Tag Archives: info sec

Bridging the Divide: Innovative Strategies to Conquer the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage

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The digital realm has become the bedrock of modern society, yet its security is increasingly jeopardized by a critical and growing challenge: the cybersecurity talent deficit. The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has never been higher, but organizations globally are struggling to find and retain the expertise needed to defend against evolving and sophisticated cyber threats. This shortage not only hinders innovation but also leaves organizations vulnerable to costly breaches and attacks. Addressing this pressing issue requires a paradigm shift in how we approach recruitment, development, and retention of cybersecurity professionals. This post delves into innovative strategies and actionable tactics that firms can implement to bridge this critical divide and build resilient security teams.

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Understanding the Gravity of the Cybersecurity Talent Deficit

The cybersecurity talent deficit is not a theoretical problem; it’s a tangible threat with significant repercussions. The global gap is estimated at millions of unfilled positions, and in the United States alone, the shortage reaches hundreds of thousands. Alarmingly, the global cybersecurity workforce growth has even stalled recently. This scarcity of talent leads to numerous challenges for organizations:

  • Increased Vulnerability: Unfilled security roles leave systems and data exposed, making organizations prime targets for cyberattacks.
  • Overburdened Security Teams: Existing teams face increased workloads, stress, and a higher risk of burnout, leading to decreased effectiveness and higher turnover.
  • Hinderance to Innovation: The lack of skilled professionals can stifle an organization’s ability to adopt new technologies and innovate securely.
  • Rising Costs: Fierce competition for limited talent drives up salaries and recruitment costs.
  • Disrupted Security Initiatives: Frequent job-hopping among cybersecurity professionals disrupts ongoing security projects and initiatives.

The roots of this deficit are multifaceted, stemming from the rapid evolution of the threat landscape, the specialized skill requirements within the field, insufficient training and education, and high burnout rates. Moreover, economic constraints are increasingly impacting organizations’ ability to build robust security teams.

Innovative Recruitment Strategies: Expanding the Talent Horizon

Traditional recruitment methods are often insufficient in today’s competitive landscape. Organizations need to adopt creative and forward-thinking strategies to attract a wider range of potential candidates.

Strategies:

  • Leveraging Technology for Streamlined Sourcing: Employing AI-powered tools for candidate sourcing and screening can significantly enhance the efficiency of the recruitment process.
  • Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: Actively seeking out and recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women and underrepresented groups, broadens the talent pool and brings fresh perspectives. Engaging with DEI-focused groups and ensuring inclusive hiring practices are crucial.
  • Flexible Hiring Criteria: Shifting the focus from rigid credentials and years of experience to potential, aptitude, and transferable skills can unlock a wealth of talent from non-traditional backgrounds and career changers. Consider self-taught individuals and those with experience in related fields.
  • Tapping into Global Talent Pools: Expanding recruitment efforts beyond local geographical boundaries allows organizations to access specialized expertise and potentially manage workforce costs more effectively. Implementing a global resourcing strategy can strengthen security defenses.
  • Strategic Team Augmentation: Utilizing contractors and consultants for specific projects or to fill temporary gaps can provide crucial expertise without the long-term commitment of permanent hires.
  • Building Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with educational institutions (universities, colleges, minority-serving institutions), industry and professional organizations, and even high schools can create a sustainable talent pipeline. Offering internships and student ambassador programs can cultivate interest in cybersecurity careers early on.
  • Enhancing Employer Branding and Outreach: Showcasing company culture, values, growth opportunities, and career advancement potential can attract cybersecurity professionals. Leveraging social media platforms and participating in career fairs and industry events are effective outreach tactics.

Tactics:

  • Craft compelling job descriptions that focus on the impact of the role and required skills rather than just certifications.
  • Implement skills-based assessments and challenges instead of solely relying on resume screening.
  • Offer flexible work options such as remote work and adjustable schedules to attract a wider candidate pool.
  • Utilize platforms like Cyber Range and Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions as recruitment tools to identify individuals with practical skills.
  • Develop employee referral programs to leverage the networks of existing cybersecurity staff.
  • Actively participate in online cybersecurity communities and forums to engage with potential candidates.

