Chad Barr

Auditing Emerging Technology: Best Practices and Key Considerations Emerging technologies are not just changing industries; they are transforming them at a rapid pace, presenting both incredible opportunities and significant risks. From AI-driven innovations to blockchain systems, these advancements demand scrutiny through audits to ensure they comply with regulations, remain secure, and align with ethical standards. In today’s fast-paced world, auditing emerging technology is not just important; it’s a necessity for mitigating risks and ensuring accountability.

Auditing Emerging Technology: Best Practices and Key Considerations

Emerging technologies are not just changing industries; they are transforming them at a rapid pace, presenting both incredible opportunities and significant risks. From AI-driven innovations to blockchain systems, these…

Path to Becoming a CISO and the Role of the CISO on the Board The importance of cybersecurity leadership has increased significantly as organizations face more advanced and persistent cyber threats. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) have become essential in protecting an organization’s digital assets and reputation. This blog post will offer a detailed roadmap for aspiring CISOs, outlining the educational and professional steps needed to achieve this key role and exploring the changing responsibilities of the CISO within the boardroom.

Path to Becoming a CISO and the Role of the CISO on the Board

The importance of cybersecurity leadership has increased significantly as organizations face more advanced and persistent cyber threats. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) have become essential in protecting an organization’s…

Preparing for the Worst: CISO Strategies for Incident Response and Business Continuity It's not a matter of if your organization will face a cyber incident, but when. As threats continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) becomes increasingly crucial. The CISO's responsibility is not only to detect and respond to incidents but also to ensure the organization can recover and maintain critical operations.

Preparing for the Worst: CISO Strategies for Incident Response and Business Continuity

It's not a matter of if your organization will face a cyber incident, but when. As threats continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) becomes…

EI3PA: The Complete Guide to Experian Independent Third Party Assessment With the number of data breaches occurring, the security of consumer data is paramount. With the rise of third-party vendors and the increasing complexity of supply chains, organizations face mounting challenges in protecting sensitive information, especially credit data. Experian, one of the world’s largest credit reporting agencies, recognized this risk and responded by creating the Experian Independent Third-Party Assessment (EI3PA). This comprehensive framework is designed to ensure that any third-party handling Experian-provided data does so with the highest standards of security.

EI3PA: The Complete Guide to Experian Independent Third Party Assessment

With the number of data breaches occurring, the security of consumer data is paramount. With the rise of third-party vendors and the increasing complexity of supply chains, organizations face mounting challenges in protecting…

Preparing for the Worst: CISO Strategies for Incident Response and Business Continuity It's not a matter of if your organization will face a cyber incident, but when. As threats continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) becomes increasingly crucial. The CISO's responsibility is not only to detect and respond to incidents but also to ensure the organization can recover and maintain critical operations.

Preparing for the Worst: CISO Strategies for Incident Response and Business Continuity

It's not a matter of if your organization will face a cyber incident, but when. As threats continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) becomes…

Transforming into a World-Class CISO: Leadership Lessons for Security Executives The role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has undergone significant evolution. No longer confined to technical expertise, the modern CISO must embody a strategic leader who can navigate complex business environments while ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are in place. This transformation requires a unique blend of skills, vision, and leadership qualities. Drawing insights from the evolution of the CISO role, this blog post will explore essential leadership lessons for security executives aiming to become world-class CISOs.

Transforming into a World-Class CISO: Leadership Lessons for Security Executives

The role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has undergone significant evolution. No longer confined to technical expertise, the modern CISO must embody a strategic leader who can navigate complex…

AI Governance: Guiding Responsible Innovation in a Transforming World As AI systems continue to develop and spread across various industries, they bring a range of new ethical, legal, and societal challenges. The need for clear and effective AI governance is not just urgent, it is critical. AI governance involves establishing policies, procedures, and oversight to ensure that AI technologies are developed and used safely, ethically, and transparently. This approach helps organizations balance innovation with accountability, build public trust, and reduce risks.

