Cat. Trash. Grammar.

You know how the trash truck's a day late after holidays - off schedule. That's this newsletter; it's mimicking trash...but only in that way.

Anyway...

MSPGeekCon

2nd annual conference.  Very smooth and well run. And fun! Sessions were the right length.

I spent my preday with Tim Golden of Compliance Scorecard, a virtual Bob Miller , and Brian Blakley at their session.

Governance Documentation Strategy - what's yours?

*Policies

*Processes

*Procedures

*Pstandards

Documentation is a Project! Almost a structured poem. Preally!

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The conference theme was very people oriented.

A lot about culture and health.  Good people doing good things.  We Hack Health. The difference between teams and family and how to incorporate the best parts of family into team operations.

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CMMC. You can't unsee it.

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Lightning talks are the BOMB. Love them. No fluff, tons of info, engaging, boom. These were 7 minutes.  I've got a link to info about mine later in the newsletter.

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So, so many great people.  Everyone I introduced myself to was up for at least a short conversation. Hugs aplenty.  Got to meet a bunch of people in person I'd talked or worked with online.  Just - really good conference.  You should go or recommend the conference to a local MSP for 2025. Dates are already set for early May. MSPGeek, Inc.

To Phrase It This Way

A phrase is a grouping of words that isn't a complete sentence.

• 16 hard drives

• Planned system hardening

• A 1880 cast iron skillet

See any active verbs in any of those phrases?  Nope.  Phrases are things at rest.  They're dull, doing nothing phrase is a grouping of words that isn't a complete sentence.

• 16 hard drives

• Planned system hardening

• A 1880 cast iron skillet

See any active verbs in any of those phrases?  Nope.  Phrases are things at rest.  They're dull, doing nothing.

Clauses contain at least 1 noun (subject - person place or thing) and 1 verb (predicate - indicating action or linking).  Clauses are often complete sentences, but they don't have to be. When they are sentences, though, we call them independent clauses.  Sentence fragments with subject and predicate are called dependent clauses because they are too incomplete to be sentences.

• Cybersecurity helps small business. (Independent clause - a sentence)

• Because I could not stop for death (Dependent clause; thank you, Emily Dickinson)

Violations of rules around phrases and clauses in formal writing are usually comma splices.

If a writer strings together two complete sentences (independent clauses) and puts a comma between them, the universe shakes a bit.  (Not in a good way, people).

3 ways to link two sentences properly

Way the first: Write two sentences. 

🍎I like apples.  🍐I like pears.

Way the second: Use a comma + a conjunction.

🍎I like apples, and 🍐 I like pears.

Way the third: Use a semicolon

🍎I like apples; 🍐I like pears.

BONUS INFO: Conjunctive adverbs function much like conjunctions themselves (conjunction junction...what's your function...right?)

I see MANY EGREGIOUS COMMA SPLICES in this usage - when a comma's used before the however, and the however links two independent clauses (sentences).

A lot, I know - but you can catch it by reading it and fix the dreaded comma splice.

What Does Summer Mean to Cybersecurity?

🌴Vacation. ✈️Travel.  🌞It's summer!🌞  A few best practices to consider while you're enjoying your time away.

📱Can you use your phone as a hotspot?  Do that in favor of hotel or resort wifi. Make sure you're using a strong password on your hotspot, and you'll want to name your device as something that does not identify you. Mine is just a random word.

🔌While the USB plugs into the lamps are handy, use the actual plugs you bring instead.  Safer.

🚫Stay offa the public computers in the lobby. It's okay to check the weather, but don't give those machines any data about you or your accounts.

📷Save posting those vacation photos until after you return. No need to advertise that you're traveling, away from home.

💻Leaving your laptop for a moment while you're in public - maybe to go grab a salt shaker (that lost one)? Lock it up.  Control + L. (To be clear...lock the laptop, not the salt). Or, take it with you as you pursue Salt Life.

🏖️ Beaches are better than breaches.  🔒

How I Made Their Day

At a car dealership a couple of weeks ago staff members were gathering info and they apologized for their "new system" making them slow.

Browser-based system, so online.  The salesman pivoted the screen to where I could see it to read what was in a pop-up window. He apologized profusely for the tiny text.  I laughed a little and grabbed the keyboard (without his complaint) and Control+, Control+, Control+.

Boom.  I think I blew his mind - clear joy on his face. I demonstrated that again and Control- to shrink. Wasn't quite cheeky enough to ask for a discount.  Glad to help.

A few other great things to know, keyboard shortcuts.

https://www.lifewire.com/best-windows-keyboard-shortcuts-6503973

My Top 10

1. Control+C (Copy)

2. Control+V (Paste)

3. Control+B (Bold)

4. Control+I (Italics)

5. Control+U (Underline)

6. Control+ (Make bigger)

7. Control- (Make smaller

8. Control+L (Lock the screen

9. Control+F (Find)

10. Control+S (Save)

Upcoming Appearances

🌞AI conversation on June 11th in the evening at the Christian County Library. If you're local - see you at 6:00.  I'll provide more details as the event gets closer.

🌞IT Nation Secure June 3-5.  Attending, not speaking.

🌞I'm featured on an episode of Navigating Cancer Together. Here's the link - Navigating Cancer TOGETHER: Overcoming Salivary Gland Cancer: 33 Years of Thiving with Heather Noggle on Apple Podcasts (audio)

Podcast episode blog: Overcoming Salivary Gland Cancer (ontheotherside.life)

Favored Posts

Lightning Talk at MSPGeekCon 2024

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heathernoggle_mspgeekcon24-mccoe-cybersecurity-activity-7199756774231449601-5qyJ

Deep Fakery Redux

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heathernoggle_cybersecurity-deepfake-smb-activity-7197265328224051200-HcRH

The User Experience Picnic

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heathernoggle_cybersecurity-people-process-activity-7196498867440283648-DNw_

Passkeys

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/heathernoggle_passwords-passkeys-by-the-keymaster-activity-7194668065656041475-zjcM

Shall We Close?

Follow for the black cat cybersecurity. Reach out if you need a hand strategically in the people/operational parts of your technical company. 📄Documentation, operational clarity. Change.⚡

Thanks for reading!