Investing in Internal Talent Development: Cultivating a Robust Workforce

Relying solely on external hiring is unsustainable. Organizations must prioritize the development of their existing workforce through continuous education, upskilling, and reskilling initiatives.

Strategies:

  • Continuous Education and Upskilling: Providing structured learning paths, training programs, and opportunities for professional development ensures that cybersecurity professionals stay ahead of evolving threats and technologies. Investing in employee education also boosts retention rates.
  • Building Strong In-House Training Programs: Developing internal training hubs with comprehensive syllabi and tailored resources allows employees to enhance their skills within the company’s specific context.
  • Prioritizing Mentorship and Coaching: Pairing junior staff and new hires with experienced professionals provides invaluable guidance, hones skills, and fosters a vibrant talent pool within the organization.
  • Covering Costs for Training and Certifications: Investing in vendor-specific and industry-recognized certifications like CompTIA Security+ and CISSP demonstrates a commitment to professional growth and makes the organization more attractive to potential and current employees.
  • Upskilling and Reskilling IT Professionals: Allowing IT professionals with existing knowledge of company infrastructure to transition into cybersecurity roles can effectively address the talent shortage.
  • Implementing Continuous Learning Platforms: Utilizing platforms that offer tailored training for specific areas like cloud security and AI ensures professionals can adapt to new technologies.

Tactics:

  • Develop internal training modules focused on key cybersecurity domains.
  • Establish internal academic hubs with dedicated resources for skill development.
  • Implement formal mentorship programs with clear guidelines and expectations.
  • Offer tuition reimbursement and cover the costs of relevant certifications.
  • Organize regular workshops, webinars, and hands-on labs to facilitate skill development.
  • Provide access to online learning platforms and industry-recognized training resources.
  • Integrate advanced simulation training using platforms like Cyber Range and CTF exercises to provide realistic hands-on experience.

Leveraging Technology: Amplifying Human Capabilities

Technology can play a crucial role in bridging the cybersecurity talent gap by automating routine tasks and augmenting the capabilities of existing security personnel.

Strategies:

  • Utilizing AI-Driven Security Operations: Implementing AI-powered tools can automate the processing of large data volumes, enabling faster detection and prediction of cyber threats, allowing security teams to focus on complex challenges.
  • Automating Routine Security Tasks: Automating tasks such as updating threat databases, quarantining threats, and conducting compliance audits reduces manual workloads and lessens the need for a large security headcount. This also captures team knowledge and reduces the impact of staff turnover.
  • Implementing Advanced Simulation Training: Utilizing platforms like Cyber Range and virtual reality environments provides immersive and realistic training experiences, allowing cybersecurity professionals to practice responding to real-world scenarios and develop critical skills.
  • Adopting SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) Platforms: These platforms help automate incident response workflows, improving efficiency and reducing the burden on security analysts.
  • Employing AI-Enhanced Tools for Skill Development: AI-powered systems can provide real-time analysis and learning support, acting as digital assistants to cybersecurity teams.

Tactics:

  • Invest in AI-powered security information and event management (SIEM) systems for enhanced threat detection and analysis.
  • Deploy robotic process automation (RPA) for repetitive security tasks.
  • Integrate SOAR platforms to automate incident response and security workflows.
  • Utilize virtual reality training modules for immersive learning experiences.
  • Implement AI-powered threat intelligence platforms for proactive threat identification.

Addressing High Burnout Rates: Fostering a Sustainable Workforce

High burnout rates are a significant contributor to the cybersecurity talent shortage. Creating a supportive and balanced work environment is crucial for retaining cybersecurity professionals.

