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,… Read More
Human Hacking, Not Automated Attacks, Top Cyber Threat
Human hacking, also known as social engineering, has surpassed hardware and software vulnerabilities and is now the top cybersecurity threat, Computer Weekly reports: [A]ttackers shifted away from automated exploits in 2015. Instead, attackers engaged people through email, social media and mobile apps to do the dirty work of infecting systems, stealing credentials and transferring funds.… Read More
Hooray for Hollywood! – Hackers Hold Healthcare Hostage
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… Read More
Hooray for Hollywood! – Hackers Hold Healthcare Hostage
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… Read More
Cyber Forensics Protect the Innocent
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… Read More
Defeating Cyber Security Deficits with a 1-2 Punch
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… Read More
Why are data breaches escalating?
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… Read More
Security audit done the same old way?
Still doing security audit and compliance assessments the same old way? The definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result. Data breaches are occurring at an alarming and escalating rate despite the traditional assessment methodology and tools. It’s time to shake up and wake up the cybersecurity industry… Read More
Why Excel is so Old-School and how to be Cool-School
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 IT audit software. The IT Audit Machine (ITAM IT audit software) is the patent pending, industry… Read More
Why Excel is so Old-School and how to be Cool-School
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… Read More
What the Biggest Data Breaches in Retail Have Taught Us about Cybersecurity
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… Read More
Secure in 60 Seconds
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… Read More
Why In a Former Life I was a Cadaver Dog!
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… Read More
CIO, CISO, Eee Eye, Eee Eye Oh Crap a Data Breach!
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… Read More
Cyber Attack: United Airlines, WSJ, NYSE … Oh My!!
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.… Read More
The Proverbial Identity Theft Bus Will Run You Over!
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… Read More
Cyber War Waged on the United States with Massive Security Breach
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… Read More
2015 State-by-State Data Breach Charts
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… Read More
Embrace Adversity
“I’ve always believed that adversity can be a friend to embrace. Just don’t turn your back on it.” – Michael Peters
TakeDownCon 2015 Keynote Address
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… Read More
Now Playing: Charlotte Plott’s Biz Stories Shared Podcast
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: .
Proactive vs Reactive Cyber Security on Money Radio
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… Read More
Is Anyone Exempt From Cyber-Crime Anymore?
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… Read More
Resistance is NOT Futile for Cyber Insurance Casualty Insurers.
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… Read More