David Lam

💲 Prepare NOW for the $200M K12 Cybersecurity Pilot Program 💲 In case you missed it, the FCC released the specifications and eligible services for the $200M K12 cybersecurity pilot program. We will have much more to share with you in the coming months as we approach the expected application window opening later this year. In advance of this opening, there are things you can do NOW to prepare for what the application will require. First, you can download the *DRAFT* version of the FCC Form 484 (https://lnkd.in/gbU_XDcX). This ONLINE ONLY form will be released later this year so that schools can apply to be part of the pilot program. This is the first part of the application, where applicants must provide general information about the school seeking support, including applicants’ experience with cybersecurity matters, whether they expect to implement cybersecurity recommended best practices and their current or expected use of free or low-cost federal resources.  Applicants will also be required to provide information about their proposed Pilot project, including a description of the goals and objectives to be achieved, the services and equipment to be purchased (and associated costs), and the cybersecurity risks the proposed Pilot project will prevent or address. But how can you gather this information? Vinson Protect CAN HELP! We have built a free audit tool (https://vinsonprotect.com) for you to use to audit your school’s preparation against various industry standards (including the K12 SIX Essential Cybersecurity Protections, Center for Internet Security's CISv8 Controls, and the ClassLink Cybersecurity Rubric) specifically called out in the pilot program announcement). This audit will help identify weaknesses and opportunities for improvement in your school preparedness program. It will give you a status report and security plan to help draft your proposal goals and objectives. Please let us know if you have any questions or want assistance getting started. #vinsonprotect #k12 #cybersecurity

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SEC Charges R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. $2.1 Million Fine for Cybersecurity-Related Controls Violations On June 18th, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that RR Donnelley, a global provider of business communication and marketing services, agreed to pay over $2.1 million to settle disclosure and internal control failure charges relating to cybersecurity incidents and alerts in late 2021. This SEC settlement with RRD highlights critical issues around cybersecurity and internal controls. Key findings include inadequate controls over material non-public information (MNPI), heightened insider trading risks, and violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Key Allegations: - Inadequate controls to prevent MNPI misuse - Insider trading risks due to poor monitoring - Regulatory violations and insufficient disclosure controls Inadequate Cybersecurity Response: - Between Nov 29 and Dec 23, 2021, RRD's internal intrusion system issued numerous alerts. - Alerts were reviewed by a third-party MSSP and escalated to internal cybersecurity personnel. - Despite escalations, RRD failed to take timely action, leading to unauthorized data exfiltration of 70 GB, including personal and financial information of 29 clients. - Issues identified included lack of prioritization, workflow for alerts, and inadequate auditing of the MSSP's performance. - Only after an external company alerted the CISO did the firm respond effectively. How AdvisorDefense Can Assist Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs): We offer a comprehensive suite of services tailored to help RIAs meet SEC regulations and bolster their cybersecurity defenses. Our mission is to empower RIAs with the necessary tools and expertise to navigate the cybersecurity landscape, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and protecting client information. By partnering with AdvisorDefense, RIAs can enhance their cybersecurity posture, ensure compliance, and protect their clients from evolving cyber threats. Protect your clients. Maintain your reputation. Ensure compliance. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your firm. https://lnkd.in/eVKtr3_x #Cybersecurity #SEC #Compliance #RIAs #AdvisorDefense #CyberRiskManagement #FinancialServices #RegulatoryCompliance #CyberThreats #CyberSecurityAwareness #CyberSecuritySolutions

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🪧 SIEM ≠ MDR Welcome to part one of our three-part blog series where we share the difference between a SIEM system and MDR and how MDR can transform and augment your SIEM tool investment.

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Continuing the team's video series: compliance control mapping. This approach helps you identify and remediate identities that do not meet the compliance frameworks your organization adheres to. Here’s an example for PCI.

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MyCSO Assurance supports businesses that are facing unprecedented challenges in protecting their data and ensuring regulatory compliance in an era where the digital landscape is constantly evolving

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We will be discussing this topic in detail during tomorrow's webinar. A key insight from the linked article highlighted the absence of data for individuals who opted out of National Public Data’s service. This underscores the significance of opting out of data broker sites. Can't wait to dive into this with Caroline McCaffery! https://lnkd.in/eVggVH_v #dataprotection #privacy #optout

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Check out this podcast interview with me just after my TribalNet keynote in Vegas recently. I was asked a random question at the end about the first concert I attended that you might find interesting (and it's not just what's listed in the podcast description). #infosec #CISO #CIO #businessleaders #cybersecurity #podcast #keynotespeaker #backtobasics #rockconcerts #ISAC

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In a recent conversation a cyber assessor asked me how they could get leadership buy-in to using risk quantification. Here are 3 ways I'd suggest doing this. Let me know what you think in the comments. 1. Use Industry Profiles for Context : Show how your organization compares to others in your industry in terms of risk exposure by using industry data. This helps highlight where your organization stands and can spark interest in exploring risk quantification further. 2. Highlight a Recent Attack : Use a recent cyber attack that affected your industry as an example. Show the potential financial impact and likelihood of such an attack on your organization. This makes the concept of risk quantification more real and urgent, helping leaders understand its importance. 3. Clarify Risk Levels : When discussing risk, push for clear definitions of what “high,” “moderate,” or “low” risk means by advocating for a quantified approach. This can help uncover inconsistencies in how risk is evaluated and emphasize the need for a standardized risk assessment method. Have you had success getting leadership buy-in to using risk quantification?

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CMMC Level 2 Assessment Objective: Data at Rest PRACTICE: Organizations must protect the confidentiality of controlled unclassified information (CUI) at rest. ASSESSMENT: CUI at rest means information that is not moving through the network; typically this means data currently stored on hard drives, media, and mobile devices. The focus of protection at rest is not on the type of storage device or the frequency of access but rather the state of the information. Organizations can use different mechanisms to achieve confidentiality protections, including the use of cryptographic mechanisms and file share scanning. Be prepared! Your assessor could ask to 🔍 EXAMINE system and communications protection policy. 🗣 INTERVIEW system or network administrators. 📝 TEST mechanisms supporting or implementing confidentiality protections for information at rest. (CMMC Assessment Guide: Level 2 Version 2.11, page 239) #CMMC #DoD #cybersecurity #NIST #InformationSecurity

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How CISA is Preparing For the Influx of CIRCIA Reports

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Don't miss July 16 webinar with the National Cybersecurity Alliance and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Learn how to get involved in #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth 2024 and stay on top of #cyberrisk! #BeCyberSmart

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