Strategies:

  • Promoting Work-Life Balance: Encouraging flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and adjustable hours, and ensuring manageable workloads are essential for employee well-being and retention.
  • Enhancing Employee Support Systems: Providing proactive mental health support programs and fostering open communication can create a psychologically safe environment.
  • Distributing Cybersecurity Responsibility: Spreading security responsibilities across the organization can reduce the burden on dedicated cybersecurity teams.
  • Recognizing and Rewarding Contributions: Publicly acknowledging the efforts and successes of cybersecurity professionals can boost morale and job satisfaction.
  • Developing Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Equipping leaders to recognize early signs of burnout within their teams is crucial for proactive intervention.

Tactics:

  • Offer flexible work arrangements and generous paid time off.
  • Implement mental health support programs such as employee assistance programs (EAPs).
  • Conduct regular team satisfaction surveys to identify potential issues.
  • Ensure reasonable on-call rotations and workload distribution.
  • Provide opportunities for professional development and attending conferences to prevent stagnation.
  • Foster a culture of open communication and psychological safety where employees feel comfortable raising concerns.

Holistic Approaches to Talent Development: Cultivating a Security-First Culture

Addressing the cybersecurity talent shortage requires a holistic and long-term perspective that integrates various strategies and fosters a culture of continuous learning and security awareness across the entire organization.

Strategies:

  • Strategic Resourcing and Workforce Planning: Developing a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s cybersecurity needs and proactively planning for future talent requirements is essential.
  • Cultural Shifts Towards Ongoing Learning: Embedding a culture that values and encourages continuous learning ensures the workforce remains adaptable to the evolving threat landscape. Initiatives like internal CTF competitions and structured learning paths can foster this culture.
  • Skill-Based Hiring Over Degree-Focused Approaches: Prioritizing demonstrable skills and practical experience over traditional academic qualifications can broaden the talent pool.
  • Collaboration with Third-Party Providers: Strategically partnering with MSSPs and security consultants can provide access to specialized skills and support during periods of talent shortage.

Tactics:

  • Conduct regular workforce planning exercises to identify future cybersecurity skill needs.
  • Integrate cybersecurity awareness training for all employees to foster a security-conscious culture.
  • Create internal knowledge-sharing platforms to facilitate peer-to-peer learning.
  • Establish clear career development pathways with defined progression opportunities.
  • Track key metrics such as time-to-fill, retention rates, and employee satisfaction to evaluate the effectiveness of talent strategies.

Conclusion: A Multifaceted Approach to Building Cyber Resilience

The cybersecurity talent shortage is a complex challenge that demands innovative and multifaceted solutions. There is no single silver bullet. Organizations that proactively adopt creative recruitment strategies, invest in internal talent development, leverage technology effectively, prioritize employee well-being, and foster a culture of continuous learning will be best positioned to build and maintain resilient cybersecurity teams. By shifting from traditional approaches to embracing these innovative strategies and tactics, organizations can begin to bridge the divide and secure their digital future. The time to act is now, to cultivate the cybersecurity workforce of tomorrow and safeguard our increasingly interconnected world.

More Information and Assistance from MicroSolved, Inc.

At MicroSolved, Inc., we understand the challenges organizations face in hiring and retaining top-tier cybersecurity talent. The ever-evolving threat landscape and increasing compliance demands require organizations to be agile and forward-thinking in their approach to cybersecurity. That’s where we come in, offering tailored solutions to meet your unique needs.

vCISO Services

Our Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCISO) services are designed to provide you with expert guidance without the need for an in-house CISO. Our vCISOs bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, offering strategic insights to align your cybersecurity posture with your business objectives. They work closely with your team to:

  • Explain complex cybersecurity concepts in understandable terms, facilitating better decision-making.
  • Ensure your organization meets compliance requirements and stays ahead of regulatory changes.
  • Position your organization strategically in the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.
  • Build and maintain long-term relationships to support ongoing security improvement and innovation.

