63 - Building Trust in a Digital World: The Essential Guide to Internet Security for Professional Services with Simple Salt's Dylan Evans
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Deep Dive
What is the main difference between internet crime and internet security according to Dylan Evans?
Internet crime often involves traditional crime tactics like social engineering and phishing, rather than sophisticated hacking. Internet security, on the other hand, is often perceived as a technical problem involving antivirus software and network protection, but the reality is that most crime is not techno-wizardry and requires a different approach.
Why does Dylan Evans criticize traditional security measures like antivirus software?
Dylan criticizes traditional security measures because they often focus on outdated or ineffective solutions like antivirus software, which do not address the root causes of most internet crimes. He emphasizes that many security measures are more about 'security theater' than actual protection, and that real security involves understanding and mitigating human vulnerabilities.
What types of clients does Dylan Evans primarily work with?
Dylan primarily works with high-trust professional services such as commercial lawyers, boutique management consultants, accounting firms, and engineering firms with significant intellectual property. These clients are particularly vulnerable to security breaches and have a strong interest in actual results rather than just compliance.
What is the main strategy Dylan Evans recommends for avoiding internet crime?
Dylan recommends focusing on reducing or eliminating whole categories of threats by building guardrails that protect against human error and vulnerabilities. This involves understanding the real risks and implementing practical, cost-effective measures rather than relying on outdated or overly technical solutions.
What does Simple Salt offer to its clients in terms of security solutions?
Simple Salt offers a mix of free content, consulting services, and software products designed to help businesses mitigate security risks. Their approach focuses on providing easy-to-understand answers and practical solutions tailored to the specific needs of high-trust professional services, such as legal firms.
Why does Dylan Evans believe that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is no longer effective?
Dylan believes that MFA, particularly the style that sends codes to a phone, is no longer effective because commodity malware available to crime rings can easily bypass it. He argues that many companies are adopting MFA for show rather than for actual security, contributing to what he calls 'security theater.'
What advice does Dylan Evans give to startup founders regarding security?
Dylan advises startup founders to stop trying to do everything themselves and instead outsource security tasks to specialized partners. He emphasizes that the cost of maintaining secure systems is often higher than outsourcing, and that startups should focus on eliminating single points of failure and leveraging external expertise to protect their businesses.
How does Dylan Evans describe the marketing strategy for Simple Salt?
Dylan describes the marketing strategy for Simple Salt as evangelizing the message of effective, maverick security solutions. He shifted to a lead generation strategy focused on spreading this message through extensive content and direct engagement, rather than relying on traditional marketing or sales tactics.
- Many perceived cyber threats use traditional crime tactics, not sophisticated hacking.
- Outdated security measures are often ineffective against modern threats.
- Focusing on preventing crime is often cheaper than dealing with sophisticated cyberattacks.
- Building guardrails to protect against threats when individuals are not at their best is crucial.
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