Over the past 14 yrs I have been an advocate, liaison, community leader, professional (IT and non IT), technology advisor and voice for the promotion of more IT Security education and awareness across all levels of our infrastructure (people, processes and technology). It has been my belief that IT Security is not an industry problem but a people one as the impacts, issues and effects trickles down through very layer of our infrastructure and hits the core, the people and their lives. It is for this reason that I have been in the pursuit of fostering more educational and awareness programs and initiatives towards this effort which has awarded me the role of the IT Security Attaché.

In this role my goal is to create new security enhanced, feature rich and motivational education and awareness programs/initiatives for all levels of our infrastructure so that we can be a more connected and secure minded global network as technology becomes a more integral part of our lives and the ways in which we live, work and play today and, for the future of tomorrow’s converged network.

As president/chairman and founder of The IT Security Suite Network, this has become an integral part of who we are, our mission to the world and our promise of delivering this education and awareness across all levels. I have enacted specific programs and initiatives to focus specifically on providing more IT Security education and awareness in the lower and middle schools so that our youths growing up in this new technology age can be more aware and educated to the threats, risks and effects of this awesome resource the World Wide Web/Internet.

Programs like our Secure Minds Initiative are specifically targeting the school systems to integrate IT Security as a part of their curriculum vitae and making this needed information and resources available to our youths. In making this dream come through I have been partnering/working with people across all industries, markets, cultures and geographies as IT Security is not specific to who, what, where and when and so we must treat it that way in order to properly contain and understand it. Our Adopt an Institution program was created to allow us to work more closely with selected schools and their technology departments to foster this specific focus on IT Security and the IT Security Threats Landscape and it impacts and effects. To compliment this initiative and added an additional layer of value, we also started the first industry specific IT Security Scholarship program which rewards those students whom we deem as serious about pursuing this role in the IT field with financial support/backing and rewards.

This site will serve as my personal agenda, updates, work, mission, objectives and bio. It will host a more personal resource of me and my resources as I integrate the various organizations and programs I am involved in and enacting on this mission of IT Security education and awareness. I will be working on making it more structured to be the center of my world and you will be able to get access and information to the world of TITSSN.

So why am I doing this?

Well, this has been a mission for me for many years and I have been slowly developing, enhancing and building on it in various ways. I had to do this because there were so many gaps that needed to be filled in getting the message, education, awareness, support, services and needed resources and a way to aggregate them into one so that it can be channeled out in the right way across all people regardless of industry, company size/type/location/verticals in a way that was understandable to them. I have been asked to provide guidance, assistance, recommendations and support for individuals, businesses and others on security related issues/topics and so earned the titles of doctor, advocate, ambassador, savior, friend and resourceful.

When one looks at the IT Security Threats Landscape they get a sense of wow as to how much information, variables, threats, impacts and effects that it comes with and then it becomes a daunting task of figuring out where one fits into the mix. A part of my day to day responsibility is looking at these threats, their impacts, preventative measures and the many variables they come with and what they affect, and be able to align them in the proper ways against their targets. It is easier for someone to call me with a situation and ask for guidance of some kind of feedback/input that for them to try and figure out or align these themselves. So I become a conduit for aggregating all the info and then channeling them to people as per their environment, situation or cause for concern.

What makes me different from other professionals/leaders?

Where many have failed, I have been able to master the challenges I have before me in delivering my security education and awareness initiatives. My biggest challenge however is time and being in various places at the same time. This is why I use the internet and its resources as my gateway and means of travel unless a physical presence is indeed necessary. The path of security education and awareness is one that requires an unbiased and open means of communications, collaboration and networking, as all are affected and must be guided and provided with the same information and resources across the board. Some security leaders/professionals create this barrier around them where they become unapproachable and discouraging to those who are in need of their guidance and support. This creates unnecessary challenges for them in delivering their initiatives as the target audience is driven away by their attitude and egotistical behavior.

In my mission of promoting this education and awareness I have created free monthly events, workshops, open forums, training and development sessions to provide a one on one personal outreach for people. This personal outreach puts me as the security attaché in the direct path/presence and reach of anyone who is in need of guidance, support and mentoring. I was never one to push anyone away and I welcome all into the fold as we strive towards building a secure global network for our future and the generations to come.

I look forward to an exciting and feature rich year in 2009 as I brace for an increase in my workload and integration with other organizations and entities.

Thank you and have a great day,

~Brett A. Scudder~
The IT Security Attaché