Michael Peters is the CEO of Lazarus Alliance, Inc. and has served as an independent information security consultant, executive, researcher and author. He is an internationally recognized and awarded security expert with years of IT and business leadership experience and many previous executive leadership positions.
It has been more than a career goal; it has been a life goal to make a real difference for the world by improving the state of information security, consumer protections, privacy, risk management, audit & compliance, fraud prevention and cyberspace law. Wherever possible, it is my mission to leave the world in a better place than when I started.
I love the creative process. It never really matters what I'm involved or interested in; creating meaningful contributions is the objective. Whether it is writing books, software, creating art and illustrations, composing music, cooking for my family, it is always about the art and the science of the creative process that I find fulfilling.
Free HIPAA Awareness & Compliance Survey If you are in the healthcare business you have HIPAA compliance requirements to adhere to. Maybe you are not aware of what they or maybe you just want to gauge your organization’s readiness prior to seeking professional help? The good folks over at Continuum GRC have provided a short […]
“The spirit of innovation or the ability to innovate are not attributes a person makes a conscious decision to possess but rather they flow from the intellectual wellspring we are born with.” – Michael Peters
Is Cloud Computing Really Secure? A Pragmatic Approach Considering Cloud Computing? So, you are making plans to move into cloud computing and are considering your options offered by the plethora of providers out there but you have questions and concerns. Congratulations! The bottom line up front is yes, cloud computing can be very secure. You […]
POS Data Security? The next time you buy a burger at McDonald’s or Wendy’s, a computer may be the one asking, “Would you like fries with that?” After decades of depending on human workers to take orders – and payments – American fast food chains are finally moving into the computer age, driven by rising […]
Following a string of high-profile incidents that began earlier this year, the healthcare industry has been highly focused on preventing ransomware attacks. IoT security has also emerged as a growing concern. However, healthcare organizations (as well as businesses in other industries) cannot afford to ignore another growing threat: spear phishing. Like regular phishing, spear phishing […]
Up until now, healthcare cyber Security has been focused on protecting patient data, ensuring HIPAA compliance, and, more recently, protecting systems from ransomware attacks. However, as healthcare technology advances, a new threat is emerging: the potential for hackers to attack smart medical devices such as insulin pumps and pacemakers. If IoT security is not taken […]
In a previous blog, we discussed the recent epidemic of ransomware attacks on U.S. healthcare organizations and the importance of the industry taking this very serious cyber Security threat – and healthcare cyber security in general – seriously. The good news is that although a ransomware attack can bring a healthcare facility to its knees, […]
In a previous blog, we provided a primer on HIPAA compliance and discussed the importance of complying with this complex federal law, which is geared toward protecting patients’ private health information (PHI). While healthcare providers and healthcare industry vendors cannot afford to ignore HIPAA, a new threat has emerged and is poised to become much […]
Life should be more about common sense than dollars and cents. – Michael D. Peters
Confused about PCI DSS compliance? This article will explain PCI DSS and the importance of complying with this important information Security standard. What is PCI DSS? PCI DSS stands for the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS). The PCI DSS is a proprietary information security standard that was established in 2004 by the […]
Confused about HIPAA and HIPAA Compliance? This article will explain HIPAA and the importance of complying with this complex federal law. What is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The HITECH Act, which was signed by President Obama in 2009, […]
Hackers Hold Hollywood Healthcare Hostage Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid a $17,000 ransom in bitcoin to hackers who seized control of the hospital’s computer systems holding them a healthcare hostage. The cyber assault on Hollywood Presbyterian occurred Feb. 5, 2016, when hackers using malware infected the institution’s computers, preventing hospital staff from being able to […]
Cyber Forensics Protect the Innocent It is always rewarding when cyber security and cyber forensics protect the innocent. Monique Vivien Macias of KPNX 12 News Phoenix discusses with Lazarus Alliance and Continuum GRC’s CEO Michael Peters how cyber forensics has become such a vital resource in law enforcement’s toolkit. Christopher Thomas McKenna, the former Chaparral High School […]
Defeating Cyber Security Deficits with a 1-2 Punch Steve Morgan, a professional acquaintance who writes about cyber security for Forbes published One Million Cybersecurity Job Openings In 2016 and revealed some jaw-dropping statistics concerning the growing deficit in hiring qualified cyber security employees. To make matters worse, this chasm is exacerbated by the explosion of […]
Why are data breaches escalating? Could it be that this problem threatening business and consumers alike is directly related to service auditors and security assessors are still using the same audit and assessment tools again this year? Data breaches are escalating and the technology your service provider is using and the way they conduct assessments […]
We get it. We completely understand why you still use Excel as an assessment and audit tool. We suffered through it just the same but we believe that working smarter and not harder which is why we invented ITAM. The IT Audit Machine (ITAM) is the patent pending, industry changing assessment questionnaire creation tool designed […]
2014 Data Breaches by Industry With the holiday season upon us, much attention turns to the retail sector, which is expected to see unprecedented activity as shoppers in a strengthening economy take advantage of seasonal deals and yet-further-expanded shopping hours. However, overshadowing the energy of the holiday shopping season, the specter of data breaches past […]
