Ebony Shaaf, CISM

For too long, cybersecurity was seen as a boys’ club—but history tells a different story. Trailblazers like Theresa Payton, the first female White House CIO, and Shafi Goldwasser, a Turing Award-winning cryptographer, helped shape the cybersecurity landscape we rely on today. Their work proves that when women lead in cyber, innovation and security move forward. Today, women across the industry are not just securing systems—they’re driving strategy and redefining the future. Progress isn’t about breaking barriers; it’s about making sure the next generation doesn’t see them at all. Honoring the past, shaping the present, and building what’s next. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInCyber #CybersecurityLeadership

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This week I was fortunate enough to lead a workshop at an IANS CISO roundtable in Atlanta. Here are some of my top take aways: - You can’t protect what you can’t see—start with full visibility into data flows and access patterns. - Lightweight governance frameworks beat rigid controls in fast-moving environments. - Classify early, enforce smart: build entitlements that prevent exposure before it happens. - Treat AI like a team member by define what data it can access, when, and why. - Centralize metadata to fuel smarter decisions across security, privacy, and compliance. Great conversations at the IANS Atlanta CISO roundtable this week, thanks to all who joined. We are going to cover similar topics at the IANS Toronto Forum May 20th. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g2TAaMzt

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As a CISO supporting multiple SMBs, I’m seeing a clear pattern in 2025: economic pressure, political polarization, job insecurity, and AI-driven disruption are straining the employer-employee relationship. That’s a dangerous mix. Whether it’s data theft, sabotage, or unintentional exposure, insider threats are no longer rare edge cases - they’re a predictable risk vector. And sadly, some of the highest risks come from executives that think the rules don't apply to them.   It’s time to stop treating insider risk as taboo. Formalize your Insider Threat Program - define clear policies, monitor with empathy, and align security with HR and legal before something breaks.   #ceo #cio #cto #ciso #dpo #boardofdirectors #boardroom #InsiderThreat #CyberSecurity #SMB #AIWorkplace #HumanRisk #SecurityLeadership

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Gary Hayslip provides key advice for #cybersecurity professionals who are looking to capitalize on opportunities and adapt to new risks in 2025! Check out the full podcast interview: https://lnkd.in/ggqfsMzr

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🚨 The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (#CISA) protections quietly expired this week. For the past decade, CISA enabled organizations to share cyber threat intelligence with government and peers under legal safeguards. With those protections gone, companies may think twice before collaborating — just as threat actors are ramping up their tactics. This moment is a reminder of how vital #trust and #transparency are in collective defense. Even without legal frameworks, security teams will need to find ways to keep intelligence flowing and risks visible. #CyberSecurity #ThreatIntelligence #CollectiveDefense

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Tuesday's reading. New research from KnowBe4 reveals a surprising insight: the biggest cybersecurity risk isn’t the sophistication of threats, but employee distraction. In today’s fast-paced work environments, maintaining focus on security protocols is more critical than ever. This highlights the need for continuous training and awareness programs to empower employees as the first line of defense against cyberattacks. #Cybersecurity #EmployeeAwareness #InfoSec #SecurityCulture https://lnkd.in/gmcnyweQ

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Measurable Visibility: Building confidence in your cyber risk (information security) capabilities In business, what gets measured gets managed. The same principle applies to cybersecurity—visibility into security risks isn’t just an IT issue; it’s a business imperative. Without the right level of visibility, risks remain hidden, threats go undetected, and response times suffer. So, how do you know if your organization has sufficient security visibility? As a business executive or board member providing oversight of a cyber risk program, consider these key questions: ✅ Are we protecting what we own? Do we have a complete, up-to-date inventory of our applications and hardware? Security gaps often stem from assets we don’t even know exist. ✅ Can we detect and respond to threats in real time? Are our security tools actively reporting issues, or do we have blind spots? Delayed detection means greater damage. ✅ Do we have clear visibility into our system activity? Are we capturing meaningful security data, or are we drowning in noise? The right insights drive faster, smarter decisions. ✅ Are we reducing risk effectively? Are we measuring how quickly vulnerabilities are identified and patched? Unpatched systems are a common entry point for cyberattacks. ✅ Do we understand who has access to our systems? Are we monitoring all user, system, and third-party accounts? Unchecked access increases the risk of insider threats and credential-based attacks. ✅ Do we know what’s leaving our network? Are we tracking data flows, including third-party access? Sensitive data moving unnoticed can lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. Turning Visibility into Business Confidence Security shouldn’t be a black box. By defining measurable security indicators, organizations can establish a Security Health Score—a business-friendly metric that reflects: 🔹 Our ability to detect and contain threats 🔹 Our efficiency in responding to incidents 🔹 Our resilience in recovering from cyber events Unlike third-party security ratings, this internal measurement provides a real-time, relevant view of our security posture—enabling smarter business decisions and building trust with leadership, regulators, and customers. Executives don’t need more technical reports—they need clarity. By prioritizing measurable visibility, we transform security from a cost center into a business enabler. Does your organization have the right visibility to measure and manage security effectively? Let’s discuss.

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