Roger Smith

Why your ICT department is overwhelmed with securing your organisation!
linkedin
February 02, 2020

When it comes to business security, outsourcing to a business security provider, is not, in reality, outsourcing.

Is training your staff about cyber more important than any other component in business?
linkedin
January 25, 2020

Any cyber event can have serious implications for your business.

Before you say, that wouldn't happen to us!
Let me explain.
From a simple malware infection to a fully compromised system the results on your business can be devastating.

Why 2020 could be a bad cybersecurity year for SME’s
linkedin
January 11, 2020

SME’s are a prime target for cybercrime.

They have reduced expertise, minimal money, and an attitude, we are too small to be a target, that leaves them wide open to a cyber event.

Only next year will tell!
linkedin
December 11, 2019

Everyone is doing it so I am going to throw my 10 cents in.

3 Security Predictions for 2020
Manipulation of AI and machine learning by criminal organisations and nation-states.
We constantly underestimate the criminal mind.

If government departments cannot protect their data how do we expect SME’s to do it?
linkedin
November 23, 2019

We keep running into the same major problems when it comes to business and digital security.

If the large corporations, multi nationals and government departments can’t implement decent security and still get hacked after a significant investment in time, money, knowledge and effort, how are small and medium enterprises, charity organisations and not for profits (SME’s) suppose to protect their information.

Calculate the cost of a cyber event
linkedin
November 22, 2019

The internet is rife with automated systems designed to steal information or compromise the unaware, ill-informed and lazy amongst us.

Digital disruption and business security - are they compatible?
linkedin
November 05, 2019

We have been told digital disruption will change the world. In a number of ways, yes I think that is correct. Where I see a problem is the simple fact that although digital disruption will change the face of business, cybercrime will not be far behind.

The question “How secure are we?” is not helpful!
linkedin
September 25, 2019

When it comes to cybersecurity, risk management and protecting an organisation from a significant cyber event, “How secure are we?” is not a question that should be asked.

A new breed of service provider and why you need them!
linkedin
July 15, 2019

In the last 20 years, there has been a slow change in how business approaches the management of the ICT component.

Cybersecurity, Why you need someone who knows what they are doing!
linkedin
July 07, 2019

I was recently the recipient of an email from a company who is selling cybersecurity. Not business to business, not selling to SME’s, but as a vendor selling to managed services providers.

Is it about time we talked about who owns your data, systems and information?
linkedin
July 01, 2019

One of the things that I have been talking about for the last couple of years is who has sovereignty over your data.

Obviously, we are not learning from other's mistakes!
linkedin
June 21, 2019

"Florida city pays $600,000 ransom to save computer records"
This should never happen, but it does. It regularly happens because there is a fundamental problem with security, cybersecurity and business security.

You just want to run your business! Here are 7 reasons why you can’t!
linkedin
June 16, 2019

You just want to run your business!

You just want to make enough money to live a nice life. Not rich and famous but not broke either. A fair income for a fair days work.

How can my website be targeted?
linkedin
June 01, 2019

We are often told that a website is not important and does not need any level of protection.
It's just a marketing tool!
This is an assumption that can have devastating effects.

The difference between large organisations and SME’s in security is significant.
linkedin
May 05, 2019

Mom and pop organisations are the lifeblood of our world and the driving force of the economy. Because they are the powerhouse of the economy they have become a primary target of cybercriminals.

This is why you need a friggin backup!
linkedin
April 07, 2019

Not just any backup, but a comprehensive copy of everything that is important to your business, organisation or yourself in two different locations.

In three weeks we have been called into five organisaions to get them up and working after a failure, attack or cyber event.

The Importance of a secure website!
linkedin
January 09, 2019

We are often told that a website is not important and does not need any level of protection. It’s just a marketing tool!
This is an assumption that can have devastating effects.

AI - Smart or just plain creepy?
linkedin
January 05, 2019

No matter which way you look at it artificial intelligence (AI) is here and in some areas of business here with a bang.

We are constantly told that AI is the only way "us humans" are going to be able to handle the impact of big data. Make sense of all of that information.

A digital device does what it’s told, the results depend on who’s doing the telling!
linkedin
December 26, 2018

If you are one of the people who only use computers, phones and tablets for what they are designed to do - email, social, banking, you are not in a minority.
You probably have the attitude that that is all they can do!
When it comes to digital device usage, probably 80% of user have this attitude.

