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Dont get blinded by the small stuff thats hard to notice

Dont get blinded by the small stuff thats hard to notice

One of the core challenges you face in information security is getting so caught up in the minutiae of your network environment and day-to-day work that you end up not being able to see the bigger picture: whats really going on, what really needs attention, and what really matters. Ive been writing about this for over a decade and Ive yet to stop spreading the word...its just too important a topic to ignore.

Not seeing the forest through the trees impacted me and my family recently. Its about our dog, Lady. As you can see, Lady was a beautiful girl who was also smart, loyal, and a determined guard dog, weighing over 50 pounds in her prime. As Lady grew older, she had health problems that we were aware of, yet didnt fully understand. These issues started several years ago when she was diagnosed with a spinal problem that affected her ability to walk/run and stay balanced - something called degenerative myelopathy. Thanks, in large part, to the HelpEmUp dog harness, we learned to manage this condition. It just became part our daily routine.

Then dementia set in. Ladys behavior was marked by endless pacing around the house, not connecting with us mentally/spiritually/emotionally like dogs do with their families, and a slowly diminishing appetite. We knew the problems were there but didnt "get" how bad they were becoming...In recent months, everything started moving very quickly. After witnessing her immobility and dementia getting worse and worse, along with some great guidance from my friend and fellow racer, Dr. Alan Cross, we knew it was her time.

Heres the shocker: once we took took Lady to the vet to end her suffering, we realized that she had lost 15 pounds from her peak...! We had no clue it had gotten that bad. Sure, we knew she wasnt well and was looking skinny, but we certainly werent prepared to hear that she had lost nearly a third of her body weight in such a short period. Any doubts about what we were doing vanished when we learned this. We felt badly, yet blessed. Lady is now in a better place. God bless her soul.

I wanted to share this story with you because being blinded by whats going on under your very nose can (and will) impact you if youre not careful - especially in information security. Dont let security problems sneak up on you to the point where someone else (i.e. a criminal hacker or rogue insider with ill intent) shows you how bad they really are. It happens to the best of them and it can happen to you. Be proactive. Know the facts. Do something about your weaknesses sooner as opposed to later.

Lady, youre dearly missed. Cheers to having wonderful pets that make a difference in our lives!

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