Signal Not Noise

Insights into today's AI and cyber news, tomorrow's predictions and great books to enable your professional development journey.

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Most Recent

May 18, 2026

What a Navy Admiral Taught Me by Leaving Work Early

In this issue, an amazing book recommendation and review on how to crisis leadership. Written by Admiral McRaven, this book is a must read for every leader. I also added a leadership lesson I learned from another Navy Admiral that I still use all the time, and now so can you!

Apr 13, 2026

They Collaborated Faster Than We Defended

What Hackers Still Teach Us About Winning in Cyber; Plus insights from the annual FBI Internet Crime report and a great conversation to have to protect family and friends from fraud

Mar 23, 2026

From “Sit Down” to $1M Technical Spend Approved in 15 Seconds

A cybersecurity leader asked for $1M—and got shut down in seconds. A month later, same ask... approved in 15 seconds. The difference wasn’t the technology. It was how the value was communicated. This is a story from early in my career that has guided me for decades. Sharing so it will help you too!

Mar 16, 2026

A Cyber Conversation that Might Have Taken Place

This edition we dive into another excellent book for your library as well as talk about how failures of the imagination can lead to significant cyber events.

Mar 2, 2026

After the Ransom Is Paid: Why We Need to Understand Money Laundering

I just finished Geoff White’s Rinsed, and it’s a brilliant deep dive into the maturing convergence of cybersecurity, fraud, and money laundering. If you’re in this profession, this isn't just a "true crime" read—it’s a manual for understanding the criminal mindset and the evolution of risk. Also included is a reminder of good tips given current geopolitical situations, a leadership moment and quick reads.

Feb 23, 2026

Olympic Destroyer Attack and How to Prepare for Copycat Threats

I was watching the Olympics recently and found myself thinking about the cyberattack targeting the 2018 Winter Olympics. The lessons learned are very relevant to today as outlined below. Also a new review on an amazing book for our profession. Final thoughts of quick cyber reads to develop even further.As always I'd love your feedback. If you enjoyed the content please let me know and recommend your friends to subscribe at https://signalnotnoise.beehiiv.com/.

Feb 9, 2026

Signals in The Noise

Every system we rely on is designed to generate constant noise. The advantage goes to those who know what to ignore. Being able to discern real (Signal) from fake (Noise) will be a key skill for leaders at all levels. I learned some new techniques for uncovering deception from this section – pay attention here!

Feb 2, 2026

Security Isn’t Academic: Lessons from Those Who’ve Been There

The real world is messy, constrained, and far harder than academics or theory often suggest. That’s why I gravitate toward learning from people who’ve truly served in the trenches.