Why Domain Name Services (DNS) keeps your business on line!
linkedin
December 23, 2018

Recently I was talking to a colleague about his email not working.
He had just recently had a new web site built and was told by the designer that it would only work if he changed his web hosting to his hosting company.
He was a very good designer but knew absolutely squat about how the Internet works.

How safe will your child's Christmas be this year?
linkedin
November 28, 2018

Christmas is coming
Top of the list for children is technology based toys.
Interactive toys!
Smart toys!
You know the ones, digital toys!
Toys that have chips and computers installed in them that allows your children to interact with the toys.
From fluffy toys for 4 year olds to computer based systems for the teens.
But, the security of these systems has to part of your purchasing process.
How can you make sure that the toys that you are purchasing for your kids will not be hijacked by the hackers and their privacy compromised, their information stolen.

You need a different mind set to manage business security!
linkedin
October 21, 2018

When it comes to cybersecurity, digital security and business security:
Governments are not doing enough,
big business are not doing enough and
especially SMB are not doing enough.
I was recently grading student assignments and there was a something that was mentioned in 95% of them all. Education is the key and we are not doing enough

Why is it so hard to fix business security?
LinkedIn
September 15, 2018

The responsibilities that boards and management have in today business world are scary.
All the old requirements, of which there are a fair number, are being overshadowed but not replaced by new business insights based on compliance, regulations, ethics and risk.
The old issues and problems have been taught in universities and through the school of hard knocks for years. The new problems are only becoming a reality now. In most cases boards and management are playing catch up.

What is wrong with today’s managed service providers?
Self
September 13, 2018

In the last 3 weeks we have had a number of new clients, thanks to our sales team, come to us with a problem.

Their problem is that their Managed Services is costing a fortune but they do not seem to get anything in return.

Not that they are not getting support, the problem is that the support they are getting is not noticeable. It is hidden behind service level agreements (SLA) that promote remote work, reporting based on vanity metrics and no contact except through email, SMS or phone.

If you want someone on site, well, that’s an extra cost. It should be included in the SLA because it is not the client’s fault that your skills do not fit the requirements and they should not be paying for your learning curve.

The results are in - we suck at business security!
Self
September 01, 2018

Last week I was having a go at the managed services industry, this week it is small and medium business and not for profit organisations turn.

The information from the most recent surveys on cybersecurity is in, Telstra and Security in Depth have completed their surveys and it is not looking good for SME's

Some of the stats from the survey are:

60% of all targeted cyber attacks were aimed at SME's

Why organisations need to change to OFFENSIVE SECURITY to protect their assets.
Self
August 08, 2018

Compliance led soft security is failing.

It leave too many unknowns, creates unpredictable situations and give a false sense of security.

In most cases it just does not work.

But, it looks so good on paper.

If your business security relies on a form, completed by anyone who is available, then the problems associated with a cyber event are not being taken seriously.

Lets face it, if the hackers are saying this,

‘it is not the case that we are so smart, but more a case of the average organisation is deploying inadequate security’.

Then we have a problem with our reality.

When it comes to cybercrime, protecting 100 clients should be no different from protecting 1,000,000
Self
July 22, 2018

The bulk of cybercrime and cyber events in the news are focused on large multi national organisations and government departments.   Newsworthy events are in fact always newsworthy.

These are the organisations we hope and believe are focused on protecting the information that we unwittingly give them through our interaction.

An attack on them makes for great copy.   But, the overall problem with cybercrime and cyber events is not the big fish.   The big fish are known to have millions of records that should be protected from a cyber attack.   Not protecting them reflects in spectacular thefts and large scale reputation failures.   Newsworthy events!

How do you handle the "insider" threat?
LinkedIn
July 14, 2018

The internal “spy” - the insider threat
The hardest attack to defend against in cybersecurity.
There are three types of spy

In today's world, why do you need a good backup!
LinkedIn
June 30, 2018

The focus in todays business world is all about using, collecting and managing data.
Every organisation is collecting information about their customers and clients. Who they are, what their likes and dislikes are, how interested are they in the products and services, that you sell. All of this information is stored somewhere.

Why we think we are immune to cybercrime!
LinkedIn
June 09, 2018

"As a person, you would not be particularly worried about a trained Ninja accosting you on the street or jumping out at you in a dark alley and beating you senseless.

Business security needs a quantum attitude change!
LinkedIn
June 03, 2018

The digital world is rife with huge problems mainly derived from the attitudes of the people using it.
The single utterance of “I am too small to be a target” is a good place to start.

