I’ve got to get this off my chest: I’m sick and tired of watching organizations get hacked and making the 5:00 news when it was 100% preventable.

Now, I’m not saying that security measures can ever prevent 100% of breaches. But I am saying that MOST breaches are 100% preventable. What I mean is that the thugs go after low hanging fruit. So if you don’t want to get hacked (files stolen/encrypted, bank accounts drained, client/patient records compromised, etc.) then don’t be low hanging fruit. It really is that simple.

How? In the spirit of simple, there are two things you need to do:

  1. Hire a competent cyber security consulting firm to protect your technology. (I know a good one if you’re interested!)
  2. Educate your people.

Let me elaborate on point #2. The reason that I say that MOST breaches are preventable is because MOST breaches are caused by poorly trained employees. This is because MOST organizations ignore what I call “the human element of cyber security”. I recently met with the IT manager of a local city government who told me that his higher ups will not let him train the city employees on proper online behavior. It’s madness! MOST breaches are caused by people. Train your people!

How? you ask again. Well, here again I know somebody. And speaking to the title of this article, I fancy myself somewhat of a Security Evangelist. It is my personal mission to offer FREE TRAINING to every organization in the DFW area. I am passionate about this! Let me help you. No charge. No commitment. No need to change IT companies or fire your in-house IT staff. Just use my free online training portal and make it a requirement for all your employees. In fact, make it part of the HR process. When you hire new people, they must do the training and present you with a certificate of completion before they are allowed to touch your computers. It’s simple. It’s easy. And it’s free.

We all want our 15 minutes of fame. But please, I’m begging you, don’t do it by making the 5:00 news because you were breached. Train your people!