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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Rick's Notes, School Safety, Security, Video

In the wake of yet another tragic mass shooting at a school, it’s time to respond and ensure student safety with action. This message is for the President, the Governors, the Attorney Generals, the Department of Education, the Department of Safety, Mayors, City Managers, Superintendents, and anyone else who is in a position to take real action to promote real change and real safety by preventing these acts of evil. Apologies are not solutions. Laws are not solutions. Slogans are not solutions. Hashtags are not solutions.  Student safety MUST become a higher priority because students, parents, and schools deserve better than status quo thinking and statusRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Connect the Dots, Hackers, Prevention, Success

Making new year predictions about Information Security and Hackers is not difficult based on knowledge, evidence, and lessons learned from previous years. 2018 Prediction:  Hackers will continue to hack your weakest links, unaware people (employees, contractors, vendors, third-party service providers, etc.) and unpatched systems, to gain access to unauthorized information. 2018 Prediction: Hackers will continue to steal information from organizations (like yours) which they gained access to and then sell it or use it to make money. 2018 Prediction: Hackers will continue to encrypt information from organizations (like yours) which they gain access to and request a ransom payment for in order to unlock theRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

We have reached that time of year… the time of year when people are thinking about or making New Year’s resolutions and making positive changes for 2018. And I want to help you make your 2018 New Year’s Resolution positive and successful!  Why? Because since 2013 (maybe since forever), statistics reveal only about 8% of people will achieve their New Year’s resolutions and most fail by the second week of February! My goal is to help everyone I know to be successful with their New Year’s Resolutions!  So let’s make your 2018 New Year’s Resolution one that: Can and will be ACHIEVED Will make aRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Uncategorized

The Sad Truth: Innocent People Are Dying Because of Closed-Minded People Are you concerned about all the Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assaults, Workplace Violence, Bullying, Social Media Attacks, Suicides, the Opioid Epidemic, Violence, Mass Shootings, and other acts of evil? Are you concerned about the innocent children and adults being targeted in schools, houses of worship, businesses, entertainment venues, public streets, and other public gatherings? What I am about to say might offend some people, but the facts are the facts and ignoring and procrastinating isn’t solving these serious issues. Closed-minded people, on both ends of the belief and political spectrum, are a major reason whyRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Uncategorized

If you want to make and enjoy the best chocolate cake ever, you need the RECIPE for the best chocolate cake ever. BUT just having the RECIPE for the best chocolate cake ever does not mean you will get to enjoy the best chocolate cake ever… To enjoy that incredible first bite (and the last crumbs) of the best chocolate cake ever, you need the RECIPE, the right INGREDIENTS, and TOOLS to make the cake. The same goes for making the BEST EVER ENVIRONMENT OF SAFETY for children and adults in churches, schools, organizations, entertainment venues, and communities. Organizations have been collecting RECIPES for yearsRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Connect the Dots, Information Security, Regulatory Compliance

Connecting the dots with Cyber Security failures…Why are so many Cyber Security failures occurring? The data doesn’t lie.  The 2018 Global State of Information Security Survey from PwC surveyed 9,500 executives across 120 countries which helps explain why so many organizations and failing to prevent Cyber Security incidents: 48% of the 9,500 executives said they do not have an employee security awareness training program 54% of the 9,500 executives said they do not have an incident response process The Equifax breach exposed why PATCHING systems is critical and costly if you fail. (see VIDEO here) I also shared the DAM Analogy for why PATCHING yourRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Campus Safety, Prevention, Risk Management

I have seen multiple e-mail Subject Lines, Webinars, and articles eluding to a similar topic “The easiest/best way to prepare for an active shooter incident…” Is this really what your people in your organization or your community want? Do your people really want to “prepare for an active shooter incident”? I doubt it!  To see for yourself, ask your people the following question: Would you rather prevent an active shooter or react to an active shooter? I ask this question all the time when I speak and every time 100% of people raise their hand that they would rather prevent an active shooter… not prepare forRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Hackers, Human Resources, Information Security, Risk Management, Security

ONGOING PATCHING is one of the BEST ways to prevent expensive and embarrassing information security breaches. Equifax failed to PATCH a server and it led to 143 million of Americans (perhaps even you and me) having their sensitive information exposed to cybercriminals. Two top Equifax IT executives have stepped down (and were called out by name in negative headlines) because they failed to make sure the ONGOING PATCHING of their servers took place in a timely manner to prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information. Equifax is just one of thousands of organizations that have failed to make sure ONGOING PATCHING is takingRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, Connect the Dots, Prevention, Risk Management, Security

Disruptive and Tragic Violence incidents are on the increase. Violence is scary, stressful, ugly, concerning, sad, evil, expensive, frustrating, disruptive, and tragic. Disruptive and tragic violence threatens innocent children and adults in schools, colleges, organizations, government, and communities every day… and all over the world. Do you need more security? How much security is enough? What else can we do? The questions above are part of a special guide recently released by Awareity to help you answer these questions and others too. As pre-season football is winding down, the “real season” is about to begin and to have a successful season football teams are practicingRead More →