4 Ways to Sell Security Expenses to Business Executives

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One of the most challenging parts of being a security administrator is asking for more money, especially when it appears as though everything is working fine. The old adage comes to mind, "If it's not broken, don't fix it."

Unfortunately, this philosophy can be disastrous in the security world. New technology acquisition is often much easier for the CIO than for the CISO for one simple reason: business executives like new, shiny toys. They don't however, like to invest in technology that they are unable to see and play with.

For this reason, you must always address new security capability procurements in business terms that executive management understands. In other words, you have to show them the money. The following are 4 ways of getting business minded people to see the benefit of making security expenses that they do not fully understand.

1. Create a "What If" Scenario: This suggestion is often the easiest, especially since the most of the associated research is has already been performed if you are an active and aware security professional. Compile a list of the most recent vulnerabilities and exploits, whether they pertain to your organization or not. Then, take the data from your business continuity and disaster recovery plans (hopefully they are up to date and accurate) to calculate the amount of money lost each day when information and information assets are not available. Many times this kind of scare is enough to continue the conversation.

2. Capitalize on Competition: Business executives are always trying to compare their business with similar organizations because they do not want to be driven out of the market. On that same note, they often enjoy a good story about their competition's shortfalls. Find some similar organizations around the world that have suffered from security incidents, especially those that have lost a considerable amount of money. When you give this presentation and provide a solution, it can easily be seen as a win/win. Not only does it look like you are a better security professional than what the "other guys" have because it did not happen to your organization, but it also gives the executives an opportunity to make a decision that will give them a leg up on other members of the industry. Business people like to think that their company is an industry leader. All you have to do is give them an opportunity.

To put a cherry on top, it might be a good idea to reference the same profit loss data as in the previous suggestion when comparing against the competition.

3. Do Your Research: Nothing turns business people off more than speaking with someone who has no business sense. If you are unable to show a positive return on investment (ROI) for the procurement, they can feel like you have wasted their time. For this, make sure that you don't just research solution capabilities, but also the associated costs. Another tip is to only suggest solutions that fulfill the current need, along with projected organizational growth and near-term future requirements. It is fine to go up a size or two when buying a winter coat for your child, but it might be a waste of money to splurge on an adult large that they will never grow into.

Make sure you do research and find the best return on investment

4. Role Identification: When all else fails and you are sure you are absolutely right, it might be a good idea to remind your executives that ultimately they are the information owners. You are doing your job by identifying the problems and presenting solutions, but it is their responsibility to approve or disapprove the security measures. It is also their responsibility to protect their information. If a security incident occurs that would have been avoided if they chose to approve your suggested investments, it won't be your picture on the front page of the newspaper.

This is a bold step, but it has the possibility getting your recommendation funded AND changing the way they look at the security of their organization's information.

These 4 ways to sell security expenses to business executives could help you make your organization more secure, avoid security incidents, and ultimately keep your job. If you have any suggestions or additional tips for performing this task, please let me know in the comments section down below and I might add them to the list.

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Simple and Juicy Roast Chicken

Hey there guys!

Today I want to share with you a very simple and juicy roast chicken recipe that has become a staple in our house. If I can do this, anyone can!

What you will need:

- Whole Chicken (Innards Removed)
- Large Baking Dish
- 1/2 Stick of Unsalted Butter
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- 2 Carrots or Celery Stalks
- Medium-sized Onion

Preheat to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit
Cook for 80-90 minutes
Safe temperature is 170 Degrees Fahrenheit when fully cooked

Please let me know what you think in the comments below. I look forward to getting your feedback and suggestions!

How to Make the Absolute Best Popcorn on the Stove!

How to Make the Absolute Best Popcorn on the Stove!

Anyone who knows me personally is aware of my dedication to the dream of making the best possible popcorn. This recipe and method may not be the easiest, and certainly isn’t the healthiest, but if you follow these steps I can virtually guarantee that you and your guests will keep talking about this stovetop popcorn again and again. I do not claim to be a chef and I have never been formally educated in the culinary arts. My popcorn is the product of years of trial, error, and experience.

Without further adieu, I want to tell you all how to make Steve’s Famous Stove-top Popcorn!

First, we should probably go over the ingredients:

1 Tbsp Bacon Grease (I usually save mine in the fridge after I make bacon for breakfast)

½ Stick of Real Unsalted Butter

1 Large Pot with Lid

Popcorn Kernels (I usually keep them refrigerated, but I don’t know why)

Nutritional Yeast (Found in most health food stores)

Garlic Salt

Large Bowl (Big enough to fit the popcorn and shake without spilling too much)

Instructions:

1. Start off by putting the bacon grease in the pan and heat until it is fully melted. Then turn it off.

2. Add just enough popcorn kernels to cover the bottom of the pot without piling up.

3. Cut the butter into thin slices and scatter them on top of the kernels.

4. Add a few shakes of garlic salt.

5. Turn stove on to Medium heat and cover the pot.

6. As soon as the popcorn starts popping, start shaking the pot slightly every few seconds to keep it from burning.

7. Keep this up until you hear the popping slow to a rate of one or two seconds per pop.

8. Remove from stove and transfer to large bowl.

9. Add garlic salt and nutritional yeast to taste*, shake to mix, and serve!

*Most people are nervous about the yeast at first. It is completely inactive (not the kind used for baking) and is used by many people as a substitute for cheese. Don’t be scared! The yeast is probably the best part!