Mentoring Services

At MicroSolved, Inc., we believe that mentorship is vital for fostering growth and ensuring the success of your cybersecurity team. Our mentoring services focus on developing your talent, from the most senior professionals to your newest hires. We provide:

  • Personalized coaching to help team members understand the “why” behind security protocols and strategies.
  • Guidance to help professionals stay current with the latest cybersecurity trends and technologies.
  • Support for continuous skill development, addressing any challenges your team may face with new skills or technologies.

Additional Resources

In addition to our vCISO and mentoring services, we offer a range of resources to enhance your cybersecurity strategy:

  • Incident Readiness and Response: Preparedness planning and support to minimize the impact of security breaches.
  • Threat Modeling: In-depth analysis of incidents and proactive threat identification.

By choosing MicroSolved, Inc., you’re not just partnering with a service provider; you’re aligning with a team dedicated to empowering your organization through expert guidance, strategic insights, and continuous support.

For more information on how we can assist with your cybersecurity needs, contact us today. Let us help you build a resilient cybersecurity culture that keeps your organization secure and competitive.

 

 

 

* AI tools were used as a research assistant for this content, but human moderation and writing are also included. The included images are AI-generated.

ChatGPT: A Valuable Ally for Your Information Security Team

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One of the best ways to learn to use ChatGPT and other systems is to simply ask them how they can help you. Here is an example:

Prompt: 

Please write a blog post with some examples of things that ChatGPT could do to help an information security team. For each thing, write one or more sample prompts that they could use to get started. Please output in plain text without any markup or specialized formatting.

Response:

Title: ChatGPT: A Valuable Ally for Your Information Security Team

In a digital age where threats to information security are ever-evolving, having a well-rounded defense strategy is crucial. Among the plethora of tools and resources available, ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, emerges as a valuable ally for information security teams. Here are some ways ChatGPT could assist in bolstering your organization’s cybersecurity measures, along with sample prompts to kickstart these initiatives:

1. Threat Intelligence Analysis
– Sample Prompt: “Identify recent cyber threats relevant to our industry and summarize their characteristics and potential impact.”

2. Phishing Detection Training
– Sample Prompt: “Generate examples of phishing emails related to our company, and explain how to distinguish them from legitimate communications.”

3. Automated Reporting of Security Incidents
– Sample Prompt: “Develop a script for collecting and formatting data related to security incidents for easier analysis and reporting.”

4. Policy and Compliance Documentation
– Sample Prompt: “Help draft a comprehensive Acceptable Use Policy that aligns with industry standards and regulatory requirements.”

5. Security Awareness Training Material Development
– Sample Prompt: “Create engaging training materials to educate employees about cybersecurity best practices and organizational policies.”

6. Log Analysis and Anomaly Detection
– Sample Prompt: “Analyze these system logs to identify any unusual activities and potentially malicious behavior.”

7. Password Policy Enforcement
– Sample Prompt: “Develop a communication to educate employees about our new password policy and the importance of strong, unique passwords.”

8. Incident Response Plan Development
– Sample Prompt: “Assist in drafting an Incident Response Plan outlining the steps to be taken in the event of a security breach.”

9. Vulnerability Assessment
– Sample Prompt: “Provide a checklist for conducting a vulnerability assessment of our network and systems.”

10. Security Tool Evaluation
– Sample Prompt: “Research and compare different cybersecurity solutions to help us decide which tools would best meet our security needs.”

ChatGPT can be a remarkable asset for information security teams, aiding in a multitude of tasks ranging from threat intelligence analysis to policy documentation. By integrating ChatGPT into your cybersecurity strategy, you stand to not only enhance your defense against cyber threats but also free up valuable time for your security personnel to focus on more complex, critical aspects of your organization’s security posture.

Summary:

Learning to use these AI tools is easy if you ask them for help. Learning to use them properly will go a long way toward increasing your productivity. 

 

* Just to let you know, we used some AI tools to gather the information for this article, and we polished it up with Grammarly to make sure it reads just right!

