Cybersecurity for Executives: A Practical Guide

PREFACE

Cybersecurity is the deliberate synergy of technologies, processes, and practices to protect information and the networks, computer systems and appliances, and programs used to collect, process, store, and transport that information from attack, damage, and unauthorized access.

Brigadier General Gregory J. Touhill,United States Air Force (retired)

As my retirement from the United States Air Force was nearing, I contemplated what I would do in my next career. The Air Force had prepared me well to serve in a number of senior executive roles in the private sector. As I went through the excellent transition class the Air Force offers its departing Airmen, I looked at my resume and saw a lot of opportunity. I have extensive leadership and management experience in electronics, telecommunications, software development, finance, program management, information technology, and cybersecurity. I commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. I managed the Air Force’s US $22B information technology budget at the Pentagon. I served as a diplomat when I was the defense attaché to the State of Kuwait during our nation’s crucial transition from Iraq. I was the base commander (equivalent to a chief executive officer) of Keesler Air Force Base, with an annual budget of US $1.3B and 12,000 personnel under my command. I have been a chief information officer (CIO) several times and maintain my technical certifications as a certified information systems security professional (CISSP). ...