, most businesses focus on prevention and detection.That sounds reasonable, but today's guest – a former CIA hacker, presidential cybersecurity commissioner and Air Force Cyber Wingman argues that approach is too little, too late – literally!Businesses are compromised on average 27 months before detection!Instead of waiting for the inevitable breach, he advocates a proactive approach designed to stay one step ahead of your adversary.Tune in for this engaging discussion with cybersecurity expert, author and serial entrepreneur, Dr. Eric Cole, as we talk about his mission to make businesses safe in cyberspace. Learn how Overwatch Managed Cybersecurity solutions can keep you protected end-to-end:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com

In a world where cyber threats are now omnipresent, there's no escape. Cyber victims come in all shapes and sizes – from the enterprise multi-billion-dollar companies to small and medium businesses, and even down to the individual user. Anyone online is vulnerable if they connected to the world wide web, which includes our youth. Our very impressionable kids who love to click.Today, our guest on Cybersecurity Simplified is Amber DeVilbiss, a cyber queen who has a special place in her heart for educating kids and women. She uses her platform as a cybersecurity practitioner and influencer to reach the masses.About Amber DeVilbiss:DeVilbiss is crazy passionate about making the cyber world fun and accessible to humans of all ages. She promotes educational TikToks and writes/illustrates cybersecurity books for kids. She strongly believes in giving back and founded Teach Kids Tech – a foundation dedicated to providing children in underserved communities with access to technical literature and education. DeVilbiss has also helped co-found LIFT Women in Security, a nonprofit on a mission to enable and lift all females in tech!Learn how Overwatch Managed Cybersecurity is joining the fight against child trafficking:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/overwatch-managed-security-joins-fight-against-child-trafficking/ To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com

Breaking News: MGM and Caesar's are two U.S. casino giants breached in a cyberattack costing them millions of dollars a day. What can you learn from the social engineered cyberattack? How can you prevent your business from becoming the next victim?In this 15-minute episode, co-hosts David Barton and Susanna Song leave you with practical steps in creating a layered defense strategy.Learn how to stop ransomware attacks with one click:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/how-to-stop-ransomware-attacks-with-one-click/To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/Have an inquiry or topic request, reach out to: podcast@highwirenetworks.com

Cybersecurity threats make news headlines daily. It's hard to keep up – unless it's your job like it's ours at High Wire Networks. Our team meets daily to review the top cybersecurity news headlines. Today, we're giving a sneak peek into our daily news briefing.Stay tuned as we discuss some of the most high-profile cyberthreats happening today, along with how to protect against them. To get more cybersecurity news from High Wire Networks, visit: https://www.highwirenetworks.com/news-events/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/

ChatGPT is the talk of the town, dominating tech conversations around the world. But like any AI-powered tool, it brings with it the good, the bad and the ugly. Is ChatGPT a blessing or a threat? A boon for business or the bane of our existence? A cybersecurity tool or a hacker's weapon?  The guest on today's podcast is Aaron Martin, Overwatch Senior Security Architect. Aaron has many years of experience as a software architect and security analyst and is here to share his insights and predictions about ChatGPT's impact on cybersecurity. Stay tuned as we talk to Aaron about the ultimate “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” of chatbots.  To learn more about managed cybersecurity services from High Wire Networks, visit:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/

The adoption of connected devices in medical practices and hospitals is rising quickly, improving operational efficiencies but also exposing your network to viruses and other threats. Our guest is Debe Gash, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for Saint Luke's Health System in Kansas City, Missouri. Debe has a long history in health care IT management and consulting and is very familiar with the digital transformation taking place in medical practices along with the risk of cyber infections that comes with it. Stay tuned as we talk to Debe about the security challenges of the Internet of Medical Things – aka IoMT ­– and explore how to keep your network healthy. Hint: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To learn more about IoT security services from High Wire Networks, visit:  https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/overwatch-iot-security/ To learn more about the Cybersecurity Simplified Podcast and to browse previous episodes, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-podcasts/

In the fast-paced, continually evolving landscape of privacy and cybersecurity, the need for legal and operational compliance remains constant. So how do you build a legal compliance program for your digital operations to keep pace with ever-changing law? One way is to focus on the fundamental principles related to privacy and cybersecurity. Here about these principles and more with special guest, Matti Neustadt who has a background as in-house counsel for some leading tech logos. She knows what it takes to be a privacy preacher and cybersecurity crusader while staying current and compliant. In short – she's the ideal guide to this new legal frontier.To learn more about cybersecurity services, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/

