Empowering Organizations Through Cybersecurity Leadership
Thought Leader | Cybersecurity Evangelist | Eternal Student
Remember, hacking is more than just a crime. It's a survival trait!
Thought Leader | Cybersecurity Evangelist | Eternal Student
Remember, hacking is more than just a crime. It's a survival trait!
SurvivalTrait is a public knowledge project focused on cybersecurity, risk, and decision-making in service of a stronger, more informed security community.
The name comes from a line in the movie Hackers:
Most people hear that line as a clever quote.
Some people recognize their entire life in it.
To most of society, the term "hacking" still conjures a narrow stereotype. A hoodie-wearing criminal in a dark room, breaking into federal mainframes or pilfering bank accounts. In practice, hacking is far more visceral and far less nefarious than that.
It's what happens when someone refuses to accept the world at face value. When curiosity becomes instinct. When understanding how things work becomes the difference between moving forward and being left behind.
At its core, hacking is not about crime.
It's about resilience.
It's about curiosity.
It's about questioning what's in front of you, asking "what if," and finding a way through when assumptions fail.
That mindset is the foundation of SurvivalTrait.
This site is where I share lessons learned from a literal lifetime spent surrounded by hackers, phreakers, software pirates, and geeks—forged by a career of more than 25 years in the IT and Security fields across the private sector, financial services, government, and critical infrastructure—honed by teaching and mentoring students and practitioners at different stages of their careers. The focus is not on products, certifications, or trends. It's on how to think clearly about systems, risk, and responsibility in the real world.
SurvivalTrait is not a gated training platform or a content funnel. It's an open collection of essays, field notes, and practical insights intended to make security knowledge universally accessible.
When access to knowledge is restricted to only those who can afford it, availability has already failed--and systems built without knowledge are not secure.
If you have ever relied on curiosity, creativity, or resourcefulness to navigate complexity, you already understand what this project is about—and why you're here.
Welcome to the Digital (R)evolution.
Engaging presentations that drive action and understanding
Learn how to align technical security controls with business objectives. From risk assessment to implementation, I guide organizations through building resilient security architectures.
Navigate the challenges and opportunities of AI integration. Practical guidance on securing AI systems while enabling innovation in your organization.
Move beyond checkbox compliance to data-driven security decisions. Learn frameworks for communicating risk to executives and stakeholders.
Master the art of translating complex technical concepts into actionable business language that resonates with leadership.
Specialized insights for state, local, and tribal governments on implementing practical, budget-conscious security programs.
Transform your organization's approach to security through education, awareness, and cultural change from the ground up.
New speaking topics added regularly
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Free cybersecurity training and premium deep-dive courses
20-minute overview of building effective security architectures
Learn the fundamentals of quantifying cybersecurity risk
Deep-dive into enterprise-level threat modeling frameworks
Master the language of risk for C-suite presentations
Complete guide to establishing organizational security
Practical framework for securing AI/ML systems
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