The Innovator Podcast

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When security issues happen in a business, they don't only impact that business' customers. It impacts that business and the 100 employees that work there. Cybersecurity strategies help them understand how to keep operating so they can keep paying their employees so they can keep providing services.In the last two years, we've seen a stark shift in the way businesses and business owners talk about cybersecurity. In 2019/2020, managed service providers like Pearson-Kelly were educating small and medium sized businesses on the terminology and attack methods. Now, we're arguably in a worse off spot with business owners understanding what cybersecurity is, but not caring or not taking the time to do anything about it.If you're business gets hit with a cyberattack, it's not just your bottom line in jeopardy. If you have to lay off staff, or close down completely, your employees go without paychecks and some families could go without food for the week.This is a very real scenario. A business gets hit with a ransomware attack every 11 seconds. If you don't have preventative tools in place to defend your business, you're putting your employees' families at risk. If you don't have an attack strategy in place for WHEN a hacker gets into your business, you're risking the livelihoods of everyone you employ, at the very least.Don't know where to start? Talk to Pearson-Kelly Technology about prevention options and download our IR Program Toolkit for all the resources you need to get started on your attack strategy today.

A comprehensive incident response plan includes three pieces: a policy, a plan and a process. Any one without the others leaves you vulnerable in the midst of an attack. Download our toolkit to start building your own >  https://bit.ly/3MWZgXVWHY IS AN INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN IMPORTANT?An Incident Response Program reduces the time and expense associated with a security incident. It requires an organization understand the threats to their environment and prevent common vulnerabilities. Some tips:Utilize open community repositories like the National Vulnerability Database to address known vulnerabilitiesDetermine the cyber events you currently monitor forComplete or evaluate your Business Impact Analysis (BIA)Use current resources in your organization to identify, mitigate and monitor threatsWHO SHOULD BE ON YOUR TEAM?Like business culture overall, the security culture in your organization is defined and driven by the attitudes, examples and tone demonstrated by your top executives and leaders. When you have buy in, its easier to get everyone in the organization on board with your security initiatives. Without it, you're fighting and uphill battle every day.An Incident Response Program defines the key stakeholders and key roles within your organization to be involved in a security incident to alleviate those three obstacles during an incident. These should include department managers, senior management, partners, customers and legal counsel. A fully functioning Incident Response Program may include the following roles:Legal counselBusiness OperationsExecutive ManagementHuman ResourcesProgram/Project ManagementPublic RelationsOutside ConsultantsIT & Security TeamsVendorsComplianceBusiness Partners & StakeholdersLearn more about building an incident response program on our blog!

In this episode of the Innovator Podcast, Lee Flood, President of Pearson-Kelly Technology, interviews Tyson Johns, Pearson-Kelly's new Director of Finance, about how he views leadership, his tips for future finance leaders and more.

On March 3, Pearson-Kelly Technology and Springfield Tech Council hosted a Cybersecurity Q&A for Small Business leaders with speakers Jay Ryerse of ConnectWise and Tyler Stilley of Pearson-Kelly Technology. The event brought in 75 individuals from businesses across Springfield and the surrounding cities to discuss the business ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and walk through four scenarios small businesses are likely to experience.TOP TAKEAWAYSThere are 10 actions IT leaders can take this week to drastically improve their cybersecurity practices and defenses against cyber threats:Verify software patches and updates are installed on all devicesEnable Multi-Factor Authentication (2FA)Change passwords for network devices and require 2FARemove internet facing management consolesUpgrade end-of-service software and hardwareDocument and train on the processes for reporting suspicious activityImplement SIEMTest backups and take at least one version offline every monthReview policies and procedures, especially incident response plansPerform a cybersecurity assessment CONTENT GIVEAWAYSCheck out the free templates Jay referenced during the podcast, as well as the presentation slides and video recording.10 Actions to Improve Cybersecurity Practices [CHECKLIST]Presentation Slide DeckVideo RecordingHow to Achieve Successful Technology Outcomes [INFOGRAPHIC] 

Taylor Wells, Operations Manager, and Tyler Stilley, vCISO, sit down with Pearson-Kelly's Executive Vice President, Lee Flood, to talk about hiring technical talent. Both talk about how they vet technical talent during the interview process, what makes a technical candidate a good "fit" and much more.

Tyler Stilley, a security specialist with more than 10 years in the industry, sits down with Chelsey Bode, President of Pearson-Kelly Technology. They talk about the best ways to see success in an owner-IT relationship.

In this episode, Brock Glidwell and Tyler Stilley, Pearson-Kelly's technical consultants, take on Education and budgeting by identifying the three key areas IT directors in school systems need to address in their 2021 budgets.

Brock Glidwell, vCIO Pearson-Kelly TechnologyTyler Stilley, vCISO Pearson-Kelly TechnologyCharles Johnston, Solutions Specialist Pearson-Kelly TechnologyKeaton Galindo, Implementation Specialist Pearson-Kelly TechnologyScott Hewlett, Senior Field Manager Pearson-Kelly Technology

Whether its downstream to your employees, or upstream to executives, the number one reason IT leaders fail is communication skills. We sit down with some of PKT's IT leaders to talk about the pitfalls of communication and ways to make hone your skills and lead better teams.

In this episode of The Innovator Podcast, Pearson-Kelly's Lee Flood, Brock Glidwell and Jason Bekemeier take on the five biggest myths of culture building for IT.

Pearson-Kelly Technology kicks off the first episode with Drew Sanford from Continuum on how to better protect your business from hackers and scammers.