How Information Security and Risk Management Teams Can Support FinOps

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As organizations continue to move their operations to cloud services, it is becoming increasingly important for information security and risk management teams to understand how they can support financial operations (FinOps). FinOps is a management practice that promotes shared responsibility for an organization’s cloud computing infrastructure and cloud cost management. In this post, we will explore some ways in which the information security and risk management team can support FinOps initiatives.

1. Establishing Governance: Information security and risk management teams can play a vital role in helping FinOps teams establish effective governance. This includes creating a framework for budget management, setting up policies and procedures for cloud resource usage, and ensuring that all cloud infrastructure is secure and meets compliance requirements.

2. Security Awareness Training: Information security and risk management teams can provide security awareness training to ensure that all cloud practitioners are aware of the importance of secure cloud computing practices. This includes data protection, authentication protocols, encryption standards, and other security measures.

3. Cloud Rate Optimization: Information security and risk management teams can help FinOps teams identify areas of cost optimization. This includes analyzing cloud usage data to identify opportunities for cost savings, recommending risk-based ways to optimize server utilization, and helping determine the most appropriate pricing model for specific services or applications.

4. Sharing Incident Response, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity Insights: Information security and risk management teams can help FinOps teams respond to cloud environment incidents quickly and effectively by providing technical support in the event of a breach or outage. This includes helping to diagnose the issue, developing mitigations or workarounds, and providing guidance on how to prevent similar incidents in the future. The data from the DR/BC plans are also highly relevant to the FinOps team mission and can be used as a roadmap for asset prioritization, process relationships, and data flows.

5. Compliance Management: Information security and risk management teams can help FinOps teams stay compliant with relevant regulations by managing audits and reporting requirements, ensuring that all relevant security controls are in place, auditing existing procedures, developing policies for data protection, and providing guidance on how to ensure compliance with applicable laws.

The bottom line is this: By leveraging the shared data and experience of the risk management and information security teams, FinOps teams can ensure their operations are secure, efficient, and completely aligned with the organization’s overall risk and security posture. This adds value to the work of all three teams in the triad. By working together, the teams can significantly enhance the maturity around technology business management functions. All-in-all, by working together, the teams can create significantly better business outcomes.

 

3 Things You Should Be Reading About

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Just a quick post today to point to 3 things infosec pros should be watching from the last few days. While there will be a lot of news coming out of Derbycon, keep your eyes on these issues too:

1. Chinese PLA Hacking Unit with a SE Asia Focus Emerges – This is an excellent article about a new focused hacking unit that has emerged from shared threat intelligence. 

2. Free Tool to Hunt Down SYNful Knock – If you aren’t aware of the issues in Cisco Routers, check out the SYNful Knock details here. This has already been widely observed in the wild.

3. Microsoft Revokes Leaked D-Link Certs – This is what happens when certificates get leaked into the public. Very dangerous situation, since it could allow signing of malicious code/firmware, etc.

Happy reading! 

Hiring Data Analysts Who Love Security

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MSI is growing again! We are interested in talking to folks about a full time position in our Columbus HQ to help our Intelligence Team.

If you dig being heads down with data, performing deep research and chasing threats around the Internet, this is the gig for you! These folks will be focused primarily on threat profiling, research of companies, crime rings and security news from around the world. The job requires you be familiar with Linux,  have an understanding of information security and to be a power user of the Internet. You should also enjoy python, BASH scripting, command line kung fu and staying bleeding edge current on security happenings. Light public speaking on webinars and conference calls, familiarity with the Mac and excellent writing skills are also preferred.

MSI is an interesting place to work. Our team is seriously dedicated to helping our clients. We are known for doing excellent work, thinking outside the box, going deep into a problem and laser focusing on customer success. Our conversations among team members are fast and full of high density data exchange. It is exciting, fulfilling and demanding work, but we do it with joy, precision and mindful innovation!

