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Cybersecurity's Dirty Secret: Why Most Budgets Go to Waste
What if a book could save your company thousands to millions in wasted cybersecurity spending? That’s not hype, it’s the reality when you stop treating spending dollars like a bottomless pit and start treating it like a business strategy.
Most executives assume the more money they throw at cybersecurity, the safer they’ll be. Wrong. In fact, the bigger your budget, the more likely you’re bleeding cash on shelfware, pointless meetings, and “solutions” that solve nothing. This book flips the it shows you how to slash costs, cut risk, and still move faster than your competition.
Inside, you’ll
How to finally answer the question, “How much should we spend on cybersecurity?”Why your ROI math is broken and the simple fixes that make sense in the boardroom.Which budget cuts backfire, and how to cover yourself with smart risk approvals.When to switch tools, when to double down, and when to pull the plug.Why automation, AI, and even neurodiverse talent are already slashing IT labor costs.The budget killers (bad contracts, endless meetings, and accountability gaps) quietly devour millions.Packed with blunt truths, sharp humor, and CISO-tested strategies, this isn’t another dry finance manual. It’s a playbook for making cybersecurity cheaper, faster, and better!
If you’re ready to stop standardizing stupid, kill the budget black holes, and finally turn cybersecurity into a value driver instead of a cost sink, this book is your unfair advantage.
Most executives assume the more money they throw at cybersecurity, the safer they’ll be. Wrong. In fact, the bigger your budget, the more likely you’re bleeding cash on shelfware, pointless meetings, and “solutions” that solve nothing. This book flips the it shows you how to slash costs, cut risk, and still move faster than your competition.
Inside, you’ll
How to finally answer the question, “How much should we spend on cybersecurity?”Why your ROI math is broken and the simple fixes that make sense in the boardroom.Which budget cuts backfire, and how to cover yourself with smart risk approvals.When to switch tools, when to double down, and when to pull the plug.Why automation, AI, and even neurodiverse talent are already slashing IT labor costs.The budget killers (bad contracts, endless meetings, and accountability gaps) quietly devour millions.Packed with blunt truths, sharp humor, and CISO-tested strategies, this isn’t another dry finance manual. It’s a playbook for making cybersecurity cheaper, faster, and better!
If you’re ready to stop standardizing stupid, kill the budget black holes, and finally turn cybersecurity into a value driver instead of a cost sink, this book is your unfair advantage.
261 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
8 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Ross Young
1 bookFrom CIA officer to enterprise CISO, Ross Young has spent two decades at the forefront of cybersecurity. He’s the co-host of CISO Tradecraft, creator of the OWASP Threat and Safeguard Matrix (TaSM), and a recognized leader who has served as CISO in Residence at Team8, CISO of Caterpillar Financial, instructor at Johns Hopkins University, and divisional CISO at Capital One. Ross also brings over a decade of frontline experience from the CIA, NSA, and the Federal Reserve Board.
Ross holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Idaho State University, and Utah State University, and is Boardroom Certified as a Qualified Technology Expert (QTE) as well as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Ross holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Idaho State University, and Utah State University, and is Boardroom Certified as a Qualified Technology Expert (QTE) as well as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
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