What Do You Know?

If you know, you know.  Data, Information, Knowledge, Insight, Wisdom.  Today we’re talking about knowledge.

Knowledge from data and information?

When we correlate and analyze information and defend our conclusions with data, we can reach knowledge – one kind of knowledge.

If you want to review the other newsletter articles in this series, here you go:

Data: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dikiw-start-data-heather-noggle-u4tec

Information: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/411-heather-noggle-onocc/

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I define data as the building blocks for information. Information, therefore, has some level of usable context that includes the metadata about that data. Facts.

Knowledge involves that useful correlation of information and tests of that knowledge to determine whether it’s true AND useful…useful in its current knowable state and also can be trusted in combination with other vetted information.

I’m getting ahead of myself and into the next newsletter.

The key is in the work of combining and testing. Smash that knowledge from several directions to see if there’s truth.

And then share it; knowledge – or at least what can be built form it - is meant to be shared.

Vision and knowledge

An organization’s vision drives its mission and execution. Culture takes in knowledge and uses it to build culture.  Culture builds an organization.

Or hampers it, depending on what’s driving the culture.  Some knowledge is experiential and other empirical.  The experiential is more potent than knowledge and skips over the data and information stage.  It’s a clear fact – because I said so – that Heather Noggle hates cilantro. Therefore, if you throw a banquet to honor Heather Noggle and her work and its menu features cilantro, it’s unlikely you’ll have a happy guest of honor.

To gain that knowledge, though, I’d either have to disclose it, or someone would have to ask.  There’s emotion in this knowledge, and organizations need to factor in the impact of facts regarding emotion. That I believe something is a fact. What I believe may be hogwash.

Mission and knowledge

Mission operates on vision + direction, and executives determine direction using a combination of empirical and experiential knowledge.

If mission and vision are disconnected from the activities and purpose and the organization’s culture doesn’t value the stated mission and vision, there’s friction.

Know your organization’s friction points if you want to grow.  This is in tech, in everything. Some seriously necessary knowledge. 

Using knowledge to change direction

Knowledge doesn’t require action, not yet.  But…

Whether you’re analyzing data directly into information and then into knowledge or seeking thoughts, opinions, and experiences, knowledge is, as GI Joe says, half the battle. Or at least 35%.

Go define and fight the rest. Next up is insight; we need that to understand wisdom.

Getting Paid in Copies – Writing for Pay

The first writing accepted by a publication was a poem called patchwork in the mid 1990s.  Electronic submissions weren’t common then; this was a paper query with a copy of the poem and then a several-month wait before the form rejection letter or custom (or form) acceptance letter.

Payment?  A copy of the poetry chapbook and the next issue as well.  That’s an encouragement to keep submitting. They know who you are and the quality of your writing.

Writing’s been a hobby my whole life. And, like many professionals my age, I’ve been planning a book. Or, really, 3 books.

So, here’s what in the works in the planning stage:

📚A humor book that has two parts and a series of essays.  I have its title and the names/themes of the essays, so it’s mapped out about 90%. I’ll share the title if you DM me and ask.

📚A cybersecurity book for very small businesses from an angle I haven’t seen others approach. About 75% mapped out. This will be the first one I write.

📚Yet another book that incorporates the experiences and advice of very long-term cancer survivors. Mapped out about 25% and will require significant research time and energy. So, this one’s last.

What book(s) will you write? What kind of encouragement do you need to get going, even if it’s just a project-in-a-box approach like I’ve taken?

The New Job

I’m pleased to report I’ve taken an expanded role with Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence as the Interim Executive Director as we build the program. Please follow us here on LinkedIn to learn more about what we’re building and accomplishing.

A sizeable cohort of fall 2024 interns will begin studies in just a couple of weeks.

We give tours of our facility and program and would love to host you.

Appearances and Publications

Erik Boemanns and I recorded a conversation on his podcast E.B. Spoke about increasing the cost of cybercrime.  That’s an innovative approach to talk with small businesses about saying “not today” to would-be cyberattackers who snatch them up in bulk and knock down their easy defenses.

I think it resonates well.  The backstory is in his post here - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reducing-value-cybercrime-erik-boemanns-i00pe/

And the podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BF2USEiwzDVwIBmN4rjuQ?si=db306e5a1b3a418c

And here is my earlier article that was inspired when we recorded our talk:

https://elnion.com/2024/08/05/devaluing-cybercrime/

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Small business cybersecurity is confusing.  Consider the overwhelming amount of advice, much of it contradictory or irrelevant to the SMB audience (especially the smaller organizations). SMBs face unique challenges, such as limited resources limited expertise. It’s therefore difficult to implement complex security measures (and discern which ones – in what order?)  Small businesses need clear, actionable guidance tailored to their specific needs, focusing on core protections that can be realistically maintained. Where do they go looking first if they don’t follow a guide?  The government.  And that can be a problem.

The full article: Elnion - https://elnion.com/2024/08/30/why-is-small-business-cybersecurity-so-confusing/

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This one’s mostly personal.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

Elnion - https://elnion.com/2024/08/19/medtech-a-story/

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Emerging technology export controls, like those not explicitly mentioned  in the Export Control Reform Act, are tightening, especially around semiconductors, quantum computing, and AI, creating compliance challenges for SMBs. These controls aim to safeguard national security but may hinder innovation due to their complexity and evolving nature. As governments struggle to keep pace with rapid technological advances, there's growing debate (that I’m contributing to) over whether a more flexible, innovation-friendly approach would better serve global progress and economic growth.

And, of course, where’s the appropriate balance?

Read the whole article at Elnion - https://elnion.com/2024/09/03/emerging-technology-export-controls-and-smbs/

Heather's Available For...

Writing!

With my remaining work time available, I’m primarily seeking writing opportunities. My specific style is writing about technical things in an Englishly consumable way.  Who do you know who could use a hand?  Will you introduce us?

Who Are You Again, Heather?

Heather Noggle is the Interim Executive Director for the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. After 25 years of working in all areas of the software development life cycle, she transitioned to cybersecurity because security is how we enable business in the third decade of the 21st century.

Small business cybersecurity is her passion – training, tips and tricks, and reframing cyber hygiene activities as fighting back. Training the next generation of cyber practitioners requires this mindset. Testing limits of Generative AI is a new interest as well.

Heather offers more than 30 years of expertise built from experience as early as Commodore 64 tinkering; software development, requirements, and project management; human resources; extensive writing; HR; cybersecurity; and so much music. She effortlessly connects all of these things together with engaging and humorous storytelling with analogies and AI pictures of black cats. She's passionate about what we people can do to protect ourselves and the information we seek to hold private.

Heather currently serves as Vice Chair of the Springfield Tech Council and also volunteers with the board of Redeemer Lutheran Church.