The International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals (ICMCP) has partnered with RSA Conference to award five (5) scholarships to deserving students and practitioners to attend RSA Conference 2020 in San Francisco February 24 - 28, 2020.  The awarded recipients will receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and introduction to a potential new or enhanced career path. The total in-kind value of this program is more than $20,000.  Also, for this year’s conference, RSA is also partially sponsoring an ICMCP Social Networking Event to be held on February 26, 2020 for 100+ ICMCP Members, friends and guests.

PATRIOT DAY

There are likely thousands of blogs out there today re: PATRIOT DAY. But that’s not going to stop this one! Do you remember WHY we have, Patriot Day? You won’t have to think too hard – at least people who are at least 30 years old shouldn’t have to think too hard. 

The date: September 11.

The event: The unthinkable.

IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

Dorian is upon us.  She leaves devastation, pain and heartache in her wake.  The total damage will not be known for many months.  And the negative emotional impact is immeasurable. 

In Just 3 Weeks….

DIVERSITY.  INCLUSION.  COLLABORATION.  CAPITAL ONE.  CYBERSECURITY.  STEM to STEAM.  CHRIS YOUNG.  SCHOLARSHIPS.  MENTORING.  LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN CYBERSECURITY.  PATRICK GAUL.  SECURITY POLICY.  CISCO.  WOMEN IN CYBERSECURITY.  MINORITIES IN CYBERSECURITY.  ADP.  LEADERSHIP SKILLS.  ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TECHNOLOGY.  MICROSOFT.  RODNEY SAMPSON.  UNITED AIRLINES.  YEAR UP.  CYBERSECURITY CAREER FAIR.  LYNX TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS.  WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY.  GEORGIA TECH.  EDNA CONWAY.  TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA.  LATINOS IN CYBERSECURITY.  PWC.  CISO.  CYBERSECURITY PRACTITIONER.  JOB BOARD.  EMILY HEATH.  

LABOR DAY FOR ALL !

Labor Day 2019 is the 125th anniversary of Labor Day being celebrated as a national holiday.  

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

With Partners like these….

You can’t go wrong!

The use of the word ‘partner’ is often cautioned against – ‘it has legal implications’….!  Sez the attorney.  Yikes!  BUT….we’re talking: PARTNERSHIP.  The ACTIVE version of the word (at least that’s the way we look at it).

HACKED OFF !

Remember when that slang saying was ‘simply’ about being upset with someone, or something….?  As we all know, “HACKED” means something entirely different now…something far more insidious, sinister, and painful.

WEST COAST DREAMIN’

Look Out, Bay Area….We’re Heading Your Way !!!

HOT-LANTA!

We’re getting that much closer – and it IS hot there!  ATLANTA National ICMCP Conference.  Diversity du Jour.  Will you make it this year…?!

SCHOLARSHIP: An Achievement

DEFINITION:  “a grant or payment made to support a student's education, awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement.”

FREEDOM

What does it mean to you?  What does it look like? Do you think of one of this country’s many symbols of freedom, like the Liberty Bell…or a Soaring Eagle?  Does a smile cross your face as you think about that little kid riding his tricycle with red, white & blue balloons tied to his handle bars while juggling an ice cream cone at the same time?  Maybe your eyes go wide just thinking about the fireworks!

The Lazy Days of Summer…HA!

Nat King Cole crooned about “those lazy-hazy-crazy days of Summer” in 1963 – it’s an enduring image he created; and it’s a song that still rings true for so many. “Those days of soda and pretzels and beer…”, BUT – LAZY?!

At some point between 1963 and today, we lost lazy summers; didn’t we? Not that we wanted to, but…it seems even summertime is busy, and busier with each passing year.

Summer Travels…? Be Aware!

Marriott International, Delta Airlines, WhatsApp – these firms are proof-positive that companies and businesses associated with travel, are targets.  Credit card data is plentiful in travel-related businesses. It’s not that these businesses are any less ‘protected’ than other industries, it’s that they are ‘target rich’…lots of data out there to be had by the Bad Guys!

Take note:  40% of all data breaches for 2017-18 were reported as involving credit card data, according to the 2019 Trustwave Global Security Report. The data breaches analyzed used attacks such as phishing/social engineering, malicious insiders, and misconfigurations.

The Password is: INCLUSION

DIVERSITY?  YES – OF COURSE!  

Chicago to Silicon Valley to Atlanta!

ICMCP is working Coast-to-Coast, and markets in-between…!

ICMCP is spreading the word, and spreading the MISSION!

MENTORSHIP – Leverage this FREE Resource!

A mentor is a more experienced professional in your chosen field who offers career guidance, personal & professional advice, and assistance from a ‘real world’ point-of-view – having ‘been there, done that.’

Bridging the GAP

DIVERSITY.  It’s what we focus on here at ICMCP.  And we know: This focus – and the discussion related – includes diversity of IDEAS, as well as diversity of COMMUNITY; in fact, it’s difficult to separate those two concepts.  

ICMCP Announces:  MONTHLY WEBINARS

Beginning this month – tomorrow, in fact! – ICMCP will be offering, partner-sponsored WEBINARS on HOT! Cybersecurity topics!  These cybersecurity-interest webinars will be posted - or conducted LIVE - on the 3rd Thursday of Every Month!  Most of the cybersecurity webinars will be first-run, with ICMCP members receiving first-look at the great content!  ICMCP - Bringing cybersecurity opportunities to minority and women!

Chicago knows cybersecurity!

And ICMCP knows this fact!  It is among the reasons that, ICMCP Chicago is launching next week!

MAY DAY, MAY DAY…That’s Your CFO Calling…!

Yes. Your CFO. When a cyber crisis hits, ‘where’ is the pain felt most? Well, near-term & long-term, it’s a company’s bottom line. Ouch. The direct costs of recovery are immense, of course. The real costs? It could be the entirety of the company – beyond reputation management, and damage control, some companies never fully recover from cyber attacks. If too directly and severely impacted, customers may never come back.