Fixing the Tech Behind the Cyberwar

Something that has vexed me for some time now is that we've all stood up on stage; talked at conferences; preached the word of security from our lofty perches; and explained our views, our methods and our ways for the last 20 to 25 years or so. And nothing has changed.

Oh, we've helped build a multi-billion-dollar industry on the misery of others. However, the bad guys have done the same. We've managed to create an entire segment of the working population dedicated to beating the crap out of others... and the bad guys have done the same. And let's not forget we've managed to create an alphabet soup of useless credentials to go along with it.

Thankfully the bad guys left that one alone.

We have failed to protect the very charges that rely upon us for safety and security; we have miserably failed so spectacularly that the very charts of our failure have to be redrawn year after year.

I've personally stood on stage over the years threatening to tar and feather users and CIO/CEO/CFO's, and more recently have regularly volunteered to taser the entire population (or at least the 90% of them who don't "get" security) but that focus is wrong. We are wrong. The red team is not the solution. Beating up on the weak and feeble apps or useless companies is not solving anything. It hasn't solved anything. Heck, even when the government and regulation stepped in and created PCI DSS, HIPAA, FERC, NERC and other things it didn't solve a bloody thing. The mess is still there and daily we are cleaning up.

So, what the hell do we do about it?

We have to have a mental reset. Red has to lose and blue has to win, be sexy, be popular and actually be effective. Those of us with red romper suits and the toolbox of doom have to put it down for a while, grab a seat next to the blue team and actually help them. Why?

Here's some logic:

There are 101 more reasons, but let's face it we know it's right. We are getting old and the red romper suit is starting to wear thin in places... let's all help blue before it is too late.

So, what do we do?

We have to go back and look at the rules we are operating by, we have to help those around us, from the users to the managers, the leadership and the influencers.

So what kind of rules are we talking about? What principles should we follow if we want to make security something people and companies can really count on? Here are some of my security rules.

Security is not an afterthought

Security is a mindset

Security is the differentiator

Vendors need to be held responsible for delivering secure products to all of their clients all the time. Not three years down the road if enough people scream. Now. For everyone.

Integrators need to be held responsible for educating partners and vendors, and choosing wisely.

I feel like we are flogging a dead horse, but it would be nice for once to not break into a company because defaults or outright dumb passwords are being used.

These are baseline points to build from -- something to consider next time a project kicks off or a vendor comes around or the leadership team asks for input. I hope this helps. I hope this starts the very real discussion that needs to happen because if not that tsunami of technology is going to drown us all.

— Chris Roberts is currently the chief security architect at Acalvio. He is credentialed in many of the top IT and INFOSEC disciplines. As a cybersecurity advocate and passionate industry voice, he has been featured in several documentaries and is regularly quoted in national newspapers, television news and industry publications.