#168 - Cybersecurity First Principles (with Rick Howard)

In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy is joined by special guest Rick Howard, Chief Security Officer, Chief Analyst and Senior Fellow at CyberWire. Rick shares his insights on first principles in cybersecurity, discussing how these form the foundations of any cybersecurity strategy. He emphasizes the importance of understanding materiality and integrating the concept of time bound risk assessment to achieve a resilient cybersecurity environment. The episode also delves into the value of Fermi estimates and Bayes algorithm for risk calculation. Amid humor and personal anecdotes, Rick and Mark also reflect on their experiences during 9/11. Rick introduces his book, 'Cybersecurity First Principles', elucidating the rationale behind its conception. Link to the Cybersecurity First Principles Book: https://www.amazon.com/Cybersecurity-First-Principles-Strategy-Tactics/dp/B0CBVSX2H2/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=-0-0-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=1b3010fb678a109743f1fb564eb6d0fc&camp=1789&creative=9325 Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y8JPSzpmqDMd-1PZ-MWSqOuxgFTDVvre Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Guest's Career Journey and Achievements 08:49 Discussion on Cybersecurity First Principles 15:27 Understanding Materiality in Cybersecurity 21:56 The Gap Between Security Teams and Business Leaders 22:21 The Importance of Speaking the Language of Business 23:03 The Art of the Elevator Pitch 24:04 The Impact of Cybersecurity on Business Value 25:10 The Importance of a Clear Cybersecurity Strategy 26:04 The Value of Business Fluency in Cybersecurity 27:44 The Role of Risk Calculation in Cybersecurity 29:41 The Power of Estimation in Risk Management 30:33 The Importance of Understanding Business Imperatives 41:25 The Role of Culture and Risk Appetite in Cybersecurity 45:39 The First Principle of Cybersecurity