Articles by Mark McCourt

Ok, everyone has heard about The Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data. So, that on its own is not much of a prediction. But this prediction is about IoT and you. 

Somewhere in the planning of the Security 500 Conference, I realized it would not be possible to turn the long list of security’s responsibilities from this year’s benchmark study into a readable slide. Nor was it prudent to punish our attendees with multiple lists of unmemorable threats and vulnerabilities. With more than 50 unique items in play; from managing investigations (97 percent) to overseeing insurance (15 percent); the business executives that manage risk and security for their enterprises all expressed this common theme:

 Many organizations protect their cyber infrastructure by looking inward, focusing on their own networks and systems. They dedicate themselves to reducing the attack surface, assessing their vulnerabilities, and conducting system patching – all to continuously monitor their own networks.  

 And Duke’s security team assures it. “Thinking about the higher education and healthcare facilities at Duke, it is amazing what occurs on a given day. Students learn something that will change their life. Another person’s life will be saved at the hospital. A researcher will make a discovery that changes quality of life for others. There may be a wedding in the chapel. There is a high likelihood Duke will compete for or win a national sports championship. And we have celebrity speakers and lecturers visiting frequently. This is a very rewarding, exciting and dynamic environment,” Chief Dailey explains.  

Last year the Security 500 Report research identified the Risk-Nado facing security organizations. It pointed out how global risk matrix, the role of security and the expected results were all expanding quickly. As a solution, we identified with the theme of the book (and movie) “Money Ball” and the application of quantifiable mathematics to predict how a player will do in a specific situation.

As your enterprise virtualizes and leverages cyber technology to speed productivity, the incidence of cybercrime will, of course, increase. Similarly, as your employees’ behavior, as consumers, drives the technology they use (BYOD), the cybercrime cat will continue to be let out of the bag.

Some businesses, such as airlines, have either suspended service or increased passenger screening in the area. British Airways suspended service to both Liberia and Sierra Leone. Air France and Brussels Airlines increased screening procedures and warned that service could be cut at any time.

The office of U.S. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma found that 25 percent of approved disability claims should have never been approved and another 20 percent are highly questionable.

Changing your organizational culture is the key to aggressively protecting your stakeholders’ information – how can involving your C-Suite make all the difference?

There will be more than 1,000 exhibits at ISC West plus another 100 or so new technologies and solutions presented in hotel suites and meeting rooms off the show floor. Robust discussion about the movement toward IP, mobility and the cloud will buzz across the show floor, as it should.