Why do we have the stereotypical attitude that ICT = Cybersecurity
LinkedIn
May 28, 2018

For the last 15 years, ICT departments have been seen as the leading lights when it comes to security. It is no longer their job and their job alone...

Why do we have the stereotypical attitude that ICT = Cybersecurity
LinkedIn
May 28, 2018

I was recently at a networking event, where everyone was delivering their pitch and listening to everyone else's.

Cybersecurity, why we have to change, NOW!
LinkedIn
April 08, 2018

Starting to feel like a broken record, But, why do we have to change our attitude to cybersecurity? , “Kicking soapbox along”

Cybersecurity - we still have the wrong focus!
LinkedIn
March 04, 2018

With the expected $660 billion loss to cybercrime this year, we definitely have to change our understanding, our focus and most importantly our attitude when it comes to business security and cybersecurity.

When it comes to Business Security, why do we all want to do it ourselves?
LinkedIn
February 04, 2018

Good at your job?
So good in fact that you are doing everything right.
You have the education, experience and drive to make your dream a reality.

The insider threat, the hardest cybercriminal to keep out!
LinkedIn
January 13, 2018

The internal “spy” - the insider threat
The hardest attack to defend against in cybersecurity.
There are three types of spy

Are big business, politics and government being outpaced by the digital world?
LinkedIn
December 24, 2017

Disruptive technologies are splintering society. Changing the way that people think, act and communicate.

Why is there so much CRAP on the internet?
LinkedIn
November 27, 2017

I recently overheard one of my brighter students comment that if you are only researching using the internet then you are not getting the facts.

In some cases you are getting facts out of context or they are out and out lies.

Why our understanding of illegal has to change!
LinkedIn
November 27, 2017

That was a comment I got from a student recently when I was doing a demonstration of hacking an exploit and taking a picture of the class.

How simple is it to perpetrate a cybercrime?
LinkedIn
November 27, 2017

We have bad rabbit, equifax, NSA, Ashley Madison, Sony(x2), Mirai and Eternalblue in just the last 12 months and everyone of them will have a significant impact on anyone who had information in those systems.

Why is one dimensional business security still sold?
LinkedIn
November 11, 2017

To protect your organisation a number of questions have to be asked, they have minimal involvement from the IT world, they are all fact based and relate to risk management.

Is our attitude to the digital world the same as our attitude to science 1000 years ago?
LinkedIn
November 04, 2017

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, drones and 3D printing, technologies that are going to change the world, once again.

Digital transformation and the Cybersecurity envelope
LinkedIn
October 30, 2017

Digital transformation - the new catch phrase of organisations. Bleeding edge systems that have started to be used in business!
It allows business to do things faster, better and with more control than ever before.

Patch management - when can you find the time to patch and why it is a problem!
LinkedIn
October 20, 2017

The Equifax issue has highlighted the importance of patching and patching systems within a timely period of time.
In today's world, especially in large organisations, this simple process becomes highly controversial and difficult.

Security experts needed, but are we listening!
LinkedIn
October 09, 2017

We are a necessary evil because we say and do things that people think only we know how to do it and the bad guys would never do that.

What every CEO and CIO should know about cybersecurity
LinkedIn
October 01, 2017

The problem with cybersecurity is it is not sexy.
In most cases it is down right boring.
Although not sexy and down right boring it is still something that every CEO, manager, owner and board member has to focus on.

We are constantly reminded that the digital world is unsafe but are we listening?
LinkedIn
September 16, 2017

Cyber attack after cyber attack.
This company has been breached.
That information has been leaked to the Dark Web

Weakening encryption - definitely erring on the side of STUPID
linkedin
July 14, 2017

Once again we have seen politicians step in to change the very face of science and mathematics. This is one of the articles.
To me the argument for unsecured communication via the Australian government shows just how out of sync they really are with reality and especially the digital world.
Apart from all of the other half baked idiotic ideas that they come up with - a back door to encryption is one of the stupidest.

Shiny and new is great but don’t forget security!
Self
July 01, 2011

If you remove these restrictions then any organisation can be secure.

To change our attitude we have to do something to protect the organisation. That something is focus.

Using a framework allows them to focus on each little thing that when combined with all of the other little things builds into a way to protect the organisation.