As long as you didn’t burn the house down, you should have a very tasty snack in your possession!

Please let me know what you guys think in the comments section below. I am constantly trying to improve on my recipe, so I am open to any suggestions you may have as well. Let me know how to make your favorite popcorn on the stove.

Secret to Life Success

Today I want to talk to you about the secret to success in life!

Work hard to create options, and then pick the best one. That’s it.

When I first think about options, buying a car comes to mind. You start off with the base model, and then add all the little dew-dads that make the minivan you are settling on seem more bearable. The options I am talking about however are like intersections or "forks" in the road. This may sound cliché, but it is the best way to explain the very simple concept.

Let's start off with a story on this one. Jon is very good at bagging groceries at the local store. He has a job and he is content. Ben is also a bagger at the same store. After he has mastered the art of avoiding smashed eggs or the accidental combination of meat and bug spray in the same bag, he asks if he can get trained at stocking the shelves during slow days.

Jon may be the best grocery bagger in the business, but when times get tough at the store, he will likely be without a job because he isn't worth as much. Not only that, but he might have a hard time finding new work because he only has experience doing one thing. Jon's road is a one-lane trail without any turnoffs, where any obstacle in his path will likely leave him stuck. He doesn’t have options because he didn’t take the time to create them.

Ben on the other hand has shown potential for versatility. His store will keep him because he has shown that he has the ability and desire to learn. Ben took advantage of his down time to make himself better and more marketable. For some reason, people today seem to have forgotten the entire concept that if you work hard early in life, you won’t have to work as hard later. When Ben eventually learns all the functions of the grocery store, he will likely become a supervisor. He has created an interstate highway system for himself so he can decide for himself where he wants to go.

The great secret to success and happiness in life is to work hard and create options. Ask anyone who is without and they will tell you that having to make a difficult decision between choices is a good problem to have. Many people want to know what rich parents teach their children. I never had the opportunity to get that particular lecture, but I can’t help but assume that it is this simple concept.

I experience this same thing all the time. People find out that I work full time, go to school full time, and still make time to read books to my four children before they go to bed at night and they actually feel sorry for me, which is surprising. They feel pity that I am actively trying to make my family’s life better.

Really?

Is that where our society is today? We used to be defined by two things in life – our occupation and our word. Now it seems like those two characteristics aren’t even important, much less viewed as defining qualities. Some would argue that not everyone has the same opportunities that I have had. They are absolutely correct. I went to public school and barely graduated. I went to work after that because I “decided” to start a family very early. Later, I put myself through college. Stop using opportunities as an excuse for being lazy. You create your own opportunities. Stop saying things aren’t fair because you have to work for them.

That is my challenge to all of you. Don’t sit still. Don’t get comfortable. Set goals and build options. Take pride in your work ethic. Instill this habit into your kids. I know my children will be fine simply because I teach them work ethic. That alone will put them ahead of most of their peers.

There you go. That is the big secret to being successful. Spread the word.

4 Proven Ways to Make Money Online

Many people who read my blog have asked me about making money online (other than blogging). I have done quite a bit of research on this topic over the years, and I have found 4 proven ways to make money online.

1. Do you have any skills that others may be looking for? Elance is a wonderful website for selling your talents to others, to include writing, bookkeeping, secretarial work, music, web design, and even voice acting. If you have any gifts or skills at all, Elance has a way for you to market them. Check out my article on easily and quickly writing research papers here.

2. Do you have old junk around the house? Maybe you like to frequent garage sales, thrift stores, or flea markets. Put you treasure hunting skills to good use by selling those great finds on Ebay. Another thing that many people do is buy store items by the truckload or pallet to sell individually on Ebay. There are plenty of websites that offer pallet or truckload purchases, but one that I have used is Merchandize Liquidators.

 

3. Are you crafty? Do you make jewelry, clothes, or other knickknacks? If so, Etsy is the place for you. On Etsy, if you can make it, you can sell it. I have personally seen people start selling their little creations (in this case, personalized aprons) on Etsy and turn it into a booming online business.

4. Finally, there is a whole lot of money on the internet for gurus of any sort. If you know how to do something, make an instructional video on YouTube or post your knowledge on the web with a blog.

If you haven’t already, check out my other posts on 12 Steps to Make Money Online Easily by Blogging and 9 Reasons to Use Google for All Your Blogging Needs to learn more. They go in-depth about blogging with Google's Blogger, marketing with Google+ (and other tips for SEO), and Adsense.

