Cyber Crisis: Protecting Your Business from Real Threats in the Virtual World

by Eric Cole

Based on news reports, you might think there's a major cybersecurity threat every four to five months. In reality, there's a cybersecurity attack happening every minute of every day. Today, we live our lives—and conduct our business—online. Our data is in the cloud and in our pockets on our smartphones, shuttled over public Wi-Fi and company networks. To keep it safe, we rely on passwords and encryption and private servers, IT departments and best practices. But as you read this, there is a 70 percent chance that your data is compromised . . . you just don't know it yet. Cybersecurity attacks have increased exponentially, but because they're stealthy and often invisible, many underplay, ignore, or simply don't realize the danger. By the time they discover a breach, most individuals and businesses have been compromised for over three years. Instead of waiting until a problem surfaces, avoiding a data disaster means acting now to prevent one. In Cyber Crisis, Eric Cole gives readers a clear-eyed picture of the information war raging in cyberspace. Drawing on 30 years of experience—as a professional hacker for the CIA, as the Obama administration's cybersecurity commissioner, and as a consultant to clients around the globe from Bill Gates to Lockheed Martin and McAfee—Cole offers practical, actionable advice that even those with little technical background can implement, including steps to take on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to protect their businesses and themselves. No matter who you are or where you work, cybersecurity should be a top priority. The information infrastructure we rely on in every sector of our lives—in healthcare and finance, for governments and private citizens—is both critical and vulnerable, and sooner or later, you or your company will be a target. This book is your guide to understanding the threat and putting together a proactive plan to minimize exposure and damage, and ensure the security of your business, your family, and your future

Genres: Technology, Business, Nonfiction, Audiobook

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2021

Reviews

[Maureen Pena · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the scariest books I’ve ever read. The threat is really out there but no one is talking about it. Worth the education. We are all targets but there are steps in prevention you can take to safeguard yourselves and your family. Highly recommend.

[Abraham Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5; Engaging enough.

I gotta confess that I didn't read the book but listened to the audiobook. The content is more or less like a TedTalk. It mostly focuses on the points to consider on cyber security for a business or startup, with passable content on individual or personal security. Apart from 2-3 and the writers assumption on a few, there weren't like a case study of real-world cyber attacks.

Better to pass on for another books on this topic, maybe of the same author too, since his credentials are really good.

[Pat Watt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but wordy and redundant.

[Elwin Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and current/hot off the press cybersecurity book!

I've gone through quite a few professional development reads like this and at this point I come in with very low expectations. This book put me in my place and really surprised me.

This is very current/modern with content as fresh as Covid-19, Donald Trump presidency, and pretty much 2020 covered. I always cringe when I start a new cybersecurity book and chapter one is Stuxnet, the Morris worm, and other content that I have been exposed to over and over again, and that are also decades old now at this point. Super refreshing being exposed to more current content.

The author is super interesting as well, a former CIA cybersecurity professional, who has advised multiple presidents.

If you are in the cyber/IT field and are tired of your professional development reads being based off of content 10-20 years old, pick this one up!

[Ty Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you from where we have been, where we are and where we have to get to! Job 1 is grow the CyberSec mindset, the realities of maximizing what you have and own your best effort to create a strong defense(attack's are ongoing, not preventable). Recently I left Microsoft after a 30 year employment, why? Our local small/home businesses, non-profits and residents need to wake up and participate in their own cyber safety! Through our chamber of commerce and by teaming with NCSA I have made it my mission to educate, engage and spread awareness at no charge. Over the next 2 years of this mission/journey this book will be one of the first tools I advice all to consume!

Dr Cole, Thank you for your efforts here as well as your YouTube channel!
Regards,
Ty Moore
Do your part! #BeCyberSmart

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 6/13, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. There’s a cybersecurity attack happening every minute of every day. Coles' book, while not so much a solutions manual, helps us understand the consequences of not taking the needed steps to make your site secure.

Find more Business Books of the week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more recommended books on my Amazon Influencer page at https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevo4747 or by searching for me on Google.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a giveaway for my honest review.

Primarily, I enjoyed the relatable narrative/way the author broke things down. Anyone without a cyber security background could read this book and walk away having learned a lot. I also appreciated how condense it was. As a professional constantly trying to figure out how to communicate to employees/clients, the author did a great job picking which topics to keep brief and which to dig into. The book has a "inspiring communication style" that I would highly recommend.

[Mati 'Matimajczyta' · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my first rodeo with books of this genre, so I experienced déjà vu with many of the topics covered and didn't find the content particularly groundbreaking. However, this sense of familiarity served to reinforce the importance of the issues raised by multiple authors. It's a stark reminder that while the conveniences afforded by modern technology are undeniable, they also come with significant risks. Every decision we make must be carefully considered, weighing the benefits against the potential drawbacks. Overall, the book is informative, cautionary, and definitely worth a read.

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live in a new cyber world and cyber security becomes more important every day. At some point this book seems scary because the threats are where we don't expect them and the scary part that this is true.as individuals we may feel secure as we believe that big companies are under attack but in real life it appears to be the opposite. To be knowledgeable about the reality even if it is scary is way better than to live with pink glasses on.

[Michael Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m glad I checked this out from my local library instead of spending money on it at a bookstore. Each chapter is a couple main sentences that is reiterated and given some “serious crisis” example. No real explanations or anything really actionable. Really just reinforces any basic security mindset and practice principles. This book is probably going to make me start reading reviews a little more carefully before I dig into something else.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly thought that there would be nothing new to be about cyber security, since I have always been a cautious type of person. Without spoiler alerts, the chapter on cell phones and the term "free" gave me pause. I will be making some changes very shortly. I was shocked at how many businesses were actually too laid back to have strict security. It makes me shudder, and want to try more ways to keep a lock down on my information.

[Jkociela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives some very good information - very interesting. However, he tends to be very repetitious in his narrative. The book could have been cut in half and it would still give the same amount and quality of information.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant writing that brings out realities of Cybersecurity in today's world, and also provides hope with practical actions we can take.

Timely reminder that Cybersecurity is each and everyone's responsibility.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and interesting.

[Matthew Chua · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book for readers of all levels of cyber or computer expertise: easy to understand and full of practical takeaways.

[cypher · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting, useful, but written a bit too much to make one stressed.

[Doug Lewars · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Possible Spoilers ***

Although this book is geared primarily for an audience of executives responsible for security among other things, it has a few useful suggestions for individuals.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening. Great starting point if you're just casually interested in the economics and reality of cybercrime and our aptitude & collective resilience towards it, and great information if you're at least a little knowledgeable of the topic and want to read some more in-depth analysis of its reasons and consequences.

[Manuel Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential book about cybersecurity. Not too technical, a must for any manager or IT Professional.