Risk Stories!

Crisis means chaos!

And all too often, management, employees, and clients are all dragged on a wild rollercoaster ride until suddenly they’re not.  Unfortunately, while the ride may be over for some, for others, between social media disparagement, news media persistence, and legal jeopardy, the ride may feel like it never ends. 

In this episode of Risk Stories! we speak with David Oates, founder of PR Security Service, a public relations firm who focuses exclusively on helping clients navigate through crisis. Dave walks us through a number of lessons and case studies on what to do, and what NOT to do when crisis strikes your firm. 

As you can guess, the bad examples are often and easy to spot. What’s harder to find are the great cases where companies get it right. There's a reason you don't hear about the firms who know what to do at time of crisis.  

Dave discusses both, and actions you can take to improve the odds that you’re never in the spotlight.

Dave can be reached at PR Security Service, www.publicrelationssecurity.com

Have you ever thought about how a threat actor could use public information from your social media accounts to target you, your family, or your business?  

Meet Dr. Sarah Morningstar, President and Founder of Morningstar Consulting, a security threat investigative firm, who thinks about this everyday!  Before starting her consulting company, Sarah had an amazing career working for the CIA as an Intelligence Analyst and Intelligence Briefer in both Washington DC and Iraq.  

Even though the CIA’s clandestine service receives all the Hollywood glory, it’s really the intelligence analysts who analyze the facts, the propaganda, and the deceit, and sort out fact from fiction.  At the end of the day, the intelligence analysts are the people who lay out the alternatives and the recommendations that determine government and military policy --- ultimately translating into who lives and who dies. 

Sarah outlines her experiences at the CIA, Iraqi life as one of the few women in leadership positions during the Iraq war, and some of her post-CIA adventures in today's highly polarized social media and political climate. Sarah also provides a glimpse of her experience as THE CIA intelligence analyst responsible for briefing the leader of the U.S. military in Iraq, Commanding General, Lloyd Austin.  

As background, General Austin is the current the U.S. Secretary of Defense.  

Today, Sarah utilizes her vast experience and analytical skills to protect her clients in what Sarah likes to call, “your stalker’s stalker.”  

Sarah can be reached at Morningstar Consulting,  www.morningstarcybersecruity.com

What if you traveling in a foreign country and you need help?  

What if the borders and air space are suddenly closed?  

What if you or a family member are kidnapped for ransom?  

Meet Dale Buckner, retired US Army Colonel who spent a military career in counter terrorism and special operations. Today, as CEO of Global Guardian, Dale focuses his expertise helping people in life threatening situations wherever they may be in the world by providing security services and emergency response in over 100 countries.  

Dale weaves for us fascinating stories of medevacs, kidnappings and COVID evacuations. Welcome to the business of global security where Dale and his team do whatever it takes to protect their clients.

While you may think these stories are meant for Hollywood, Dale’s world is real life.

Dale can be reached at www.globalguardian.com.

We all love the convenience of cashless transactions. Credit cards have been around for what seems like forever, and now we have even more convenient “FinTech” methods such as ApplePay, Paypal, and Venmo.  What goes on behind the scenes of processing these payments?  Who takes on the risk for fraudulent transactions?  

Today’s guest is Robert Blair, Executive Vice President, Chief Product & Innovation Officer at Elavon.  Robert is a leading US expert on credit card processing, merchant services and payment processing.  The movement of money between consumer and merchant utilizing these cashless systems is risky and complex.  Payment system fraud is big business!  Robert gives us some insight into how these systems work and who ultimately pays the cost for the risk and convenience.  

We also take a peek into what Robert sees as the future of cashless transactions utilizing technologies such as biometric markers to validate transactions and minimize risk.

Listen to how the money flows, and the war to protect a cashless method of transactions.

Robert’s comments are his own and do not represent his current or former employers.

What did it feel like to inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021 when the insurrection was taking place?  How has life changed for people living in and around the area?  Meet Katie Schoettler, Communications Director for Senator Steve Daines of Montana.  She experienced the events of January 6 firsthand and is now living the “new normal” of life in the capital city. 

In this episode, Katie talks about her experience and how she was personally effected.

