Cybersecurity isn’t just the business of the future – it’s the war of today. In this episode of Innovation In Compliance, my guest Patrick Hynds, CEO of Pulsar Security, delves into the world of cybersecurity and its implications for organizations of all sizes. From ransomware threats to the role of government in this expanding battlefield, Patrick discusses the evolution of cyber attacks, the importance of ongoing vigilance, and practical steps businesses can take to defend themselves. Patrick unpacks the concept of the ‘Pyramid of See more +

Cybersecurity isn’t just the business of the future – it’s the war of today. In this episode of Innovation In Compliance, my guest Patrick Hynds, CEO of Pulsar Security, delves into the world of cybersecurity and its implications for organizations of all sizes. From ransomware threats to the role of government in this expanding battlefield, Patrick discusses the evolution of cyber attacks, the importance of ongoing vigilance, and practical steps businesses can take to defend themselves. Patrick unpacks the concept of the ‘Pyramid of Threats’ and discusses why continuous network maintenance is crucial for cybersecurity. He also shares his predictions on the future of global cyber threats.

Patrick Hynds is a veteran-turned-technology entrepreneur with a distinct perspective on cybersecurity. An alumnus of the prestigious military academy at West Point, Patrick served as an infantry officer in the first Gulf War. His early affinity for programming and the perspective gained from his military experience propelled him into the technology field. In 1996, he incorporated his company, Pulsar Security, which today is a leading provider of penetration testing services, enabling organizations to identify and address their vulnerabilities.

Tune in to hear us talk about:

1. Cybersecurity is necessary in today’s interconnected world, impacting entities ranging from billion-dollar corporations to individual users.

2. Pulsar Security offers penetration testing or Red Team services, effectively operating as ‘hackers for hire’ to identify potential vulnerabilities in client organizations.

3. Cyberattacks are a persistent risk that needs to be managed strategically, not just identified. It affects even the smallest organizations and individuals.

4. Pulsar Security’s new product, Cyber Shield, is designed to help smaller organizations manage their cybersecurity at a reasonable level.

5. The industry has a significant shortage of cyber engineers, with an estimated 3 million positions unfilled worldwide.

6. Awareness and education are key to enhancing cybersecurity. Simple actions like enabling two-factor authentication, managing passwords effectively, and regular patching can greatly improve security.

7. The role of government in the cyber realm is evolving, with agencies like SISA and NIST offering resources and guidelines to help organizations enhance their security posture.

8. Patrick and his team developed the “Pyramid of Threats” to help people envision the cybersecurity risks they face:

8.1. The bottom layer of this pyramid includes script kiddies who use readily available scripts to exploit vulnerabilities in systems, often leading to data theft and sales on the dark web.

8.2. The next level up includes people with personal grudges who are tech-savvy enough to launch attacks. They tend to focus on specific targets, making them potentially more dangerous than the script kiddies.

8.3. The third layer of the pyramid consists primarily of financially motivated syndicates. They use similar tactics for scripting kiddies but tend to target systems with known vulnerabilities to launch ransomware attacks, steal identities, or mine Bitcoin.

9. Patrick hosts two podcasts in which they discuss relevant cybersecurity news, breaches, and potential defenses. The objective is to help people understand what they should be worried about and how to protect themselves.

10. The most important cybersecurity defense is a strong, ongoing maintenance routine.

11. Despite changes in the cyber landscape, threats will continue to become more sophisticated.

KEY QUOTES:

“We provide penetration testing or Red Team services for these large organizations. We’ll attack them regularly, sometimes continuously, to see where their vulnerabilities are. Because you can’t see your vulnerabilities most of the time.” – Patrick Hynds

“We’ve developed the thing called the Pyramid of Threats. …the Pyramid of Threats is meant to try to help people envision what the risks are, who’s coming after you” – Patrick Hynds

“Unfortunately, I don’t think people can forget about cybersecurity. That’s never going to happen. It’s not thinking about a media campaign. Companies don’t have that luxury because the cat’s out of the bag.” – Patrick Hynds

HOOKS:

Cybersecurity isn’t just the business of the future – it’s the war of today.

The Pyramid of Threats helps people envision the cybersecurity risks they face.

The most important cybersecurity defense is a strong, ongoing maintenance routine. See less -