How do you handle the "insider" threat?
LinkedIn
July 14, 2018

The internal “spy” - the insider threat, The hardest attack to defend against in cybersecurity. There are three types of spy

CyberCrime - A Clear and Present Danger The CEO's Guide to Cyber Security
Lulu
July 01, 2014

Every business has something it needs to protect. Whether it’s top-secret IP, an exclusive client list, or a secure payment portal, your data is what sets you apart from the competition. But most businesses aren’t doing a very good job of protecting what’s theirs.
The digital world is changing fast—and cybercrime is changing with it. Whether it’s a 12-year-old “script kiddie” crippling your website with denial-of-service attacks, or a master hacker targeting a project leader with phishing e-mails, the bad guys have dozens of clever and creative ways to take your assets.

The Basics of Business Information Security
Lulu
July 01, 2011

How normal people can understand the complexity of cybersecurity.

2019 Cybersecurity Educators Award
Cybersecurity Excellence Awards
February 21, 2019

The 2019 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards honor individuals and companies that demonstrate excellence, innovation and leadership in information security.
Thank you for your unique contributions to the cybersecurity industry - protecting data, workloads and systems for individuals and organizations.

Thought Leader Interview with Roger Smith, CEO, R and I ICT Consulting Services
Thinkers360
June 14, 2019

Thinkers360 Interviews profile prominent members of the Thinkers360 community who embody the power of ideas in their work. In this edition, we speak with Roger Smith, CEO, R and I ICT Consulting Services.

Cybersecurity Excellence Awards educator of the year
Cybersecurity Insiders
January 25, 2018

Great ICT v's Cybersecurity
Self
July 09, 2018

The digital world is having a significant impact on society as we know it.
It's the same in business, we are adopting platforms, systems and technology faster so that we can get that edge over our competitors.
Over our rivals.
One of the largest problems is understanding what we are collecting, where it is being stored, who has access to it and who is authorised to use it.
Changes to governance and compliance, if not already, will have an increased impact on SME’s, large corporations and multinational organisations worldwide.
More and more people are getting concerned about what we, as organisations, are doing with the information we are collecting.

Roger’s Security and Compliance Guide - white paper
Self
July 01, 2015

As a small and medium Business and not for profit organisation this white paper looks at the understanding that needs to be achieved to protect your business and company data from being compromised

When it comes to cybercrime, protecting 100 clients should be no different from protecting 1,000,000
Thinkers360
July 24, 2018

The bulk of cyber events in the news are focused on large multinational organizations and government departments. Newsworthy events are in fact always newsworthy.

These are the organizations we hope and believe are focused on protecting the information that we unwittingly give them through our interaction.

An attack on them makes for great copy. But, the overall problem with cyber events is not the big fish. The big fish are known to have millions of records that should be protected from a cyber-attack. Not protecting them reflects in spectacular thefts and large-scale reputation failures. Newsworthy events!

Large organizations have the expertise, the finances and the understanding that they have to protect their client’s information in the best way possible. SME’s do not!

How many SME’s have gone out of business after a cyber event is unknown. Some of the statistics are available, but not many are focused on whether it was poor management and cash flow or a cyber event that damaged their business to a point where it was unrecoverable.

Did it put them out of business?

One of the things I discovered a couple of years ago is the way the cybercriminal works.

There is a large correlation between the script kiddies and the true hackers, one that is not really known, but every now and then becomes visible.

The Internet is a great resource. It is a great resource for us, but it is an even greater resource for the budding cybercriminal. The Internet can put the budding script kiddy in contact with the true hacker. That contact can be very problematic for SME’s.

What are my targets, after a little research - SME’s with access to trusts, intellectual property, large amounts of cash or the new one, critical infrastructure?

These targets have reduced business intelligence, lack complex systems, lack digital expertise, but more importantly have a blaze attitude to security.

You know the attitude well - it will not happen to me, we have nothing worth stealing or she’ll be right.

Will an SME survive having its trust fund drained - probably not!

Protecting our digital assets is no longer a multinational organization’s problem, it is everyone’s problem, everyone with a digital device has the problem and has to be part of the solution.

http://business-security.com.au/when-it-comes-to-cybercrime-protecting-100-clients-should-be-no-different-from-protecting-1000000/

Cybersecurity as it relates to business capability

Location: Australia    Date Available: August 01st, 2018    Fees: 1,500 - 10,000

Submission Date: August 07th, 2018    Service Type: Service Offered

Protecting business from a cyber event is all a process. Understanding and implementing that process is how SME's avoid a cyber event.
Let me show you how