Makes sense. "Everyone has a story to tell, and today, I’m sharing my story—a tale of commitment, cybersecurity, and an unforeseen end." Indeed, it happens every day [https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/heresy].
I am very sorry for what happened to you. I assume there was some type of 'protocol' breach by tracking down and using a personal number to alert her of the problem. But isn't that the type of conduct we want, especially for security issues? It is very Kafkaesque. It is like Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, who taught medical ethics at the University of Irvine and was fired for refusing the Covid vax on ethical grounds. He already had Covid and believed it would be detrimental to his health. You are absolutely correct that the rise of bureaucrats - or the administrative state - is the issue. They are like termites that destroy the foundation of anything they touch.
Now this is truly maddening and quite a slap in the face to a seasoned cyberrsecurity expert. It seems to me that after multiple failed attempts to runt his up the chain with no appropriate response to remedy the issue, leaving the city open and vulnerable to digital attacks that could well cripple a very big system, one would think that this approach might be appreciated and result in actionable execution of necessary improvements/upgrades/systems fortification. I wonder if this direct delivery of critical information to the new incoming 'head honcho' was the issue? If so, how many more failures to execute the appropriate response from those in authority were they willing to accept? How long would it have been before an unreversible breach downed the entire system? And how much sensitive information is the city willing to allow to be open to exposure to any whohave the knowledge and know-how to access these systems?
One would think that then new, incoming chief might be heaping praise over you for your skilled, technical observations regarding the CS of NYC systems. I can't imagine a direct, personal communication would result in your forced retirement. This leaves me with the impression that those bureaucrats are protecting one another's behinds. They wouldn't want the failures of the immediate predecessor or predecessors coming to light as they are failures that could end in great disaster for many. Instead, push you out, silence your warnings, bring in someone new for less compensation, likely far less informed and educated, and potentially someone who won't recognize the immediate dangers facing NYC digital systems. Sounds like the perfect candidate to blame everything on if and when things go awry.
Would it be conspiratorial of me to think or suggest that there could be those actors up top who are working to enable sone type of an attack to be carried out? I certainly am no fool, so naive to think that all of those in the higher eschalons of management and direction are totally square and on the 'up & up'. As evidenced by the past few years, this is clearly not the case. It isn't the same as recouping your positioning cyersecurity that should be well heard & respected, but at least you have the expertise to know if amd when those systems become hardened against outside threats, which reallying is not saying much in light of your long dedication to protecting the people of NYC.
These are my thoughts from an outside, unfamiliar with cybersecurity perspective. If anything, the new chief will likely see that your recommended suggestions are implemented and will gladly accept every pat on the back and 'congratulations' for a job well done in overseeing the security of NYC systems. I think it's great that you're getting your story out. Clearly, the city has failed itself and its people. Really sad!
You violated the primary rule in many workplaces and that is "Do not upset the apple cart" as long as everyone still gets their paychecks. You were pointing out that there were some changes that needed to be implemented in order for the Chief Security Officer to be fulfilling her job.
Very informative. I (re)learned some terms and abbreviations. I had to pause to look things up, which is one of my favorite things to do.
Thank you
Makes sense. "Everyone has a story to tell, and today, I’m sharing my story—a tale of commitment, cybersecurity, and an unforeseen end." Indeed, it happens every day [https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/heresy].
I am very sorry for what happened to you. I assume there was some type of 'protocol' breach by tracking down and using a personal number to alert her of the problem. But isn't that the type of conduct we want, especially for security issues? It is very Kafkaesque. It is like Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, who taught medical ethics at the University of Irvine and was fired for refusing the Covid vax on ethical grounds. He already had Covid and believed it would be detrimental to his health. You are absolutely correct that the rise of bureaucrats - or the administrative state - is the issue. They are like termites that destroy the foundation of anything they touch.
Now this is truly maddening and quite a slap in the face to a seasoned cyberrsecurity expert. It seems to me that after multiple failed attempts to runt his up the chain with no appropriate response to remedy the issue, leaving the city open and vulnerable to digital attacks that could well cripple a very big system, one would think that this approach might be appreciated and result in actionable execution of necessary improvements/upgrades/systems fortification. I wonder if this direct delivery of critical information to the new incoming 'head honcho' was the issue? If so, how many more failures to execute the appropriate response from those in authority were they willing to accept? How long would it have been before an unreversible breach downed the entire system? And how much sensitive information is the city willing to allow to be open to exposure to any whohave the knowledge and know-how to access these systems?
One would think that then new, incoming chief might be heaping praise over you for your skilled, technical observations regarding the CS of NYC systems. I can't imagine a direct, personal communication would result in your forced retirement. This leaves me with the impression that those bureaucrats are protecting one another's behinds. They wouldn't want the failures of the immediate predecessor or predecessors coming to light as they are failures that could end in great disaster for many. Instead, push you out, silence your warnings, bring in someone new for less compensation, likely far less informed and educated, and potentially someone who won't recognize the immediate dangers facing NYC digital systems. Sounds like the perfect candidate to blame everything on if and when things go awry.
Would it be conspiratorial of me to think or suggest that there could be those actors up top who are working to enable sone type of an attack to be carried out? I certainly am no fool, so naive to think that all of those in the higher eschalons of management and direction are totally square and on the 'up & up'. As evidenced by the past few years, this is clearly not the case. It isn't the same as recouping your positioning cyersecurity that should be well heard & respected, but at least you have the expertise to know if amd when those systems become hardened against outside threats, which reallying is not saying much in light of your long dedication to protecting the people of NYC.
These are my thoughts from an outside, unfamiliar with cybersecurity perspective. If anything, the new chief will likely see that your recommended suggestions are implemented and will gladly accept every pat on the back and 'congratulations' for a job well done in overseeing the security of NYC systems. I think it's great that you're getting your story out. Clearly, the city has failed itself and its people. Really sad!
You violated the primary rule in many workplaces and that is "Do not upset the apple cart" as long as everyone still gets their paychecks. You were pointing out that there were some changes that needed to be implemented in order for the Chief Security Officer to be fulfilling her job.
Potent information Paul. You're back! All the best of luck sir.