We all enjoy the fast and easy methods of conducting professional and personal business through the convenient use of continuous technological innovations like online, mobile and medical. However, with those new methods come new levels of risk. The question is, how much of those risks are we willing to accept, or better yet, are those risks even known?
Cybersecurity awareness is an ongoing challenge for everyone, not just security professionals. While it's sometimes difficult to not have cybersecurity awareness come across as a "Fear this" campaign, it is important to understand that cybersecurity is our shared responsibility.
A short example I like to use is when one prepares to have a private discussion, many factors are considered. For instance, we ask ourselves where should the conversation take place, how loud should the conversation be, who will see the conversation taking place and if so, how will it be perceived. All of these are physical considerations, but the idea it to apply this type of thought process when conducting one's self online.
Whether you are accepting of these types of risks or not, cybersecurity awareness can start with this consideration; Always Stop and Think before You Connect and Share.
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Mike Muscatell is a seasoned IT veteran with more than thirty years in the information technology field, with twenty of those years in the information security field.
Early in his career, he successfully developed the first IT operations center in '95 at NationsBank/Bank of America. Mike developed the information security program and authored the CSIRT for Snyder's-Lance Inc. where he is currently the Information Security Manager. He is a certified ethical hacker and a certified penetration tester.
He has been honored as one of the top 100 professionals in the information security field by Strathmore's "Who's Who for 2014" and also featured in the December 2014 edition of "Food Engineering Magazine" discussing "The Cyber Threat."
Mike belongs to a number of security organizations including InfraGard and the International Cyber Threat Task Force where he is a member of the Cyber Council.
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Don't miss his presentation, "What is Your Cyber Exposure Factor," at the Charlotte SecureWorld Conference on February 11, 2015.