Securosis Blog

Secure Agile Development: New Series

Adrian Lane · September 8, 2014

Back in 2009 Rich and I wrote a series on Building a Web Application Security program. That monstrous research paper discussed the new security challenges of building web applications, outlining how to incorporate security testing for specific types of web development programs. That research remains relevant today but issues of how to incorporate security into software development organizations – and most acutely into Agile development – remains a constant problem for clients. Knowing what tool…

Feeding at the Data Breach Trough

Mike Rothman · September 4, 2014

They say when industries go nutty with consolidation and high-dollar M&A deals, the only folks who really make money are the bankers and the lawyers. Shareholders end up holding the bag, but these folks have moved on to the next deal.

Summary: Seven Year Scratch

Rich · September 4, 2014

Sometimes life sneaks up on you.

Often when I am introduced to new clients and professional contacts, it is as “Analyst and CEO of Securosis; he used to be at Gartner”. I am fully cognizant of the fact that not only is Gartner where I started my analyst career, but also that my time and title there are the reason I was able to start Securosis. Not only did I learn how to be an analyst, but the Gartner name (as much as it pains some people) still carries a lot of weight. Leaving as a VP carries…

Incite 9/3/2014: Potential

Mike Rothman · September 3, 2014

It starts with a blank slate. Not entirely blank because some stuff has happened over the past few months, which offers hints to where things will go. But you largely ignore that data because you want to believe. Maybe this time will be different. Or maybe it will be the same. All you can see is potential. Yet soon enough the delusions of grandeur will be shown to be exactly that – delusions.

PR Fiascos for Dummies

Mike Rothman · September 2, 2014

If you are the head of communications for a big company and one of your executives goes off-script and says something … ill advised … and puts the foot in the mouth, what can you do? You curse the gods for putting you in that job and you long for the days when someone else was in the hot seat, when you have to go into damage control.

Friday Summary: August 29, 2014

Adrian Lane · August 28, 2014

As you are likely out of the office much of today, preparing for a long weekend, I will keep this week’s summary short and to the point. Another three-star set of nits to pick.

Respect the Hierarchy

Mike Rothman · August 28, 2014

Wendy (again) states things that we should already know in such an easy to understand way, that you smack yourself upside the head and wonder why you didn’t think of it. Her post on the 451 blog about The hierarchy of IT needs makes very very clear why you continue to have problems making the case for security in your organization.

Incite 8/27/2014: It takes a village

Mike Rothman · August 27, 2014

The first couple weeks when the kids are back in school can be a little rough. We don’t have the routine down so there is some inevitable confusion and miscommunication. There are just so many details. Who is picking up which kid, from where? We drive that carpool which night? What is the address of the 3rd kid to grab for LAX practice? You know, that kind of thing.

Shipping Decent Breach Notification

Mike Rothman · August 25, 2014

Many folks have strong opinions about the right way to perform breach notification. More to the point, many folks think they know what not to do. But that’s okay – the great thing about opinions is that everyone gets their own. Recently the UPS Store, a franchised chain of shipping stores, reported a breach.

Friday Summary: STEM

Rich · August 21, 2014

A few days after returning from DEF CON my family experienced an inevitable life-changing event you cannot really prepare for.