Sound like something you might enjoy? If so, get in touch. Send your resume and a cover letter that explains why you are the best choice for our team to info@microsolved.com. You can also touch base with me on Twitter if you have questions (@lbhuston). We hope to hear from you if you truly love deep diving on data and hammering out the truth from content all around the web!

PS – Don’t worry, we know we have to train you. We are looking for people with strong core skills, an eagerness to learn and out of the box thinking. We’ll teach you the rest… 🙂

Three Talks Not To Miss at DerbyCon

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Here are three talks not to miss this year at DerbyCon:

1. Bill Sempf (@sempf) presents a talk about pen-testing from a developer’s point of view. (PS – He has a stable talk too, catch it if you sell stuff in the Windows store) His work is great and he is a good presenter and teacher. Feel free to also ask him questions about lock picking in the hallways. He is a wealth of knowledge and usually friendly after a cup of coffee in the morning. Beware though, if he asks you to pick the lock to get to the pool on the roof… This talk is Saturday at 6pm. 

2. Definitely catch @razoreqx as he talks about how he is going to own your org in just a few days. If you haven’t seen his bald dome steaming while he drops the knowledge about the nasty stuff that malware can do now, you haven’t lived. I hear he also may give us a bit of secret sauce about what to expect from malware in the next 6 months. You might wanna avoid the first couple of rows of seating in this talk. He often asks for “voluntolds” from the audience and you might not look good in the Vanna White dress… His chrome dome presents on Friday at 7pm.

3. Don’t miss the Keynote by @hdmoore. His keynotes are always amazing and this time it appears he is going to teach you how to port scan the entire Internet, all at once and all in an easy to manage tool and timeframe. He probably will astound you with some of his results and the things he has seen in his research. It’s worth it! The Keynote is Friday at 9am. Yes, 9am in the morning. It rolls around twice a day now… I know… 🙂

Lastly, if you want to see me speak, you can find me on Friday at 1pm as I discuss and unveil the Stolen Data Impact Model (SDIM) project. Check it out! 

PS – There will be plenty of hallway talk and shenanigans at the con. Come out and sit down and chat. I can’t wait to talk to YOU and hear what you have to say about infosec, threats, the future or just what your thoughts are on life. Seriously… I love the hang out. So, drop down next to me and have a chat! See you this weekend!

 PSS – Yes, I might wear my “hippy hacker”/”packet hugger” shirt. Don’t scream “Packet Hugger” at me in the hallway, please, it hurts my feelings…. 

Always Remember the Business, InfoSec Folks

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I just got out of yet another meeting with a big company partner for whom we act as an information security and threat advisor. In that meeting, I listened to a keyed-up,  hypercaffinated group of good guy security geeks tell their senior executives about the latest set of DLP controls they were putting in place. They spent 45 minutes describing packet-level checking, data flows, architecture diagrams and the technology of their solution set in painful (even for me) detail. Many of the executives were dosing lightly, while the geeks spun their techno-web. That’s when things took a turn for the worse…

The COO asked them one single question, interrupting a slide about email data flows ~ “How will this impact the business of ‘Dan’s’ group and the ‘Singularity’ project we have been working on since 2011? Doesn’t it depend on some of that data?” (**Names changed to protect the innocent and the guilty…)

Then, NOTHING HAPPENED. You could have heard a pin drop. Dead silence for close to two minutes. Finally, the COO repeated the question. Still nothing. He asked the lead geek if he knew who Dan was, and the geek said yes. He asked if Dan had been interviewed by the geeks prior to this. They said, no. The COO erupted in a rage, railing about how Singularity was the largest new line of business launch in the history of the company and how the projected income from the business would change the landscape of the firm. There were a LOT of apologies and some amount of notes taken to immediately consult with Dan. Much geek cred was lost. It will be a while before they get to present to the executives again like that. 