Secure in 60 Seconds While you slip into that Thanksgiving Day coma, take 6o seconds to beat holiday crime and stay secure. Nearly half of holiday shopping this year will be done through online merchants; about 46 percent according to the National Retail Federation. That is up slightly from last year and is another sign […]
My career has been and adventure along the scenic route speaking conservatively which I rarely do. My number one goal is to be the best example for what I choose to focus my attention on. I rose in the corporate ranks pretty quickly and helped define what it really means to be a Chief Information […]
How do you quantify the true cost of a data breach? How do you measure the costs against the benefits of eliminating risks, mitigating risks or accepting risks to your business effectively? The Lazarus Alliance executive leadership team has been the proverbial tip of the spear within the proactive cyber Security realm well before there […]
While United Airlines grounded their entire fleet and the Wall Street Journal was off-line and the New York Stock Exchange could not conduct trading yesterday for an extended period of time, they all have stated that they were not under a cyber attack. I do not believe in coincidences! Apparently I am not alone with this sentiment. […]
The Proverbial Identity Theft Bus Will Run You Over! Think about a time when you had a single credit card lost or stolen and how much of a pain that experience was. Now imagine if your entire wallet was lost or stolen and the exponential magnitude of pain in the patootie that would be for […]
Federal cyber Security breach has left millions of American citizens as casualties. Lazarus Alliance responds with proactive cyber-crime prevention. Lazarus Alliance ups the ante with proactive cyber security weapons in the corporate arsenal to fight cybercrime, corporate fraud, espionage and criminal cyber-misconduct. The egregious revelations following this security breach is that the Office of Personnel […]
2015 State-by-State Data Breach Charts The following standard definitions of Personal Information and Breach of Security (based on the definition commonly used by most states) are used for ease of reference, and any variations from the common definition are noted: Personal Information: An individual’s first name or first initial and last name plus one or […]
“I’ve always believed that adversity can be a friend to embrace. Just don’t turn your back on it.” – Michael Peters
I’m honored to be invited to EC-Council’s TakeDownCon keynote speaker for the 2015 event. TakeDownCon brings together information security researchers and technical experts from corporate to underground industries, to a unique “Ethical Hacking” conference. In two days, they will present and debate the latest security threats, disclose current vulnerabilities, and share information crucial to the […]
It was a pleasure visiting with Charlotte Plott as we discussed the entrepreneurial spirit, business development and a plethora of related topics during Charlotte’s Biz Stories Shared podcast. If you find a nugget of truth or derive value from Charlotte’s podcast, please let her know in social media! The podcast may be accessed here: .
Recently Michael Peters, CEO of Lazarus Alliance, spent time with David Cogan of Money Radio and eLiances discussing the differences between proactive cyber Security and reactive cyber security. You can replay the broadcast as heard on money radio. An overview of the discussion was when you think cyber security, what comes to your mind first? I’ve […]
With a show of those virtual hands, who has been notified by their credit card company about their personal information being exposed to cyber-crime? Now, with a show of those virtual hands; who has never been notified? If you think the problem is that cyber criminals are too good; you are mistaken. The problem is […]
If you think that the business general liability or even purpose built cyber insurance policies will cover you in the event of a cyber-Security breach, it’s highly likely you are mistaken. In fact, it is in your carriers best business interest to deny your claim. Chances are the exemptions in your policy exclude coverage for […]
It’s always rewarding when your work and accomplishments are recognized especially when it comes without warning. Like I tell people, “You never know when you are auditioning!” The message from CIO Review included: CIO Review : Lazarus Alliance has been shortlisted for 20 Most Promising Capital Market Technology Solution Providers In the last few months […]
Cyber-crime is largely a crime of opportunity. Just like a burglar cases the neighborhood looking for easy pickings. Cyber-criminals case the Internet looking for victims who make it easier to steal from them, the companies they lead or belong to. By adhering to the Security Trifecta® and implementing a proactive cyber security strategy based in […]
My career has been devoted to both the art and the science behind information security. When I speak of the science, I am referring to the technology and the process we immerse ourselves into as we set about securing our organizations we are charged with protecting. When I speak about the art, I am referring […]
Over the past year we have seen corporate cyber security breaches decimating business value, killing companies and ending careers. Even at the highest levels within the largest corporations, no one is exempt from the damage a cyber security breach causes. Outside of traditional global war, never before have we experiences technological war quite like the […]
There is a growing sentiment within the business community that a Security breach affecting their company is inevitable. This is perpetuated by security professionals and providers or services and products who reinforce this mythos with statements resembling: “It’s not if your company is going to be breached but when your company is going to be […]
Here are some interesting facts we have discovered after analyzing the 2014 Security breach statistics. The number of U.S. data breaches tracked in 2014 hit a record high of 783 in 2014. This represents a substantial hike of 27.5 percent over the number of breaches reported in 2013 and a significant increase of 18.3 percent over the […]
A disturbing trend is emerging within the service provider space of cloud services in the form of deceptive spin doctoring and outright deceptions in plain site. If you are a consumer of any of the plethora of services available and seeking to potentially enlist the services of the myriad of contending vendors, it behooves you to […]