AI Governance: Guiding Responsible Innovation in a Transforming World

As AI systems continue to develop and spread across various industries, they bring a range of new ethical, legal, and societal challenges. The need for clear and effective AI governance is not just urgent, it is critical. AI…

Retail Security: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting a Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment Picture this: It's a busy Saturday afternoon at your retail store. Suddenly, your point-of-sale systems freeze. Customer data starts leaking online. Your reputation is in tatters within hours, and you face hefty fines. This nightmare scenario is all too real for retailers who overlook their vulnerabilities. The retail landscape is more complex than ever. With sophisticated cyber threats, evolving physical security challenges, and the intricate web of interconnected systems, conducting regular vulnerability assessments isn't just good practice; it's essential for survival.

Retail Security: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting a Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment

Picture this: It's a busy Saturday afternoon at your retail store. Suddenly, your point-of-sale systems freeze. Customer data starts leaking online. Your reputation is in tatters within hours, and you…

Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks for Generative AI in Cybersecurity The rapid integration of generative AI into cybersecurity has opened up new avenues for innovation, enabling advanced threat detection, robust adversarial defense mechanisms, and effective digital safeguards. However, alongside these advancements comes a critical need for ethical and regulatory oversight. Deploying generative AI in cybersecurity presents unique challenges that require carefully constructed frameworks to ensure responsible use, accountability, and resilience. This article explores the ethical imperatives and regulatory frameworks necessary to govern generative AI in cybersecurity.

Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks for Generative AI in Cybersecurity

The rapid integration of generative AI into cybersecurity has opened up new avenues for innovation, enabling advanced threat detection, robust adversarial defense mechanisms, and effective digital safeguards. However, alongside…

Advancements in AI for Cybersecurity The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the cybersecurity landscape, with groundbreaking advancements poised to address emerging challenges. Technologies such as quantum computing, edge AI, and blockchain integration transform how threats are detected, mitigated, and prevented. 1. Quantum Computing: A Double-Edged Sword Quantum computing introduces immense computational power, which could disrupt existing encryption methods. To counteract these risks, the development of…

Advancements in AI for Cybersecurity

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the cybersecurity landscape, with groundbreaking advancements poised to address emerging challenges. Technologies such as quantum computing, edge AI, and blockchain integration transform how…

PCI DSS Vulnerability Scans & Approved Scanning Vendors Safeguarding payment data is more critical than ever. About a year ago, the PCI Council released a blog post that explained what an ASV was and why it's essential. It contained some valuable information, so I wanted to share it. You can find the original post here. The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has provided a comprehensive resource guide on vulnerability scans and Approved Scanning Vendors (ASVs), which is essential reading for any organization involved in payment processing.

PCI DSS Vulnerability Scans & Approved Scanning Vendors

Safeguarding payment data is more critical than ever. About a year ago, the PCI Council released a blog post that explained what an ASV was and why it's essential. It contained some valuable information, so I wanted to share it. You can find…

PCI Scoping The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 4.0 has established a formal requirement for a documented scoping exercise as outlined in PCI 12.5.2. This essential step, which must be completed prior to the Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) commencing their evaluation, ensures that the scope of the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) is accurately defined and validated. This guide will detail the scoping process, providing practical steps and tips to facilitate compliance.

PCI Scoping

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 4.0 has established a formal requirement for a documented scoping exercise as outlined in PCI 12.5.2. This essential step, which must be completed prior to the Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) commencing their…

Root Cause of the Salesforce Breach The root cause of the major Salesforce breaches that began around May 2025 was not a technical vulnerability in the Salesforce platform itself, but rather a combination of sophisticated social engineering attacks and the abuse of OAuth-connected app permissions. The attackers targeted employees at organizations using Salesforce, such as Google, Adidas, Chanel, and others, by impersonating IT or Salesforce support staff through voice phishing (vishing) calls.