I tell you this story simply to remind all infosec folks about something I see all too often. It’s about the business. We are about the business. We are there to secure the business, nurture it, protect it, empower it to succeed. If that’s not where you or your team are, then you are doing it wrong. Get it right. Talk to the business. Speak their language. Give up on the “beauty of the baud” approach. Your packets and technology stack may be gorgeous to you, but if they don’t align with the business, then they won’t do anyone, including you, any good at all. Keep that in mind at all times. Also, remember to always talk to Dan ~ he’s a nice guy and he appreciates it. He can give you the answers you need and usually, he desperately wants to understand what you can do to make his project a success. Get to know all the Dan’s in your organization. They drive the world, you support them, together you build business and all of you will succeed!

CMHSecLunch Announcement

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We wanted to take a moment and send out a special announcement to our Columbus, Ohio area readers. Brent Huston is pulling together a monthly casual event for IT and InfoSec focused folks in our area. He posted this a few days ago to Twitter (@lbhuston):

#CMHSecLunch 1st attempt – Monday, Nov 12, 11:30 -1pm at Tuttle Mall food court. Informal lunch gathering of infosec geeks. Be There!

We invite all of our local readers to attend. Just have a casual lunch with infosec friends and great conversations. No sign up, no membership fees, no hassle, no fuss. If you can make it, cool, if not, also cool. So, if you have time, drop in and break bread. We hope to see you there.

Let us know on Twitter or in the comments if you have feedback. 

Ask The Experts: Insights on Facebook Friends

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This time around, the experts tackle this question:

Q: “Hey Security Experts, should I be friends with everyone that asks on Facebook? What’s the risk of friending people I don’t really know? Can we be friends on Facebook?” –Scott918

Adam Hostetler weighed in with:

I wouldn’t recommend accepting friends request for anyone on Facebook, unless you actually know them. This especially goes for somebody that claims they work at the same company as you, as it really could be somebody building a network of targets to social engineer.

Take advantage of Facebook privacy settings also. Don’t make your information public, and only make it viewable by friends. I would even recommend against putting too much personal information on there, even if it is only among friends. There have been security issues in the past that allow people to get around privacy controls, and Facebook really doesn’t need a lot of information from you anyway.

John Davis added:

The short answer is NO! I’m a big believer in the tenet the you DON’T want the whole world to know everything about you. Posting lots of personal facts, even to your known friends on Facebook, is akin to the ripples you get from tossing a pebble into still water – tidbits of info about you radiate out from your friends like waves. You never know who may access it and you can never get it back! There are lots of different people out there that you really don’t want as your friend – I’m talking about everything from annoying marketers to thieves to child molesters. People like that are trying to find out information about you all the time. Why make it easy for them?

Finally, Phil Grimes chimed in:

Facebook is a ripe playground for attackers. This is something I speak about regularly and the short answer is NO, absolutely not. If you don’t know someone, what is the benefit of “friending” them? There is no benefit. On the contrary, this opens a can of worms few of us are prepared to handle. By having friends who aren’t really friends one risks being attacked directly, in the case of the unknown friend sending malicious links or the like. There is also the risk of indirect attack. If an attacker is stalking Facebook pages, there is a lot of information that can be viewed, even if you think your privacy settings are properly set. Stranger danger applies even more on the Internet.

So, while they may not be your friends on Facebook, you can follow the Experts on Twitter (@microsolved) or keep an eye on the blog at http://www.stateofsecurity.com. Until next time, stay safe out there! 

Touchdown Task for Fall: Prepare Your Holiday Coverage Plan

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The holidays are right around the corner. Use some cycles this month to make sure your IT support and infosec teams have a plan for providing coverage during the holiday season. 

Does your help desk know who to call for a security incident? Do they have awareness of what to do if the primary and maybe even secondary folks are out on holiday vacation? Now might be a good time to review that with them and settle on a good plan.

Planning now, a couple of months before the holiday crush, just might make the holiday season a little less stressful for everyone involved. Create your plan, socialize it and score a touchdown when everyone is on the same page during the press of the coming months!