Since the beginnings of computer networking technology, inventing new and better ways to secure networks has been vital to their use in the marketplace. From government applications to commercial, network security has been essential to protect these entities from lost or stolen data, networks being held hostage, etc. In today's landscape, attacks are nearly an inevitability and even more so than in decades past.So, knowing how important it is to the functions of our society, what's next for network security? Who better to ask than the expert who's helped define the space since 1985? In this podcast, we speak with Ed Amoroso, CEO of TAG Cyber, a company that provides cybersecurity research and advisory “as a service.”To learn more about managed network security services, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/services/managed-cybersecurity/To learn more about our Overwatch Cybersecurity Partner Program and how to become a security solutions provider, visit:https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-partners/ 

Cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions are critical … but a successful cybersecurity strategy needs a more holistic approach.  To fully operationalize cybersecurity, your organization – your people – must embrace best practices to address advanced and evolving cyberthreats.  Today on Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss why cybersecurity is as much a mindset as a toolset. Stay tuned to hear from our special guest - none other than High Wire Networks' own CEO, Mark Porter.    Want to learn more about Managed Cybersecurity?  >>https://www.highwirenetworks.com/what-is-managed-cybersecurity/ 

Over and above layering solutions to detect and protect against a cyberattacks, many companies also buy extra protection with cyber insurance to help them recover from a loss. But those policies aren't easy to obtain or afford. And what about technology partners who sell security solutions? What protections do they have?Those are great questions for our guest, Kirsten Bay, co-founder and CEO of Cysurance. Her company offers Cysurance-as-a-Service, which bundles protections into the managed security solutions partners sell.Stay tuned for we explore the brave new world of cyberwarranties.Want to learn more about cyber insurance? Check out our blog debunking the myths of cyber insurance.>>https://www.highwirenetworks.com/debunking-myths-about-cyber-insurance/ To learn more about our Overwatch Cybersecurity Partner Program and how to become a security solutions provider, visit:>>https://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-partners/ #cyberinsurance #cybersecurityinsurance #whatiscyberinsurance

Can the difference between a healthy, growing managed security services business and a stagnant one lie in a simple methodology? In episode 36, we invite Ryan O'Hara, CEO of a Detroit-based MSP, to join the conversation. He shares how this one cybersecurity strategy has helped grow his business and empower his clients.  This episode is for you, if:You've built your tech stack but there are too many solutions that don't talk to each otherYour clients are looking for managed security but it's not your expertiseYou want to grow your IT firm but it's hard attracting prospectsYou were sold on products that your team can't manage You're not sure where to starthttps://www.highwirenetworks.com/cybersecurity-simplified-episode-36-defense-in-depth-cybersecurity-strategy/

Veteran Security Practitioner Rick Howard shares how Alan Turing's ideas and Thomas Bayes' Theorem hold the key to how organizations should forecast risk. Most organizations default to heat maps relying on a low, medium, and high model. But they aren't reliable. What if we said you're better off providing risk metrics, that offer ballpark answers and not so much precision? Is it possible to forecast complex things without a lot of data? 

We're all well aware that a cyberattack can take a heavy toll on an organization's financial and reputational status, but what about the emotional toll on the employees who've had to work through it?Our guests today are here to talk about just that.Ed Vasko, CISSP is the director at Boise State University's Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity. He's here with fellow Bronco, Carol Barkes, who is an expert on neuroscience-based conflict resolution and communication.Stay tuned for a compelling discussion on the human side of surviving a cyberattack on this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified.https://www.boisestate.edu/cybersecurity/

“Unauthorized access” sounds like a line from the classic 1980s movie, Wargames. And you might be surprised to learn that the Computer Fraud & Abuse Act, or CFAA, was partly passed in response to that movie's plot, as a way to thwart hackers.But what does “unauthorized access” look like today? And, spoiler alert, it's not just for hackers anymore!So, instead of “playing games,” let's talk to today's guest on Cybersecurity Simplified!Lorrie Mah, Product Counsel at Google, is an expert on aligning business goals and legal strategies especially when it comes to security, compliance and privacy.She's joining us today to discuss the Supreme Court's recent Van Buren v. United States ruling and what it means for you. Stay tuned.

It isn't lost to us here at Cybersecurity Simplified that many of you listen and watch because you have a keen interest in cybersecurity work… you want to make that career leap from wherever you are at or pivot for those of you already in IT or in a technical role.We applaud you because you are taking steps and not just waiting for it to happen. This episode is for you! Our two guests today are security practitioners who took different paths to where they are at today.We have Aaron Martin, High Wire Security Architect, and Nick Burnett, High Wire Tier 2 SOC Analyst.Welcome to episode 32 of Cybersecurity Simplified.