Root Cause of the Salesforce Breach

The root cause of the major Salesforce breaches that began around May 2025 was not a technical vulnerability in the Salesforce platform itself, but rather a combination of sophisticated social engineering attacks and the abuse of OAuth-connected app permissions.…

Balancing Act: How Hotels Can Enhance Guest Convenience Without Compromising Data Security Picture this: A guest arrives at your hotel, tired from a long journey. They breeze through check-in using their smartphone, enter their room with a digital key, and find the temperature and lighting already set to their preferences. It's the epitome of convenience. But behind this seamless experience lies a complex web of data transactions and potential security risks. Hotels are facing an unprecedented challenge: providing the frictionless, personalized experiences guests crave while safeguarding sensitive data from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Balancing Act: How Hotels Can Enhance Guest Convenience Without Compromising Data Security

Picture this: A guest arrives at your hotel, tired from a long journey. They breeze through check-in using their smartphone, enter their room with a digital key, and find the temperature and lighting already…

5G/6G Network Vulnerabilities and Safeguarding the Future of Connectivity The rollout of 5G networks is already transforming the way the world connects, bringing faster speeds, ultra-low latency, and enhanced connectivity. As we look ahead, 6G networks promise even more groundbreaking advancements, such as immersive experiences through extended reality (XR), hyper-accurate positioning systems, and AI-driven applications at an unprecedented scale. However, it's crucial to understand that with this new wave of connectivity comes a growing concern: …

5G/6G Network Vulnerabilities and Safeguarding the Future of Connectivity

The rollout of 5G networks is already transforming the way the world connects, bringing faster speeds, ultra-low latency, and enhanced connectivity. As we look ahead, 6G networks promise even more groundbreaking…

Strengthening E-Commerce Security: A Streamlined Guide to PCI DSS Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1 Source: PCI Security Standards Council, "Guidance for PCI DSS Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1," Version 1.0, March 2025. Purpose: To provide supplemental information and guidance to merchants and third-party service providers (TPSPs) on meeting PCI DSS Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1, which address the growing threat of e-skimming attacks on e-commerce payment pages. This document does not replace or supersede requirements in any PCI SSC Standard.

Strengthening E-Commerce Security: A Streamlined Guide to PCI DSS Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1

Source: PCI Security Standards Council, "Guidance for PCI DSS Requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1," Version 1.0, March 2025. Purpose: To provide supplemental information and guidance to merchants and…

Cybersecurity on the 4th of July: Protecting Your Digital Independence The 4th of July is a time for celebration, fireworks, and family gatherings. But while we’re enjoying the festivities, cybercriminals are hard at work, exploiting the holiday to launch attacks. For cybersecurity professionals and businesses, Independence Day is not just a celebration; it’s also a reminder to safeguard our digital independence. As someone with over 30 years of experience in cybersecurity and a passion for self-improvement, I’ve seen firsthand how holidays like the 4th of July create a perfect storm for cyber threats.

Cybersecurity on the 4th of July: Protecting Your Digital Independence

The 4th of July is a time for celebration, fireworks, and family gatherings. But while we’re enjoying the festivities, cybercriminals are hard at work, exploiting the holiday to launch attacks. For cybersecurity professionals…

ISO/IEC 42001:2023: A Comprehensive Framework for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems

There is no mistaking that artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and reshaping societal norms; the need for strong governance and management frameworks has never been more vital. Enter…

Massive Password Leak Affects 16 Billion Users: Why It’s Time to Go Passwordless In what is being dubbed one of the most significant data breaches in history, approximately 16 billion login credentials from major tech platforms, including Apple, Facebook, and Google, have been exposed. This unprecedented breach, which spans across 30 different datasets, serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in traditional password-based authentication systems. The Scale and Impact of the Breach…

Massive Password Leak Affects 16 Billion Users: Why It’s Time to Go Passwordless

In what is being dubbed one of the most significant data breaches in history, approximately 16 billion login credentials from major tech platforms, including Apple, Facebook, and Google, have been exposed. This…