Kevin Beaver is an independent information security consultant, speaker, and expert witness with Atlanta-based Principle Logic. A Certified Information Systems Security Professional, he has more than 20 years' experience in the industry and specializes in performing independent information security assessments revolving around compliance and information risk management. Kevin has authored/co-authored seven books on information security, including "Hacking For Dummies" and "Hacking Wireless Networks For Dummies." He's also the creator of the Security On Wheels information security audio books and blog, which provide security learning for IT professionals on the go
Expert Answers
Re: Which office buzzwords drive you crazy?
Thursday Feb 4, 2010"Synergy" by far....as in "Let's get together and see if there are any synergies ." Hint: there usually aren't!Re: What is one management "best practice" that you admire at your company, or someone else's?
Monday Feb 1, 2010Leadership that's in touch with the regular folks and customers. I see so many situations where executive management live in mahogany row without any real sense of what's going on in reality. Like what's been going on in Washington D.C. for aRe: How can we protect our gadgets from an IT standpoint while employees are traveling?
Tuesday Jan 19, 2010How much time do you have to discuss this? ;-) Out of sight, out of mind tends to be the mantra with a mobile workforce. The assumption is mobile employees will do the right things to protect their mobile devices. That's probably true... most ofRe: What information can keep us up-to-date in the IT department and prepared for the future?
Tuesday Jan 19, 2010One more thing - a great way to keep up with all of this is to read the prominent trade rags like Information Week, InfoWorld, and CSO...even following some of the information security blogs and Twitter accounts will do wonders. Here are two of myRe: What information can keep us up-to-date in the IT department and prepared for the future?
Tuesday Jan 19, 2010The big gotcha that takes a lot of business owners by surprise is information security - or lack thereof. Many assume that a firewall and anti-virus are all that's needed to run a safe and secure business but that's simply not true. There are so manyRe: What's Your Favorite B-Book?
Wednesday Jan 13, 2010Here's a good one - especially for helping your small business stand out and be able to compete with the big guys: Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless: How to Make Them Love You, Keep You Coming Back, and TellRe: What is an easy and foolproof method for tracking travel expenses and receipts?
Wednesday Jan 13, 2010I've found a good old-fashioned Excel spreadsheet that I just re-use over and over to work pretty well. Receipts, now that's another issue, especially if you've got the Costanza wallet !Re: Will videoconferencing be the next telecommuting option?
Tuesday Dec 1, 2009Yeah, $150,000 seems a bit steep unless you need a 50" HD screen and all the fixin's. Many new laptops have webcams built right in.Re: What are options when it comes to 'mobile office?'
Tuesday Dec 1, 2009I'm glad to hear that people are talking about telecommuting ! It seems to be something that management and certain people in IT don't want to support but it sure does make good business sense if you can trust your employees to do the right thing.Re: Usability testing for a business-to-business website -- want to be a tester?
Tuesday Dec 1, 2009Make sure you test for Web application security issues in your new system as well. It may seem dull and boring and a nice add-on for later but it's something you don't want to overlook.
Content
Your IT Security Is About More Than 'Anti-Virus' and 'Firewall'
by Kevin Beaver Thursday Mar 11, 2010I was speaking with an acquaintance who is the vice president of a small business over dinner the other night about the information security work I do. He asked me "What's the best security system out there?" I asked him to clarify why he meant and he said "What's the best software to keep our network and servers secure?" I told him that security wasn't possible with software but rather management supporting a system of policies and processes that are enforced — where possible — with the right security technologies, such as the software he was alluding to.
Warning: Employee SSNs Easier to Find Than You Think
by Kevin Beaver Monday Mar 8, 2010A recent InformationWeek survey found that 92% of organizations have security measures in place to protect sensitive employee information. Interestingly, I see quite the contrary. In any given security assessment I find numerous vulnerabilities exposing employee information such as SSNs, health records, bank account numbers and so on.
Your IT Staff: Fixers or Enablers?
by Kevin Beaver Friday Mar 5, 2010Business philosopher Jim Rohn said, "We get paid for bringing value to the marketplace...that's as simple as you can put economics." It seems like a simple formula yet we so often miss it. We get caught up putting out our daily fires and often find it difficult to step back and figure out why it is we actually exist in IT.
Looking for an IT Job? Here's How to Stand Out
by Kevin Beaver Wednesday Mar 3, 2010Looking for work in IT? Thinking about jumping ship to help another small business get things rolling? Well, I couldn't think of a worse possible time to do this! But don't give up. Our dreadful business climate doesn't have to be all that bad. There is hope for landing a new gig.
How to Manage Your IT on a Tight Budget
by Kevin Beaver Tuesday Mar 2, 2010In this SearchCIO-Midmarket.com post, Linda Tucci talks about how CIOs are having to do more with less these days. The realities of how IT leaders are coping is a really interesting dilemma. So many people are having to manage IT and all its associated risks while, at the same time, wondering which services, maintenance contracts, and so on can be cut just to stay afloat.
Networking Isn't Just for Job Seekers
by Kevin Beaver Thursday Feb 25, 2010We're hearing a lot about networking as a tool for boosting job prospects these days. However, there's an often-overlooked aspect of networking you can use to your advantage for enhancing IT in your small business. It's getting out there, meeting other people in similar situations and seeing how they're using technology to support and build their businesses.
Is Your IT in Compliance With Government Rules?
by Kevin Beaver Monday Feb 22, 2010With all the government and industry regulations out there addressing electronic information you've got to stay on top of things if you want to keep your business practices in line. Here are some compliance pieces I've written over the past several months that can help you get rolling:
Electronic Medical Records Costly for Some Businesses, but Profitable for Others?
by Kevin Beaver Wednesday Feb 17, 2010I just read a snippet in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, which reported that the cost to practice medicine is increasing while cash flows are decreasing. Certainly not the recipe for a successful business long term. Yet, Obama's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 requires all doctor's offices to use electronic medical records by 2011. Otherwise they face the wrath of lowered Medicare payments with the government ultimately cutting off payments altogether.
Critical Choice for SMBs: Lay a Secure IT Foundation Now or Later?
by Kevin Beaver Wednesday Feb 17, 2010I was reading a subscriber survey from a magazine I write for, Security Technology Executive, that provides some interesting insight into how security (both corporate and IT) is handled in larger enterprises.
Five Essentials of Smart (and Secure) Telecommuting
by Kevin Beaver Monday Feb 15, 2010Regarding Dustin Mitchell's recent post on whether or not telecommuting is bad for your business, there's an IT side of the story as well that many people overlook. I see a lot of issues related to telecommuting that end up creating serious, yet unnecessary, business risks such as:
