cybersecurity – Page 3 – Matt Shannon, Security Pro

Overreach Is the Enemy of Resilience

History shows that the biggest threats to national security, safety, and sovereignty usually come from within. Empires, and leaders, often fail not because they are weak, but because they try to do too much, too quickly, and often end up heading in the wrong direction.

The Yalta Conference in February 1945 brought together Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin in an alliance of necessity. Few in the 1930s could have imagined democratic America and Britain siding with Stalin’s Soviet Union; yet necessity led to a partnership with lasting consequences.

The alliance beat Nazi Germany, but it also allowed the Soviet Union to spread into Eastern Europe, which led to the Cold War. The key takeaway: short-term use of power without considering long-term impact can resolve immediate issues but create new, lasting problems.

The same risks are present in cloud security today. Trying to do too much still undermines resilience.

Why Overreach Happens

Overreach is a common trap. If having some power is good, it’s easy to think that having more is better. In cybersecurity, this often happens because of:

Fear of falling behind leads teams to adopt new tools without a clear strategy.
Vendor pressure, with marketing insisting, “If you don’t have this, you’re insecure.”
Internal signaling, where having numerous tools initially appears impressive, but problems soon emerge.

Historical Lessons: The Cost of Overreach

Germany in WWII: Too Much, Too Fast

Germany under Hitler is a classic example of overreach. In 1941, the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. Initially, their advance was rapid, and they gained significant territory. However, German forces became overstretched, supplies dwindled, winter conditions set in, and the supply lines became unmanageable. What appeared to be a demonstration of power ultimately contributed to their downfall.

Lesson: Expansion without capacity undermines itself.

Japan: Provoking Too Many Enemies

Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941 reflected a similar flaw. In pursuit of empire across Asia, Japan provoked a much larger adversary: the United States. Instead of consolidating its position, this overreach led to a conflict Japan could not sustain. Lesson: Overreaching creates adversaries you can’t manage.

The Allies: Yalta’s Unintended Consequences

Even the victors faced challenges. The Yalta alliance was necessary at the time, but also carried significant risk. By permitting the Soviet Union to expand into Eastern Europe, the Allies set the stage for forty years of Cold War tension, arms races, and indirect conflicts. Gaining power in one region led to new risks elsewhere.

Lesson: Gains made without foresight can create future vulnerabilities.

The Cost of Overreach in Cloud Security

The same dynamics play out in modern cybersecurity:

Integration gaps: When you have too many tools, it’s like an army spread too thin—there are weak spots attackers can find.
Alert fatigue: More dashboards overwhelm teams, dulling response rather than sharpening it.
Diluted focus: Chasing new tools causes basics (IAM, logging, patching) to be neglected.

The main takeaway is that the paradox is that spending more and adding complexity often reduces resilience rather than strengthening it.

The Better Path: Discipline and Restraint

History points to a better approach. Resilience isn’t about growing without limits. It comes from balance, self-control, and getting the basics right.

For nations, that means understanding the limits of alliances and occupations. For cloud teams, it means:

Focusing on fewer, stronger tools that integrate smoothly.
Start by mastering the basics: IAM policies, patching cycles, logging, and monitoring. These may not be exciting, but they are essential.
Resisting the urge to sprawl. Don’t buy tools or add features for the sake of appearances. Invest only where it truly adds resilience.

Closing Parallel

Yalta reminds us that even the strongest powers can make bargains that carry unintended consequences. Overreach may appear to be a sign of strength in the moment, but it often sows the seeds of weakness for the future.

In cloud security, the same is true. More tools don’t equal more safety. Complexity can backfire. Overreach creates vulnerabilities. The key lesson: resilience means mastering the essentials and exercising discipline, not doing more for the sake of it. This is as true in geopolitics as it is in cybersecurity.

Where have you seen overreach undermine resilience in your organization?

Want to dive deeper into the history and strategy behind these lessons? Here are some recommended reads:

The Origins of The Second World War, by A.J.P. Taylor
Depression, War, and Cold War: Studies in Political Economy, by Robert Higgs
Churchill, Hitler, and “The Unnecessary War”: How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World, by Patrick J. Buchanan
The New Dealers’ War: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the War Within World War II, by Thomas Fleming
The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914, by Margaret MacMillan
Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World, by Margaret MacMillan

Progress Isn’t Linear, in Martial Arts or Cybersecurity

Progress isn’t linear. Martial artists learn this the hard way. One day you nail a three punch combo finished with a clavicle crushing elbow; the next, you stumble over the same movement combination you were hitting regularly just a couple days before. Some weeks, you level up quickly, while others days you’ll hit stumbling blocks. Always approach your wins and losses with the same humility.

Cybersecurity follows the same rhythm. Just as martial artists face setbacks, security professionals experience their own ups and downs. You patch systems, close vulnerabilities, and tighten configurations. Then a new zero-day vulnerability emerges, or an audit reveals previously unaddressed blind spots. It feels like sliding backward.

That slide isn’t a failure, it’s where progress truly forms.

The Myth of Linear Progress

We often imagine progress as, although slow, always moving upward. Reality is less predictable.

Perfection Bias
We assume improvement should always feel smooth. However, mastery, in both martial arts and cybersecurity, is a jagged path. The dips are where the depth develops.
The Comparison Trap
We see others’ highlight reels, the black belt breaking boards, or the company posting its “zero vulnerabilities” report, and mistake it for constant progress. Behind every clean result lies a mess of mistakes, patches, and failed tests.
Forgetting That Setbacks Build Strength
Regression often signals deeper adaptation in progress. In training, it’s when you refine mechanics. In security, it’s when you reinforce foundations.

Why Steps Back Matter

Plateaus and regressions aren’t detours; they’re checkpoints. They test persistence. Anyone can stay motivated when everything goes as planned; resilience forms when it doesn’t.

They reveal gaps in fundamentals. A failed pen test or misconfigured IAM or conditional access policy highlights what needs real attention. They build humility and precision. Overconfidence blinds; setbacks sharpen focus.

On the mats and in the SOC, mastery isn’t about avoiding mistakes, it’s about learning faster from them.

The Cybersecurity Parallel

You don’t know what you don’t know so every incident teaches you something you didn’t know you needed to learn. Every vulnerability scan reveals details you may have overlooked. It isn’t failure. It’s your system adapting, like a martial artist’s mind & body.

A martial artist doesn’t quit after a rough sparring session. They analyze what went wrong, refine their techniques, and return smarter & stronger. Security teams should do the same. A missed vulnerability isn’t a defeat; it’s a mirror. It can show you where your technique slipped & where to tighten your counter-offensive skills.

From the Mats to the Data Center

Both disciplines thrive on discipline, reflection, and repitition:

Training drills = Routine audits. Each repetition builds muscle memory for fighters and for security teams.

Pad work and shadow boxing = Playbooks and runbooks. Practicing in controlled settings builds confidence under pressure.

Sparring = Incident Response sims. You can’t simulate chaos perfectly, but you can train to be calm, and respond correctly, in chaos. That’s why you just keep training and doing reps over and over because each time your partner responds differently but you’re learning to respond with the correct technique every time.

Every repetition, every submission attempt, every punch, every kick, or incident response builds competence and confidence. Every CVE update, OWASP update or vulnerability scan creates visibility and awareness.

The Real Skill of a Black Belt: The Ability to Adapt and Overcome

In martial arts, the belt color doesn’t make you untouchable; it signifies you’ve learned and adapted more than others. In cybersecurity, it’s the same. The strongest organizations aren’t flawless; they’re mobile, agile and when necessary, hostile.

Adaptation beats perfection. Reflection beats reaction. Resilience beats your comfort zone. So the next time your scan lights up with new vulnerabilities or your red team exposes a blind spot, don’t get discouraged. It’s just another training session.

Final Thought

Progress, whether in close range combat or in your code, isn’t about avoiding setbacks. It’s about showing up again after them. The real win isn’t being unbreakable, it’s being unshakable.

Keep patching. Keep learning. Keep moving. Progress isn’t linear, but staying adaptive always drives you forward. Or, as it was once famously said, “Be water my friend.”

Cloud Security and Meal Prep: The Routine That Saves You When It Counts

Whether you’re a cloud engineer, a school IT lead, or just someone juggling a lot of responsibilities, you know routines matter. Here’s how a few simple habits, both in the kitchen and in the cloud, can make all the difference when things get hectic.

Meal prep can feel like a grind: chopping, portioning, stacking containers into neat rows. Yet when a demanding week hits, that fridge full of ready-made meals is your quiet victory. It’s proof that routine pays off when pressure arrives.

Vulnerability scanning and patching works similarly. It’s repetitive, rarely celebrated, and usually annoying. But consistency is what saves you during mission-critical moments, when vulnerabilities surface or threat actors strike.

The Problem with Patching

Patching never ends. There’s always another round of updates, another CVE, another “critical” bulletin. The challenge isn’t just time, it’s motivation.

It’s endless. You finish one cycle only to start another.
It’s invisible. No one notices the breach that never happened.
It’s easy to delay. “We’ll patch later” often becomes “we wish we had.”

In cloud environments, the pace is faster. Systems scale dynamically, microservices update constantly, and the attack surface grows by the minute. Skipping one patch cycle is like skipping a week of prep: you won’t feel it right away, but the fallout is inevitable.

The Solution: Treat It Like Meal Prep

The way through is rhythm and habit, small, consistent actions that compound into resilience.

Automate Where Possible
Just like batch cooking, automation saves time and reduces errors. Use tools like AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager, Azure Update Management, or Google Cloud OS Config to deploy updates automatically across fleets. Automate notifications and reporting as well, so visibility remains high without incurring manual overhead.

Pro tip: If you’re new to automation, start small by piloting auto-patching in a test environment before rolling it out everywhere.

Schedule Cycles and Stick to Them
Create predictable patch windows: weekly for endpoints, monthly for servers, rolling updates for cloud workloads. Align these cycles with CI/CD pipelines to ensure updates integrate seamlessly with development. Repetition builds trust in the process and limits downtime surprises.

Make It a Habit
The goal isn’t to be a hero, but to be consistent. Prep your meals each week, patch your systems on schedule, and review your process every month. Eventually, these steps just become part of your routine.

The Payoff: Prepared Beats Panicked

When a zero-day hits, the teams that patch regularly move smoothly through the chaos. Their systems are up to date, their dependencies are tracked, and their processes are tested. The rest scramble for emergency fixes while downtime bleeds into dollars.

Routine patching does more than fix vulnerabilities. It helps you stay calm when things get stressful. This steady discipline keeps your operations running smoothly, even when others are scrambling.

Final Thoughts

Security, like nutrition, doesn’t come from sudden bursts of inspiration. It comes from doing the same things regularly. The calm, controlled and protected environment you want later depends on the boring discipline you practice now.

Stay consistent, use automation thoughtfully, and patch your systems the way you meal prep: always ahead of time. This is how you keep both your systems and your peace of mind when things get tough.

The Cloud’s Silent Killer: Misconfigured Defaults

In 2023, a single misstep by a Fortune 500 company left millions of customer records exposed simply by making a storage bucket public. This wasn’t an isolated incident. Misconfigurations like this are now the leading cause of devastating cloud data breaches, costing companies their reputation, customers’ trust, and millions in losses.

When you think of a data breach, you might envision elite hackers executing sophisticated attacks. However, the reality is far more alarming and preventable. Most breaches are the result of basic, avoidable misconfigurations, such as open buckets and overly broad permissions. These are mistakes anyone can make, and attackers are counting on it.

It’s tempting to trust default settings, they feel safe, like the standard path everyone takes. But most cloud defaults are built for quick setup, not lasting security. If you let them go unchecked, you’re leaving the door wide open for disaster.

The Usual Suspects

Let’s talk specifics. Over and over again, these defaults show up in post-mortem reports:

Open storage buckets and blobs: Data storage left publicly accessible, sometimes with read and write permissions wide open. Attackers do not need to guess. They simply scan and find these vulnerabilities.
Overly permissive IAM roles: The infamous *:* permission set (which allows access to all resources), granting far more access than necessary. It only takes one compromised credential to turn this into a complete takeover of the environment.
Unrestricted security groups: Allowing traffic from “anywhere, any time” because it worked during testing… and then nobody locked it down.

These aren’t rare oversights. They’re everywhere, so common that attackers make a living scanning the internet for them. If you don’t fix them, it’s only a matter of time before someone else finds them first.

Why Defaults Are So Dangerous

They lure you into a false sense of security, making you believe all is well until it’s far too late.
Teams assume that “default” means “safe enough.” But in reality, cloud vendors prioritize usability over airtight security.
They scale the wrong way.
What seems harmless in one instance becomes catastrophic when duplicated across dozens of accounts, regions, and services.
They’re hard to spot once deployed.
Without deliberate reviews, defaults blend into the noise. They look “normal,” even when they’re wide open.

Breaking the Cycle

So how do you stop defaults from turning into disasters?

Audit your configurations against standards. Frameworks like CIS Benchmarks exist for a reason. They help ensure your usual settings are not leaving the door wide open.
Enforce least privilege from the start. Treat it as your default stance. Add access only when necessary, and remove it just as quickly.
Build guardrails into Infrastructure as Code. With tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or ARM templates (methods for defining infrastructure settings in code), you can embed security policies that prevent dangerous defaults from being introduced unnoticed.
Automate reviews and alerts. Cloud-native tools (such as AWS Config, Azure Policy, or GCP Security Command Center services) and third-party scanners can flag risky defaults before attackers do.

The Martial Arts Parallel

In martial arts, the stance you start with can determine the fight. A weak stance means you begin off balance before your opponent moves.

Cloud defaults work the same way. If you start with insecure settings, attackers already have the upper hand before you realize there’s a problem.

Closing Thoughts

The cloud makes it easy to move quickly, but speed without careful planning can be risky. Default settings may save you time, but they also make things much easier for attackers. Cloud security is not about dramatic battles or brilliant hackers. It is about consistently following basic best practices. Never assume that default means secure. Take responsibility and set your own standards.

Don’t wait for a wake-up call. Spend just 30 minutes this week: review one bucket, one IAM role, and one security group. Fix even a single misconfiguration. Share what you learn with your team. Every small action strengthens your cloud’s defenses and protects what matters most: your customers, your business, and your reputation.

Fueling Your Cybersecurity: How To Eat Right for Cyber Success

A Beginner’s Guide For Eating to Shed Fat, Revive Your Metabolism, and Sharpen Daily Performance.

Cybersecurity incidents don’t care how well you slept or ate. They happen anytime. If your body feels slow, your mind will too.

That’s why nutrition isn’t just about physique or gym numbers. It’s about resilience.

A strong body fuels a sharp mind, which makes you a stronger IT professional.

Before jumping in, you might ask: how do you build nutrition habits that fuel performance, even under pressure? Let’s break it down with these five rules:

Rule #1: Always Eat Protein First

If there’s one macro nutrient that changes everything, it’s protein. Most people under-eat it, even those who train.

Why it matters: Protein saves muscle, keeps you full longer, and helps your body burn more calories.
Aim for .75 to 1g per pound of lean or target body weight. Spread it across meals: eggs at breakfast, chicken or beef at lunch, fish at dinner, or a shake if needed.

Think of protein like a system update: without it, your body gradually weakens until you notice it, and by then it’s too late.

Rule #2: Drink this down deep into your SOUL – Carbs are NOT The Enemy

Carbs, like protein, provide 4 calories per gram.

Carbs get demonized needlessly. If you train hard, they’re your gas pedal—not optional.

Performance: Carbs fuel high-intensity efforts (CrossFit, sprints, heavy lifts). They refill glycogen so your “engine” doesn’t sputter.
Focus: Complex carbs—including all fruits, vegetables, and grains like rice—keep blood sugar steady. That means steady energy and fewer crashes.

The key isn’t cutting carbs. What matters is eating quality carbs at the right times.

Hard training days? Eat more.
Recovery days? Dial it back a bit.

Rule #3: Fats – The Slow-Burn Energy Source

Fats do not give quick energy like carbs, but they help you last longer. Fats are essential for hormone production, brain function, and recovery.

Prioritize avocados, nuts, olive oil, walnut oil, and sesame oil, as well as grass-fed, wild-caught and free-range meats.

Most people do well with 20–30% of their calories from fat. That’s enough for health but not too much.

Rule #4: Hydration = Cognitive Uptime

Mild dehydration tanks focus faster than hunger. For IT pros, that’s dangerous.

Target: ½ gallon per day minimum.
Use electrolytes during long training or extended incident calls.

Think of hydration as uptime. Skip it, and your system crashes.

Rule #5: Structure Beats Willpower, Every Time

No one does well by guessing. Like securing a system, lasting results come from discipline and routine.

Meal prep → Simple, repeatable meals built ahead of time.
Macro targets: track for a few weeks until you get the feel.
Boundaries: Sleep, fuel, and downtime are mandatory security controls.

The goal is not perfection; it’s persistence. Remember, chasing perfection can actually slow your progress. Aim for 80 to 90 percent consistency for the best results.

Closing Thoughts

Nutrition is about training, discipline, and resilience, and it all starts with each meal.

Forget fad diets, quick fixes, and guilt. Focus on what helps you daily: sufficient protein, good carbs, healthy fats, water, and sticking to a plan that eliminates guesswork.

Anyone with a strong body and sharp mind doesn’t just survive the grind; they thrive in it.

Soon, I’ll show you how to build simple, sustainable meal prep systems. You can protect your body and mind just like you protect your network: with structure and planning.

Remember: your body is your first line of defense. Fuel it like YOU matter.

Training the Body, Training the Mind: Why Security Pros Need Both

When most people think about cybersecurity, they picture glowing screens, rapid typing, “hacking” and maybe a hoodie or two. What they don’t picture is chalk & barbells, sprint intervals, sparring mats or even walking.

But here’s the truth: the body and the mind aren’t separate operating systems. They have a symbiotic relationship. The stronger one becomes, the more resilient the other gets. And in a field like cybersecurity, where pressure is high, hours are unpredictable, and the stakes have real-life impact, that resilience makes all the difference.

Stress Management

No breach ever times itself for your convenience. Alerts fire off at 2 a.m whether youre trying to sleep or not. It doesn’t matter if your judgment is foggy and your nerves are already frayed. Mistakes made in those moments don’t just cost hours, they can cost you and your clients millions.

Physical training is rehearsal for that kind of pressure. Every time you push your heart rate into the red zone, whether it’s during a sprint, a lift, or a round of sparring, you’re training your nervous system to stay sharp and composed. You’ve practiced breathing through discomfort. You’ve felt the panic rising and learned not to flinch.

That calm under physical stress translates directly into composure under digital fire.

Discipline & Consistency

You don’t get strong by lifting once a month. You don’t become a skilled defender by reading one book or passing one certification.

Strength and security are both built on repetition. Small daily habits, squats and deadlifts, daily log reviews, routine key rotations and hardwired discipline.

Discipline isn’t glamorous. Nobody applauds your Tuesday-night study session or your Sunday meal prep. But that quiet consistency is what separates those who dabble from those who attain mastery.

Recovery Matters

Burnout wrecks the mind. Overtraining wrecks the body. And yet in both the gym and SOC, too many people wear exhaustion like a badge of honor.

The best of the best know better. They respect recovery. They take deload weeks. They do their best to sleep 8 hours a night. They understand that stress plus rest equals growth. Without rest, stress is just destruction.

Security pros need the same rhythm. Downtime, sleep, and boundaries. They’re not luxuries, they’re daily essentials. A fried analyst is a liability, not a hero.

Confidence Under Pressure

Just like any APT or other malicious actor, the iron doesn’t care how you feel today. The sparring partner doesn’t care if you’re tired. They test you anyway. No matter how tired you are that day, the weight still weighs the same.

That pressure teaches confidence. You must feel what it’s like to fail a lift, get winded mid-round, or be pushed beyond what you thought you could handle to know that you can. Only then you’ll learn you can stay composed, reset, and respond decisively.

That kind of grounded confidence is exactly what’s needed in the middle of a high-stakes incident response, defending your infrastructure under scrutiny, or having to brief leadership with incomplete information. It’s not bravado, it’s composure forged under fire.

The Long Game

Neither training nor cybersecurity has a finish line. You’re never “done.”

Martial arts teach that a black belt isn’t an end state, it’s proof that you’ve mastered the basics and are ready to start again at a higher level. Security works the same way. Every new CVE, every new framework, every new technology is another layer, not the final one.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s persistence. The discipline to keep showing up, stacking reps, and sharpening your resilience over time is what it takes.

Closing Thoughts

A strong body fuels a sharp mind. A sharp mind makes a stronger defender. Separate them, and you limit yourself. Train both, and you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way — whether it’s on the mat, under the bar, or in the middle of a 2 a.m. incident call.

Next up, I’ll dive into practical ways to sharpen your eating habits — how to drop body fat, boost metabolic health, and fuel both physical and mental performance.

The Martial Artist’s Guide to Cloud Security

The hallmark of good martial arts training isn’t punching, kicking, grappling or strategy, per se. What they’re really about is mastery of the basics over time through discipline and repetition. At a certain point you attain virtuosity in all of your movements. What is virtuosity? It was once famously described as, “performing the common uncommonly well.” What that means is you repeat and practice the basics for so long they become instinctual or habitual. Cloud security functions on the same principles.

Here’s what the dojo has to teach the data center:

Stance = Identity & Access Management (IAM) Every fight starts on the feet/with a good stance. Get your footwork wrong, and you’re off balance before anything even happens. In the cloud, IAM is your stance. Sloppy permissions or overextended access? You’re already being taken down.

*Fix: Always apply the principle of least privilege. Review access on a regular cadence and thus lock-in a solid foundation.

Defense = Network Segmentation
Your guard protects you before the strike ever comes. In cloud environments, segmentation is your guard. Break systems into zones so one hit doesn’t take down the whole body.

*Fix: Use VPCs, VLANs, subnets, NACLs and security groups like a strong guard.

Drills = Patching & Updates to View Protection as an Automated Process
Most folks hate endless drilling — until the day they save you. Patching helps in the same way. Repetition keeps you sharp and keeps vulnerabilities from stacking up.

*Fix: Automate updates. Drill patch cycles until they’re habit.

Sparring = Tabletop Exercises and Incident Response
Sparring helps to teach how to deploy your offense, avoid being hit, how to take a punch if one lands and helps you adapt, and respond under fire. Incident response does the same. If you never practice, the first real strike will knock you flat.

Fix: Run tabletop exercises and red-team drills so your team isn’t surprised when it counts.

Black Belt = Resilience
The belt, in and of itself, doesn’t mean you know everything. It means you’ve mastered the basics so well you can adapt to whatever’s thrown your way. That’s resilience in the cloud: strong architecture, backups, monitoring, and a mindset of continuous improvement.

*Fix: Architect for failure. Test recovery. Expect the unexpected.

Closing Thoughts
Martial artists don’t rise to the occasion, they sink to the level of their training. Cloud security is no different. Drill the basics, protection your vital points of attack, accept the associated risks of some less protected areas, and keep your stance fluid, flexible and grounded. Then , when any attacks come, you won’t just survive, you’ll be ready to win before the attack is even launched. And that my friends, is the supreme art of war.

Top 5 Cybersecurity Mistakes I See Every Week (and How to Fix Them)

Cybersecurity isn’t rocket science — but it does demand discipline. In my work, I see the same mistakes over and over again. They’re simple, preventable, and costly. The good news? They’re also fixable.

Here are the top five offenders and how to get ahead of them.

1. Weak or Reused Passwords

mike epps, top flight security, friday after next

The problem: People still lean on “123456” or reuse the same password across 10 accounts. Attackers love this.
The fix: Use a password manager and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere it’s offered.

2. Ignoring Updates and Patches

The problem: That little “remind me later” button gets clicked… and suddenly, a known vulnerability is wide open for weeks.

The fix: Automate updates where possible. For servers and enterprise systems, schedule a patch management routine — monthly at minimum.

3. Cloud Misconfigurations

The problem: Buckets, blobs, and databases left wide open to the internet. It’s not just bad practice — it’s a breach waiting to happen.
The fix: Review permissions regularly. Use least privilege access. Run configuration scans against frameworks like CIS Benchmarks.

4. Phishing Clicks

who's got your six? matt shannon security pro

The problem: A single click on a fake invoice or “urgent” email can compromise a network. It still works because people are busy and distracted.
The fix: Train employees continuously, not just once a year. Teach them to hover over links, verify senders, and report suspicious emails.

5. Lack of Logging and Monitoring

The problem: Breaches often go undetected for weeks because no one’s watching the logs.
The fix: Centralize your logging (think SIEM, EDR, or even cloud-native tools) and set alerts for suspicious activity. Logs don’t stop attacks — but they stop you from being blind.

Closing Thoughts

Most breaches don’t happen because hackers are “geniuses.” They happen because of simple mistakes left unchecked. Fix these five, and you’ll already be ahead of most organizations out there.

Cybersecurity, like martial arts, comes down to repetition and discipline. Drill the basics until they’re second nature — that’s how you win the fight you never wanted.

The PenTest+ and the Long Game of Persistence

There’s a moment most people don’t talk about when they post their certifications, it’s that part where you stare at the screen, waiting for the result to load, rehearsing how you’ll feel either way.

That was me, after months of studying, rewrites, retakes, and nights when the last thing I wanted to see was another port, protocol, or payload.

I’d already passed the CompTIA trifecta, A+, Network+, Security+, and each one felt like a step forward. But PenTest+ was different. It wasn’t just about memorization. It forced me to think like an adversary, to build a structured approach out of controlled chaos. It was humbling.

There were setbacks. Long hours after long workdays. Missed weekends. That quiet voice that says, maybe this one’s just too much right now.

But that’s where persistence replaces motivation. I tell my students and training partners the same thing I remind myself: motivation gets you started, discipline keeps you moving.

When that “Pass” finally appeared on the screen, it wasn’t triumph, it was relief. And gratitude. Because every failed scan, every misconfigured lab, every late-night tracing network maps, they built the competence that makes the win real.

The truth is, no certification on its own changes who you are. The process does. The grind does. The decision to sit back down after the first, second, or third setback does.

In cybersecurity, as in martial arts, you don’t earn a belt to prove you’re done. You earn it because you’ve decided you’re not done yet.

And that lesson, more than any flag on a résumé, is what makes the next challenge possible.

The Top Nine Ways to Avoid Being Hacked: Essential Tips for Staying Safe Online

Cyber threats are everywhere. Learn nine expert-approved cybersecurity practices, from password hygiene to phishing prevention, that help protect your data, privacy, and peace of mind.

In today’s hyperconnected world, being hacked isn’t just a risk — it’s a near inevitability if you’re not prepared. Whether you’re an individual, a small business owner, or part of a larger organization, protecting your data should be a daily habit, not an afterthought.

Hackers exploit the smallest cracks: weak passwords, outdated software, and misplaced trust. The good news? A few consistent habits can make you a far harder target.

Here are nine proven ways to reduce your risk of being hacked, simple, practical, and backed by modern cybersecurity best practices.

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Weak or reused passwords remain one of the top causes of account compromise.
A strong password should be:

At least 12 characters long
Include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
Avoid personal details like your pet’s name or birthday

Pro Tip: Use a password manager to create and store unique credentials safely — it’s far more secure than your memory (or sticky notes).

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

If passwords are your front door, MFA is your deadbolt.
This simple tool requires an additional verification step — like a text message code or an authentication app prompt — before granting access.

Even if a hacker steals your password, MFA can stop them cold.
Enable it everywhere you can: email, banking, social media, and especially your work accounts.

Keep Software and Systems Updated

Cyber attackers love outdated software — it’s like an open window.
Enable automatic updates on your devices, browsers, and security tools to patch vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

Updates aren’t annoyances; they’re armor.

4. Spot and Stop Phishing Scams

Phishing remains the #1 way users get hacked.
Attackers use fake emails or messages that mimic trusted sources to trick you into clicking malicious links or revealing credentials.

Stay sharp:

Check sender addresses carefully
Hover over links before clicking
Be skeptical of urgent or emotional language (“Your account will be suspended!”)
When in doubt, contact the organization directly

Education here pays off, once you’ve spotted a good phish, you’ll never unsee the patterns.

Secure Your Home Network

Your Wi-Fi router is the gateway to everything on your home network.
Change the default password immediately after setup.
Use WPA3 encryption (the most secure standard).
Disable WPS and consider hiding your SSID.
Set up a guest network to isolate visitors and IoT devices.

A few minutes of setup can close the door on thousands of automated attacks.

Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

When connecting to public Wi-Fi (airports, cafes, hotels) use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic. This prevents hackers from intercepting data like login credentials and personal info.

Choose a reputable, paid VPN provider. (Free ones often collect your data instead of protecting it.)

7. Be Mindful of What You Share Online

Every social post is a breadcrumb. Hackers use personal details to guess passwords, craft phishing messages, or reset your accounts.

Limit what you share publicly, especially location check-ins and birthdates.
Remember: oversharing fuels social engineering — the human side of hacking.

Regularly Back Up Your Data

Ransomware doesn’t work if your data is safely backed up.
Use the 3-2-1 rule:

3 total copies of your data
2 different storage types (cloud + external drive)
1 kept offline

Automate backups and test them occasionally — a broken backup is no backup at all.

9. Educate Yourself and Your Circle

Technology changes fast — human habits change slowly. Stay updated on emerging threats, and share what you learn with coworkers, friends, or family.

Security awareness training and cybersecurity newsletters are excellent ongoing resources.

Cybersecurity is everyone’s job. The more we all understand, the safer we all become.

Final Thoughts

Avoiding being hacked isn’t about paranoia — it’s about preparation.
Each of these habits strengthens your security posture one layer at a time.

Think of cybersecurity as compound interest: small daily actions, multiplied over time, create unbreakable resilience.

Stay curious. Stay cautious. Stay secure.

*Updated October 2025: refreshed to reflect updated security practices for the modern threat landscapes.