// BLOG
All posts.
Field notes from 20+ years in security. Plus the occasional detour into life, work, and whatever else is on my mind.
When Everything Is Critical, Nothing Is Critical
Your vulnerability scanner flagged 10,000 issues. Your SIEM has 500 critical alerts. Every project is top priority. So what do you actually fix first?
Security Theater vs. Security: How to Tell the Difference
That shiny new security tool looks impressive in the demo. But will it actually reduce risk? Here's how to tell security theater from real security before you waste the budget.
Stop Protecting Systems, Start Protecting Data
Why modern security strategies must shift from system-centric defenses to data-centric protection approaches.
When Your Bank Examiner Says 'Risk Assessment' and You Break Out in Hives
Why most cybersecurity guidance for community banks is useless, and what to do instead
Vibe Coding: How to Write Secure Code When AI Does the Heavy Lifting
AI coding tools are powerful, but they're trained on decades of mediocre code. Here's how to harness them without inheriting every security mistake we've been making since the 90s.
How to Respond When Your Customer Sends You a Security Questionnaire
Your biggest deal just sent a 200-question security assessment. Here's your step-by-step playbook for responding without losing the deal or your mind.
How to Get SOC 2 Certified: Startup Guide (Costs $15K-50K, Takes 3-6 Months)
How much does SOC 2 cost? $15K-50K for audit + $5K-30K/year in tools. Real timeline: 3-6 months prep + 4-8 weeks audit. Here's what you actually need (and what you can skip).
Feats of Endurance and Stupidity: What Running in Circles Teaches Us About Cybersecurity
What ultramarathon running teaches us about incident response and cybersecurity resilience. Lessons from a CISO on training for chaos, mental endurance, and why preparation beats reaction.
From Jewels to Data: Why We Never Learn
The Louvre got robbed. Companies get breached. Both could've been prevented. Here's why waiting for the 'oh crap' moment is a terrible security strategy.
Do You Need a Fractional CISO? Here's How to Tell
Not sure if you need security leadership yet? Here's when a fractional CISO makes sense, what your options look like, and how to avoid overspending on security too early.