Thank you all for reading my 4 proven ways to make money online. As always, if you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please feel free to use the comments section down below.

9 Reasons to Use Google for All Your Blogging Needs

If you are thinking about starting a blog, it is very important to research and plan your product. There are many vendors and platforms out there that offer blog hosting, but none can match everything that Google is willing to offer. Keep reading for 9 reasons to use Google for all your blogging needs.

1.  Blogger: Google’s Blogger is very easy to set up for beginners. The step-by-step wizard makes the initial layout a snap. The best part is, it is also powerful and flexible enough for the advanced bloggers, which can save you future migration headaches. There are also many add-ins available to make your blog more unique and gain traffic.

2.  Adsense: If you have done any research on blogging for profit, you already know that Google’s Adsense is a must. Setting up Adsense to work with Blogger is easy by design to encourage new bloggers to use as many of Google’s features as possible.

3.  Google+: One of the easiest ways to gain traffic on your blog is to incorporate social media into your marketing and promotion plan. The good news – Google has that covered as well with Google+, which is constantly gaining popularity. Similarly to how Facebook was considered the “mature alternative to MySpace” at one time, Google+ is becoming the more mature and professional alternative to Facebook. Additionally, Googe+ already has many communities for research, discussion, and collaboration purposes.

4.  Gmail: Almost everyone already has a Gmail account. When used with other Google applications, Gmail gives you the ability to have an email account that is directly tied to your blog, advertisement platform, and social media outlet. It gives you the professional appearance of having a specific account for your blog as well.

5.  Hangouts: Google’s Hangouts is a new feature of Google+ that allows you to collaborate with other bloggers or even your readers through text, voice, and video chat. Just imagine having the capability to hold chat sessions with your audience to discuss issues, let them know more about you, or even make suggestions about your content. Google Hangouts is the ultimate way to stay connected to your fans.

6.  YouTube: If you are anything like me, you might also be interested in trying out a video blog (vlog). With YouTube, you can set up your own channel to talk about whatever you desire. If you are smart, you will also use YouTube (with Adsense) to promote your blog and use your blog to host links to your YouTube videos.

7.  Cross-Authentication: One of the biggest advantages to using Google applications is the cross-authentication. When you log into one Google product, your credentials pass on to the next application. This saves you time and effort associated with creating, maintaining, and remembering multiple user accounts.

8. Search Engine Optimization: Many bloggers and webmasters spend so much of their time trying to figure out creative ways to get their blog to the first page of Google. Luckily for you, your blog is already hosted by them! In other words, they already see your blog – something that can be difficult to initiate, otherwise.

9. Cost: What is the absolute best reason to use Google applications for your blogging endeavors? You probably guessed it already. Google applications are free. You can’t beat that with a stick.

As you can see, there are quite a few reasons to use Google for all your blogging needs. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about getting started or making the switch, please feel free to use the “comments” section below.

-BCS

5 Simple Steps to Get the New iPhone for FREE! (Seriously)

original photo

What do you guys do with your old iPhones? What if I told you that I have always had the newest iPhone and I only paid for the first one? If you have AT&T, you could upgrade to a new iPhone for FREE by following the 5 simple steps below (and maybe even get a good case for it, too)!

1.  Check to make sure that you are eligible for an upgrade by logging into your AT&T account or calling customer service.

2.  Look on eBay to make sure a FACTORY UNLOCKED version of your current iPhone is selling for $200 or more.

3.  Go to the AT&T or Apple Store and upgrade to the new iPhone.

4.  As soon as you get home from the store (don’t talk and drive), call AT&T and tell them you would like your old iPhone UNLOCKED. They might give you a link to a website that doesn’t work and takes weeks. Tell them, “I have tried to use the website many times before and it has never worked for me. The last time I tried to do this, the person told me to just call from now on.” They should do it for you the same day and give you instructions on how to unlock it. If not, you may have to do the website thing and wait a week. (Note: AT&T will not unlock your iPhone if it is currently being used on your account. You have to upgrade first.)

ebay.com

5.  When your phone is unlocked, sell it on eBay (if you have never done this before, CLICK HERE to learn how!). I always say free shipping and avoid international buyers, but that’s just what works for me. I also set the reserve to just under what you expect to get ($200 or $250 in this case. Try not to get greedy). The key is to get the payment for your old iPhone as quickly as possible. Since you already spent the money on the upgrade, think of it as a 100% rebate! (Note: If you plan on doing this again, SAVE YOUR BOX! iPhones sell faster, easier, and for much more if you include the original box and accessories, especially close to holidays.)

That’s it. I have done these 5 simple steps to get the newest iPhone for free for every version of the iPhone (except the iPhone 3GS, which I never owned) and it has worked for me every time. A few years ago, AT&T made this process much easier when they started unlocking phones. Before that, we had to jailbreak and unlock them ourselves.

If you have any questions or other methods of performing this awesome process, please let me know in the comments section below!

- BCS