Michele Novack is the founder of Cardinals Byte and a cybersecurity expert with a unique mission to make digital protection accessible for small businesses and professionals. After a 30-year career in the financial sector, she pivoted to help accountants, lawyers, and other regulated industries navigate compliance and risk without the overwhelming technical jargon. She is also an author who focuses on the powerful connection between mindset and security.

In this episode, Michele shares her pivotal journey from a long career in finance to becoming a cybersecurity engineer in her fifties, driven by the realization that her role was becoming obsolete. She provides an overview of Cardinals Byte, her firm that helps small businesses—particularly in regulated fields like finance and law—manage cybersecurity risk and compliance through assessments, monitoring, and training. Michele addresses the biggest misconception small business owners have: that having an "IT guy" and antivirus software is enough to protect them. She explains her process of translating complex compliance regulations into simple, actionable steps, using risk assessments with clear explanations and free training resources.

Michele recommends vulnerability scanning as a non-negotiable, low-cost cybersecurity practice for small businesses and highlights free government resources for protection. She discusses how her philosophy of "living fully" influences her approach to risk management, emphasizing resilience, continuous learning, and the importance of building trust with clients. Michele shares a story of overcome a client's significant skepticism by using a powerful visual metaphor to establish trust. She identifies AI and deepfakes as the most concerning emerging cyber threats and urges small businesses to educate themselves. Finally, she offers advice on bridging the communication gap between technical professionals and business owners and defines innovation as the process of holistically understanding a problem and creating a future-forward solution.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

· Michele's pivot from a 30-year finance career to cybersecurity in her fifties.

· How Cardinals Byte helps small businesses navigate cybersecurity compliance without jargon.

· The common misconception that having an "IT guy" is enough for cybersecurity.

· How Michele translates complex regulations into simple, actionable steps.

· Vulnerability scanning as a critical, low-cost security practice for small businesses.

· Free government resources available for business cybersecurity.

· How a "live fully" mindset influences risk management and client trust.

· The emerging threat of AI and deepfakes to small businesses.

· Bridging the communication gap between technical experts and business owners.

· Michele's definition of innovation as future-forward problem-solving.

Connect With Michele Novack & Cardinals Byte:

· Website: https://www.cardinalsbytes.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardinalsbyte/?viewAsMember=true

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome Michele Novack: Founder of Cardinals Byte

01:15 From Finance Leadership to Cybersecurity Engineer at 50+

03:12 Cardinals Byte Overview: Helping Small Business with Risk & Compliance

05:14 The Biggest Misconception: "I Have an IT Guy" Isn't Enough

08:20 Translating Complex Compliance into Simple Steps for Business Owners

10:20 One Non-Negotiable Cyber Practice: Vulnerability Scanning

12:38 Applying a "Live Fully" Mindset to Risk Management

17:04 Overcoming Client Skepticism and Building Trust: The Visual Metaphor

21:01 What a "Win" Looks Like: Client Protection and Peace of Mind

22:25 Emerging Cyber Threats: The Rise of AI and Deepfakes

25:18 Bridging the Communication Gap Between Tech Experts and Business Owners

29:06 Innovation Defined: Holistic, Future-Forward Problem Solving

32:35 Connect with Michele Novack and Get a Free Risk Assessment