Our next guest has spent his career designing and building strong defenses, literally and technically. First, serving for more than 28 years in active-duty military and now as a cybersecurity MSP helping DoD contractors comply with the government's stringent Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll visit the front lines of the U.S. cybersecurity defense with John Hill, President and CEO of TechSage Solutions. Stay tuned.

What do cybersecurity and ranching have in common? A bit of wrangling, a lot of bull and CISO Allan Alford, host of the Cyber Ranch podcast.Allan's 20-year cybersecurity journey includes serving as CISO four different times in three industries and working with companies from 5 to 50,000 employees. He's currently focused on getting ACTUAL value from your tech stack and adding a human perspective to cybersecurity.So, saddle up and settle in. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll ride the cyber trails wherever Allan's experience takes us.

If it isn't enough that hospitals have been overrun with Covid patients during the pandemic, they also have been targeted by cyber criminals. Many have even been forced to cancel vital medical services because their systems, software or networks are disabled. It's more important than ever for healthcare organizations to keep their networks healthy. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we will get a prescription for good cyber hygiene from our special guest, Sunila Thelma Levi, a healthcare technologies executive at Commonspirit Health.

Cybercriminals are escalating their attacks. What can you do? Take managed security to a higher level with SOAR - Security Orchestration, Automation and Response. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, learn how SOAR can reach into IT environments and stop cyberthreats in progress, reduce mean time to repair and minimize the impact of cyberattacks.

In the cybersecurity war, there are no rules. The enemy has upped their game with more frequent and destructive attacks. What can you do? Take your cybersecurity defense to the next level. Stay ahead of evolving threats with vulnerability management. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll talk about how to go from reactive to adaptive strategies with our guest, vulnerability management expert Cristian Sandescu, Founder and CEO of CODA Intelligence. Stay tuned.

Cyberthreats are not only increasing but evolving. Keeping up is more than a full-time job. That's why many business owners and IT leaders turn to cybersecurity experts. Should they be looking for MSPs or MSSPs? What's the difference? Today's guest has some deep thoughts about this and other pressing cybersecurity questions. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll chat with Mr.MSP himself, Charles Weaver, CEO of the MSP Alliance. Stay tuned.

Living on the edge means taking on risk, and that's exactly what today's special guest has done when it comes to network security.Instead of accepting the risks, he's faced them head on to make living (and working) on the network edge safer for all of us.Stay tuned. In this special edition of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll meet John Peterson, the inventor of the ZTEdge zero trust security platform.

In our last episode, we talked about why cybersecurity prevention is back in style.With remote work and mobile devices pushing critical workloads to the edge of the corporate network, Zero-Trust Access is now the holy grail.But it's easier said than done.In this special edition of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll talk about how High Wire is tackling the growing challenge of defending a vanishing perimeter with the Overwatch Prevention Suite.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – this tried-and-true advice was the guiding principle behind cybersecurity for years.But when the likelihood of being breached became all but certain, cybersecurity pros shifted their focus to threat detection and response.With the increasing success of cyberattacks, prevention is back in style.In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss what's behind the renewed emphasis on prevention and Zero-Trust Access.

Cybersecurity is a growing national security and economic security imperative for the U.S. government. And the FBI is on the front lines as the lead federal agency investigating cyber-attacks. The bureau works to unmask cybercriminals, wherever they are. In this special edition of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll open up the FBI files on cybersecurity with an exclusive interview with an FBI agent.

Build or buy. Insource or outsource. DIY or DIFY. This debate is one business leaders have over many functions – from marketing to accounting to HR. When it comes to cybersecurity, the decision is infinitely more critical.  You need highly specialized expertise and expensive technology, running 24/7 to stay ahead of an evolving and persistent threat. In this special edition of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll ask a tenured IT MSP to weigh in why outsourcing cybersecurity is a no-brainer.

With Solarwinds, Colonial Pipeline and a rash of other alarming breaches, it's no surprise that cybersecurity regulation is ramping up. In May, President Biden signed an Executive Order “Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity.” And, now there are more than 130 bills making their way through Congress. That's only taking into account what's going on at the Federal level. States also are getting in on the action. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss some of the new and proposed rules and how they may impact your cybersecurity strategies.

Cybercriminals are getting rich by literally holding corporate data and networks hostage. These so-called ransomware attacks are on the rise because they work. They're hard to detect and almost impossible to stop. In 2021 Ransomware damages worldwide are projected to be $20 billion. That's 57 times more than they were in 2015, says Cybersecurity Ventures. The research firm says that number will grow to $265 billion by 2031, with a new attack every 2 seconds. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we're excited to talk about how to stop ransomware in its tracks with our latest solution, the Overwatch Ransomware Kill Switch.