Many things have changed in Washington DC since January 6th.  Some good, some not so good.  Security checkpoints are everywhere and extensive documentation is required for entry into locations where people once passed freely.  Both residents, and transplants working in our nation's capital, are still processing the experience both mentally and emotionally.

Here is Katie's story.

What happens when a director decides he wants to set his lead actor on fire while filming? 

How does the crew get paid when a big budget film cancels production due to a pandemic? 

The success of Hollywood and the entertainment industry depends upon managing risk. And managing entertainment risk doesn’t stop with movies and television. Blockbuster events like the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and even the Academy Awards all require insurance, or the show doesn’t go on. 

Behind the scenes of every blockbuster movie, every major event, and every breath-taking stunt is an insurance policy.  

Meet Susan Weiss, Senior Vice President with AON, whose focus has been to make the impossible possible…to a point. Susan has spent a career working with studios, film makers, creatives and stunt professionals to understand the risks that translate into amazing entertainment.

 In this episode, Susan cracks open the door for a behind the scenes view into Hollywood and entertainment on a worldwide stage.

Meet Jodi Daniels, CEO and founder of Red Clover Advisors, a privacy compliance consultancy.  Do you understand the difference between security and privacy?  Where do they overlap?  Jodi walks us through the differences and similarities, and why each is extremely important in today’s cyber enabled world. 

 The foundation of privacy is trust!  

Equally important, the time to think about privacy isn’t after you’ve experienced a data breach.

How businesses collect, use, share and store personal information determines their level of privacy risk.  Jodi discusses how she uses a risk-based approach in developing a privacy program. Taking precautions up front can help you understand your legal obligations and most importantly protect your company’s reputation.

 As privacy regulations expand, and the penalties for non-compliance grows, implementing a solid privacy program is no longer optional. 

Listen in as Jodi shares some insight and personal experiences in the rapidly expanding world of privacy protection.

Contact Jodi at www.redcloveradvisors.com.  

Once again, we welcome Flick March, Director, IBM Resiliency Services, Europe, this time to discuss business resiliency, or as she puts it, “A company’s ability to maintain core purpose and integrity while under duress and under attack.”  

In today’s world, maintaining a culture of resilience is essential to minimize both revenue loss and human impact!  

 Destructive cyberattacks have completely changed the rule book right under our feet. Recovery ownership has changed and data restore accountability swings wildly.  Moreover, with insider and external threats growing exponentially, when the flow of information stops flowing so does that river of money that powers the livelihood of the firm itself.

And then there’s the concept of balancing risk with your budget.  

Sadly, many companies implement the bare minimum, or nothing at all when it comes to reducing information technology risk; and, spending nothing generates a lot of risk!  

Listen as Flick describes what it takes to keep that river of money flowing. 

Data Protection isn’t just Backup Anymore…

Guest Demetrius Malbrough, founder and host of Data Protection Gumbo Podcast talks with Michael about  the “Ready Player One” world.  A world  where data and analytics are converging and data is more precious and potentially more exposed than ever before. Understanding that a new ransomware attack takes place every 14 seconds, Demetrius explains how businesses must take an intelligent approach to planning, protecting, and recovering critical data.  And, while a simple backup of data to the cloud is an interesting start, a cloud back up on its own isn’t enough for a true a data protection solution.

Are you curious about where data protection is headed in the future?  Listen as Demetrius shares his vision of the consolidation of the backup and recovery market space, and the emergence of  “intelligent” or “self-aware” data.

Adrienne Hahn, civil litigation attorney and founder of the Hahn Legal Group in Los Angeles, discusses some of the everyday challenges of being a trial lawyer, and how lawyer life has significantly changed in the COVID-19 pandemic era.   

While family law and estate law cases are booming,  this is a very challenging time to be a trial lawyer.  With courts just short of being shutdown,  the disadvantages of attorneys’ working from home and trying to navigate Zoom depositions is unprecedented.  

Listen in as Adrienne explains how she is surviving in this “new norm,” and provides a handful of harrowing examples on why having insurance is a good idea.  Adrienne also walks us through a couple of computer crime stories that you’ll think is truly right out of Hollywood.