Happy Sunday, everyone! How has the weekend been treating you? It’s been pretty nice for me—uneventful and relaxing.
I’m sure I sound like a broken record saying that pretty much EVERY weekend, but it holds true for me. Having a relaxing and uneventful weekend helps me prepare mentally for the week ahead, and gives me that fresh start come Monday morning. I’ve also noticed that not thinking about issues or challenges I faced from the week before helps give me a new perspective on things—sometimes I can see a solution that eluded me previously. Sometimes it’s best not to dwell on a challenge, but rather forget it, and come back to it, almost as if looking at it all over again. If you’re like me, occasionally a solution will present itself while your subconscious mulls things over.
Related to it, my decision to wait until Sundays to type up my weekly recap also has afforded me the extra time to step back, let events of the week ruminate in my mind—and eventually—ideas and topics of what to write about will bubble up to the surface. This has never been truer, especially when it comes to my “this got me thinking” editorial (opinion? section? never entirely sure what to call it).
On that note…
This Got Me Thinking
There’s a phrase that constantly floats around in security circles: “humans are the weakest link.” I’ve never liked it. It misses something important.
When a phishing email shows up in an inbox, it doesn’t automatically mean someone failed. It means a human being now has the chance to do what filters and firewalls can’t—pause, notice, and decide. In that moment, they become the last line of defense. Sometimes even the first.
That role deserves credit and recognition, not blame and ridicule. Technology, while powerful, is never perfect. It’s designed, built, configured, and chosen by people too. Every layer of protection has human thought and effort behind it.
So rather than seeing people as a liability, I’d rather see them as the ones holding the line. The security tools matter, absolutely—but it’s the awareness and judgment of everyday people that often makes the difference. This is why it’s paramount to educate them. To engage them. To show them how they can take these skills and apply them to their personal digital lives. And—especially in the event of an incident—to not blame and shame them. Everyone makes mistakes.
Blame divides. Respect builds resilience.
Finally, here is a look back at what I wore to work this past week. I hope you enjoy them, and please enjoy the remainder of your weekend!
-Terry
September 8
September 9
September 11
September 12
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