Good help is hard to find. That's especially true in cybersecurity. We need 3 million cybersecurity professionals to close the talent gap, according to the 2020 Cybersecurity Workforce Study conducted by (ISC)2 . The shortage means security skills are in high demand, creating opportunities for those who are willing to learn. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll talk about how to skill up to become a security analyst and start your journey to job security in cybersecurity. We have a Cybersecurity Simplified listener, Max Dore, joining us in this conversation.

Cloud-enabled anywhere work has been a boon to businesses of all sizes -- improving productivity and, frankly, keeping companies up and running during COVID.It's also been a bonanza for cybercriminals, extending their attack surface to a greater number of endpoints – beyond servers and workstations to laptops, tablets, smartphones and even IoT devices.What can you do to extend security protection far and wide? In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss the case for EDR -- endpoint detection and response.

Way back in Episode 3, we talked about how Extended Detection and Response (aka XDR) finds and fixes security issues across your environment – from endpoints and servers to networks and cloud infrastructure.To get this kind of end-to-end protection, many XDR vendors rip and replace your existing – often expensive –  security tools with their own.But there's a way to avoid forklift upgrades and vendor lock-in. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll show you how to unlock end-to-end security with Open XDR.

“Set it and forget it” security solutions don't work today if they ever really did. There are many reasons why, but it boils down to this: Cybercriminals don't sleep.They're working day and night find creative way to compromise your systems or steal your data. That means you need to be vigilant 24/7 – detecting and remediating ever-changing threats.If that's not in your wheelhouse, no worries. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss the case for managed security services.

Fixing software bugs is critical to keeping bad actors out. It's a continuous process called Patch Management. While its purpose is to keep systems up to date, the practice itself has not kept up with the times. Businesses have moved apps and infrastructure to the cloud, but patch management remains on-premises. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss why it's time for a Patch Management Makeover.

To pay or not to pay – that is the question when it comes to ransomware. Is it better to hold your ground and discourage future data hostage situations or pay up and cut your losses? Recently, some cyber insurance companies have switched sides in the debate, refusing to reimburse ransomware payments to cybercriminals. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we'll discuss this trend and what it means for the future of cybersecurity risk strategies.

You see it in the headlines every day— ransomware attacks disrupting businesses and the economy in a broader sense. The Colonial Pipeline attack certainly got the attention of The White House and our current administration after the attack forced the company to shut down 5,500 miles of pipeline, triggering widespread fuel shortages in the Southeast. 2020 was a bad year for ransomware attacks. 2021 is already shaping out to be way worse.

The success of working from home during lockdown has caused companies to rethink “the office,” allowing both in-office and at-home work on a permanent basis. But this new hybrid workplace presents cybersecurity challenges. Not only do companies need to secure headquarters, data center and branch offices, they now need to safeguard dozens, hundreds or even thousands of endpoints used by employees working remotely. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we’ll discuss why the New Hybrid Workplace is the Next Security Headache and what to do about it.

Cybersecurity is an IT issue, to be managed by the IT department. Right? Our guest on Cybersecurity Simplified, Mark Porter, CEO at High Wire Networks, will explain that’s only half true. In fact, Cybersecurity impacts the entire business – not only that it’s IT infrastructure works, but operational uptime, the privacy of its customer data, compliance with regulations, ability to collect revenue – even the company reputation.Mark Porter will explain why Cybersecurity is Not Just an IT Problem, It’s a Business Problem.

When we think about automation, images of displaced factory workers often spring to mind. But automation also can be a good thing, helping people to do their jobs better and faster.That’s the case in security operations. In fact, automation is critical to keeping up with exponentially rising treats and helping analysts respond faster.In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we’ve invited a Security Operations expert to tell us how automation is the new weapon in the war on cybercrime.

The SolarWinds breach has been the big security news lately. It’s making headlines for many reasons:It’s one of the most stealthy attacks – going undetected for monthsIt targeted U.S. government agencies — like the Pentagon and more – and major tech companies Microsoft, Cisco and Intel.Plus, it’s one of the biggest who-dun-its – no one is certain who’s to blame.In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we’ll get past the headlines and break down the SolarWinds Security breach.

As if a pandemic were not enough, we’re being kicked while we’re down. Cybercriminals are exploiting our newest weakness – working from home. It’s no secret that home networks are not as secure as corporate networks, and bad actors are taking advantage of the fact and using them as a way in. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we’ll talk about the increased risk of remote work and what you can do to minimize it.

Believe it or not – your employees are the primary accessories to cybercrime.Of course, it’s not (usually) intentional, but it’s true, nonetheless. In this episode of Cybersecurity Simplified, we’ll talk about how your employees are unwittingly putting your business at risk and some simple steps to stop it.